1:30min
By Rhiannon Riches
Behavioural optometrist and former Maroubra practice owner Liz Jackson will deliver the Keith Mackriell Lecture at her first time attending Tasmania’s Lifestyle Congress in August.
Ms Jackson will give two lectures during TLC. Her Keith Mackriell Lecture to be presented on 29 August is on ‘Accommodation and convergence in children’.
‘An accommodation test for all school-aged children is essential, and it is often under-represented in what most optometrists cover,’ she said.
Her second lecture will be on ‘3-D devices and kids’.
Ms Jackson will look at the good and detrimental aspects of children using three-dimensional devices such as Nintendo DS and watching 3-D film and television, like Toy Story.
‘Optometrists should beware of the risks and asking: “Should the patient be using a Nintendo DS or watching 3-D TV?” ‘
She said her lectures would share ‘know-how’ that optometrists could use in their practice every day. ‘My presentation will cover what every general optometrist needs to be aware of and keep in mind when examining children,’ she said.
Ms Jackson is an ACBO Fellow and works part-time at Icon Eyewear in Hurstville. She is a member of Optometry NSW/ACT.
Hobart optometrist Rebecca Davis is also speaking at the conference, delivering two case studies in her presentation ‘Beyond the Clinic’ on 29 August.
Ms Davis is a Vision Resource Teacher with Vision Services in the Department of Education, Tasmania.
She is in the process of completing a Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies in Sensory Disability (Vision). Previously she worked in private optometric practice and also practised optometry at the Lions Low Vision Clinic, Royal Hobart Hospital.
‘When children receive a diagnosis of vision impairment they will ideally receive advice and assistance from a low vision clinic or equivalent. What happens then? Vision is the primary information channel for learning, so how can these children be supported to reach their learning potential when their vision is severely compromised?’ she said in describing her presentation.
‘My two case studies will outline the different strands of support that are provided through Vision Services (Department of Education, Tasmania) and will describe the various forms of low vision devices used to enable access to the curriculum.’
Tasmania’s Lifestyle Congress will be held at The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel in Hobart on 28-30 August 2015. The CooperVision Congress Dinner will be held at the Museum of Old and New Art.
To view a program of events and register online, go to www.optometry.org.au.