Gold Coast & Tweed Eye Doctors – Optometry GALA 2026

Gold Coast & Tweed Eye Doctors - Optometry GALA 2026

Date: 15/02/2026 (AEST)

Venue: 1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach, QLD, 4218

Provider: Gold Coast & Tweed Eye Doctors

Contact: Cassidy Seretis, [E] cassidy.seretis@gcteyedoctors.com.au, [P] 07 5612 5222

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/optometry-gala-2026-tickets-1246794438729

Activity Outline

Gold Coast & Tweed Eye Doctors is proud to host our 5th Annual GALA – a full day of clinical learning, professional growth, and connection with colleagues from across the optometry community.

Join Drs Matthew Green, Esra Sanli, Travers Weaver, and A/Prof Heather Russell for a series of informative presentations covering all aspects of ophthalmology.

This year, we’re also thrilled to welcome 2 exceptional guest speakers:

Dr Liz Crowe

Healthcare Wellbeing Expert | Social Worker | Researcher

Known for her powerful, practical sessions on leadership, burnout, team culture, and resilience, Liz brings over two decades of frontline healthcare experience. With warmth, humour, and honesty, she offers real-world insights into what it takes to lead well and thrive under pressure.

Mark Matthews

Big Wave Surfer | Elite Mindset Coach | Inspirational Speaker

A globally recognised athlete and speaker, Mark shares an unforgettable message about courage, fear, and transforming adversity into growth. His story of recovery and reinvention following a career-defining injury will inspire you to face any challenge—professional or personal—with strength and perspective.

Learning Objectives

• Gain a better understanding of more complex strabismus
• Recognise when strabismus needs further investigation
• Identify red flags for urgent referral
• Gain insight into optical and surgical management of complex strabismus
• Learn how to quickly and effectively assess for the presence of strabismus by means of the cover test
• Learn how to examine oculomotility by assessment in the 9 cardinal positions of gaze
• Identify common strabismus patterns
• Learn how to measure using prism bars / free prisms
• Describe the clinical features that distinguish non-proliferative from proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
• Recognise the key complications of PDR, including vitreous haemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, and neovascular glaucoma.
• Differentiate urgent, early, and routine referral scenarios in patients with diabetic eye disease.
• Explain current management strategies for PDR and how optometrists can counsel patients effectively about treatment and prognosis.
• Discuss common oculoplastic procedures and how these are performed
• Recognise the anatomy of the eyelids 
• Discuss what is involved in common eyelid surgeries
• Identify potential post operative complications and their management
• Discuss meaning, purpose and belonging
• Explore the scientific benefits of vision, meaning and team support, and the counterintuitive techniques that disrupt negative mental perceptions and increase innovation, drive and performance.
• Cultivate an emotional state of gratitude
• Overcome challenges in life and develop resilience
• Describe the purpose and structure of the Queensland Microbial Keratitis Database and its role in surveillance of corneal infections.
• Summarise the key 2024 data trends, including changes in incidence, organism profile, and antimicrobial resistance patterns
• Identify emerging risk factors and demographic shifts in patients presenting with microbial keratitis in Queensland.
• Apply evidence-based management strategies for microbial keratitis informed by the latest database findings.
• Recognise the importance of timely referral and collaborative care between optometrists and ophthalmologists in preventing vision loss from microbial keratitis.

Max CPD hours awarded: 8

Session Information