AMD Management: How to use OCT Imaging and the latest research
Free to OV/SA Members
The ECOV/SA Committee are delighted to offer this topic for the next early career optometrists CPD Seminar to be held on 3 August 2020.
Zhichao Wu will provide optometrists with the latest knowledge on how to interpret optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging in the clinical management of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This will include the OCT risk features for progression in the early stages of the disease, as well as signs of late AMD development.
Carla Abbott will update us on recently completed and upcoming research studies and their relevance to the management of patients with AMD. This will also cover insights into the different pathways and experiences in the research fields of optometry.
Meet Our Speakers:
Mr Zhichao Wu
BAppSc(Optom)
Zhichao Wu is an optometrist and senior research fellow at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Australia. His research focuses on using new techniques for the structural and functional assessment of early eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. This work seeks to prevent irreversible vision loss by providing innovative diagnostics for clinical management and expediting the discovery of new treatments. He completed his PhD at CERA in 2014 and was awarded the Dean’s Award for this work.
Dr Carla Abbott
BOptom PhD PGDipOcTher
Dr Abbott is a therapeutically-endorsed optometrist who has primarily worked in academia and public health for over 15 years. She is a research fellow with the Centre for Eye Research Australia conducting translational research studies and is a consultant optometrist and teaching clinician at the Australian College of Optometry.
As part of her research training, Dr Abbott has completed post-doctoral fellowships at the Save Sight Institute (University of Sydney) and Devers Eye Institute (Oregon, USA). She has also worked in private optometry practice including in country Victoria.
She is currently the Victorian practitioner member on the Optometry Board of Australia. She was a member of the Optometry Australia age-related macular degeneration expert working group that produced a clinical practice guide in 2019.
Dr Abbott’s research interests include the pathophysiology of and potential treatments for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal disease.
Learning Objectives:
During this session you will:
- understand the retinal layers visualised with optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging;
- understand the appearance of conventional early signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on OCT imaging;
- understand the appearance of new risk factors (such as reticular pseudodrusen) in the early stages of AMD on OCT imaging;
- understand the appearance of late AMD on OCT imaging, and signs warranting ophthalmology referral;
- understand the appearance of subclinical signs of late AMD on OCT imaging; and
- will be informed about ongoing research projects for patients with AMD that they can be referred to.
