Therapeutics Refresher Day

Therapeutics Refresher Day

Date: 25/05/2025 (AEST)

Venue: Australian College of Optometry, 374 Cardigan Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053

Provider: Australian College of Optometry

Contact: Shazia Tahseen, [E] cpd@aco.org.au, [P] 03 9349 7546

Activity Outline

Therapeutics Refresher Day is a curated mix of therapeutically orientated topics designed to elevate everyday optometry practice. The recently TGA-approved treatment for geographic atrophy will be explained by Dr Carla Abbott, including the important clinical backgrounding that optometrists should document to ensure their patients are eligible for future treatment. The recognition and investigation of transient visual loss symptoms is an important aspect of primary eyecare, and interactive case studies from ophthalmologist Dr Mei Tan will provide a pathway facilitating timely referrals for further medical investigations. Jacinda Van will share her clinical insights to assist optometrists to successfully combine atropine and contact lens wear to provide maximise myopia control when required. Optometrists have been prescribing topical medications in Australia for over 20 years, and this timely interactive update on the quality use of medicines from Lucy Ainge will ensure optometrist are aligned with modern prescribing philosophies and person-centred care. Varny Ganesalingam will share clinical strategies for the collaborative and complex management of dry eye associated with autoimmune diseases such as Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome among others. 

Learning Objectives

• Understand the importance of listening to a patient’s description of transient visual loss (TVL) symptoms as an indication of clinical significance
• Understand patterns of transient visual loss symptoms caused by conditions such as transient ischaemic attack and ischaemia affecting any stage of the visual pathway and the associated vascular supply
• Understand the clinical investigations that optometrists and ophthalmologists can utilise to refine a differential diagnosis for TVL symptoms
• Understand the best medical services for onward referrals for patients with TVL, depending on working diagnosis and available resources
• Understand the further medical investigations needed to investigate the cause of TVL and any necessary follow up treatment
• Understand the clinical indications, mechanism of action, treatment schedules and treatment outcomes for treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) with complement-based therapies, including pegcetacoplan (Syfovre)
• Ensure correct diagnosis of GA, including differential diagnosis with inherited retinal dystrophies, other forms of AMD,
• Ensure collection of appropriate clinical documentation required to demonstrate suitability for GA treatment including ocular coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF)
• Advise patients on the benefits of AREDS 2 supplements to reduce the risk of progression to geographic atrophy
• Refer patients for appropriate support services for patients both eligible for treatment and those not eligible for treatment
• Evaluate the clinical evidence supporting the combined use of atropine eye drops and contact lenses for myopia management.
• Review patient selection criteria and tailored treatment strategies for maximising myopia control outcomes with combined atropine and contact lenses treatment
• Discuss the advantages, limitations, and potential risks of integrating atropine therapy with orthokeratology or soft contact lenses.
• Provide practical guidance for monitoring, dosing, and managing side effects when combining atropine with contact lenses.
• Describe Optometrists role in medication stewardship and delivery of person-centered care
• Discuss the causes of inappropriate prescribing and the potential harms and adverse effects, considering the individual patient, community, healthcare system and environment
• Describe the 12 guiding principles for Medication Management in the Community
• Apply practical strategies considering personal biases, for best practice prescribing
• Understand the art and science of prescribing for complex dry eye cases in the context of autoimmune disease
• Be able to interpret dry eye clinical findings within the context of autoimmune disease, and how this impacts effective management
• Advocate for patients with general practitioner (GP) referral when there is a suspicion of autoimmune disease such as Sjögren’s syndrome, thyroid eye disease and inflammatory eye disease
• Understand the systemic and ocular presentations associated with Sjögren’s Syndrome
• Consider the anecdotal links between episodic worsening of dry eye disease with systemic health indicators and mental health

Max CPD hours awarded: 7.25

Session Information