QERS EYE CONNECT BRISBANE 2026

QERS EYE CONNECT BRISBANE 2026

Date: 17/05/2026 (AEST)

Venue: Victoria Park - 309 Herston Road, Herston, QLD, 4006

Provider: Queensland Eye & Retina Specialists

Contact: Emi Cheng, [E] emic@qers.com.au, [P] (07) 3555 5960

Activity Outline

Queensland Eye & Retina Specialists are proud to present QERS EYE CONNECT BRISBANE 2026, a comprehensive full-day, face-to-face CPD event designed specifically for optometrists. The program delivers practical and clinically relevant topics to support optometrists through lectures, case studies and panel discussions.

The day begins with a retinal session presented by Dr Andrew Dorman, exploring new frontiers in retinal detachment management and advances in vitreoretinal surgery. Dr Sean Cheng will discuss ophthalmic surgical emergencies, highlighting key clinical signs that require urgent referral and clarifying the difference between public and private pathways.

Mr Tom Urquhart, Clinical Optometrist, will demonstrate how OCT findings could alter diagnosis, referral urgency, and management by using real-world OCT cases from everyday practice. Dr James Sax will explore surgical perspectives on macular and vitreoretinal pathology. Dr Sean Cheng will then present on diabetic eye disease showcasing clinical case studies.

Dr Nirosha Paramanathan will present challenging and thought-provoking clinical cases. Dr Katie Chen will explore periocular aging changes, exploring ocular changes across the lifespan and their clinical implications. Then, Dr Sean Cheng will conclude complicated cataract surgery and the management of surgical aphakia.

The day concludes with a panel discussion and Q&A session, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers through interactive case discussion, followed by multiple-choice questions to consolidate learning.

Learning Objectives

• Develop an understanding of retinal detachment pathogenesis
• Understand the importance of the classification of retinal detachment
• Broadly understand the treatment principles and management options for patients with retinal detachment
• Understand the differences between retinoschisis and retinal detachment
• -Identify common ophthalmic surgical emergencies
• -Determine the appropriate urgency of referral
• -Understand the differentiate between public and private referral pathways and select the most appropriate pathway for patients
• -Implement effective referral processes
• -Counsel patients appropriately preoperatively
• 1. Apply a standardised approach to OCT interpretation in routine optometry consultations.
• 2. Tell the difference between normal anatomical variation and pathological findings on macular and optic nerve OCT.
• 3. Identify OCT features requiring urgent referral versus routine review.
• 4. Recognise OCT patterns suggestive of non-glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
• 5. Use OCT findings to guide evidence-based management and communicate these findings clearly to patients and ophthalmologists.
• Understand staging of ERM
• Understand the two common staging systems of VMT and macular hole (Gass and IVMTS)
• appreciate the typical patient symptoms in macula disease, and know when to refer
• -gain understanding of patient-oriented surgical intervention for ERM, VMT, and macular hole
• gain an appreciation of the typical visual outcomes for surgical intervention of ERM
• 1. To recognise the prevalence of Diabetic Eye Disease in Australia
• 2. To understand the current Diabetic Eye Disease screening protocol
• 3. To appreciate the importance of early detection and management of Diabetic Eye Disease
• 4. To revise the classification of Diabetic Eye Disease – diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy
• 5. To identify the potential for more advanced Diabetic Eye Disease than what may be evident on clinical assessment
• 6. To consolidate understanding of Diabetic Eye Disease through the discussion of clinical case presentations
• identify potential causes of hypotony post cataract surgery
• identify patients at increased risk of Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION)
• Understand the management consideration for patients on GLP 1 RAs
• Interpret OCT macula findings
• Counsel patients on GLP 1 RAs
• 1. Assess suitability for oculoplastic surgery
• 2. Identify and differentiate common periocular ageing changes
• 3. Recognise key clinical signs of eyelid malposition and ptosis
• 4. Compare surgical and non-surgical management options
• 5. Formulate management strategies for lower eyelid malpositions
• 1. Recognise indications for referral for cataract surgery, including identifying cases requiring combined procedures (e.g. cataract surgery with vitrectomy) and determining appropriate timing of referral.
• 2. Understand different type of intraocular lens (IOL) based on desired refractive outcomes
• 3. Differentiate between available intraocular lens (IOL) options and understand their indications, advantages, limitations, and suitability in complex or aphakic scenarios.
• 4. Identify and co-manage common intra-operative and post-operative complications of cataract surgery.
• 5. Apply case-based learning to optimise outcomes in patients with concurrent ocular comorbidities undergoing complicated cataract surgery.

Max CPD hours awarded: 9.75

Session Information