Therapeutics Refresher Day 2026

Therapeutics Refresher Day 2026

Date: 17/05/2026 (AEST)

Venue: 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

This program features a series of expert-led sessions focused on contemporary clinical management and emerging developments in eye care.

Dr Doreen Ho will present on anterior uveitis, helping participants differentiate it from other serious red eye conditions and outlining practical approaches to clinical management. The session will include interactive case discussions covering both local and systemic treatment options.

Daniel Chew will explore the concept of pre-myopia, focusing on identifying children at risk of myopia progression and determining when early intervention should begin. The session will include interactive clinical scenarios to support practical decision-making in practice.

Sue Kweon, Research Fellow at the Australian College of Optometry, will discuss the impact of systemic and topical medications on ocular and general health. The session will highlight drug-induced side effects, pathways of systemic absorption, and strategies for screening and risk reduction to support safe prescribing and collaborative patient care.

Glaucoma specialist Dr Paul Sia will provide an evidence-informed overview of contemporary glaucoma surgical techniques based on targeted outflow mechanisms. The session will cover laser procedures, cataract-related interventions, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) such as iStent, Hydrus and Miniject. It will also examine minimally invasive bleb surgery (MIBS) and traditional filtration procedures including trabeculectomy and tube shunts, supported by real-world postoperative cases and insights for optometrists involved in co-management.

Finally, Dr Heathcote Wright will address the management of primary angle closure disease. Drawing on evidence from the EAGLE, ANA-LIS and ZAP studies, the session will discuss indications for laser peripheral iridotomy, lens extraction or cataract surgery, and the evolving role of MIGS in optimising outcomes for patients with PAC and PACG.

Learning Objectives

• To provide an understanding of critical ocular emergencies of ‘red eye’ presentations followed by the more common causes of ‘red eye’ in a systematic anatomical approach
• To provide a comprehensive overview of anterior uveitis: history and clinical findings to aid in diagnosis of aetiology, all possible differentials (infectious, non-infectious, masquerades and tips and tricks for not missing ‘ocular emergencies’) and its management
• Clinical scenarios of ‘anterior uveitis’ aimed at being an interactive session on initial management and beyond (local and systemic therapy options)
• Define pre myopia
• Identify children at risk of myopia onset
• Understand when and how often to review
• Confidently discuss and implement topical atropine therapy
• Discuss the ocular side effects of major systemic drugs known to effect the eye
• Assess the clinical implications of medications on ocular function to inform management strategies including screening frequency, and interdisciplinary coordination.
• Using case studies integrate knowledge of drug‑induced ocular side effects to design management plans for complications arising from systemic pharmaceutical exposure
• Describe the contemporary surgical spectrum for glaucoma management and explain the outflow pathways targeted by each approach.
• Compare and contrast the indications, mechanisms of action, and expected clinical outcomes of key laser, MIGS and MIBS procedures 
• nterpret clinical post-operative findings across different glaucoma surgeries and identify signs that warrant routine monitoring in optometry practice versus escalation to ophthalmology 
• Recognise when patients with primary angle closure (PAC) or primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) would benefit from laser treatment
• Identify patients who have PAC or PACG and would benefit from would benefit from lens extraction/cataract surgery
• Discuss the utility of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) in the management of PAC and PACG

Max CPD hours awarded: 7.75

Session Information