Optometrist Paul Stockman presenting his glaucoma case study at the recent BOP Optometry Forum

Specialist optometry practice Bay Eye Care in Tauranga held its annual Bay of Plenty Optometry Forum glaucoma case report evening to help optometry glaucoma prescribers meet their CPD requirements.

Local glaucoma specialist Dr Sam Kain covered angle closure, grading scales, when narrow angles becomes angle closure glaucoma and what is the risk of acute angle closure (AAC), noting that recent studies suggest the risk of an AAC event is lower than previously thought.

This followed six case study presentations from optometrists based in Hamilton, Whakatane and Tauranga which covered a poor clinical response to intraocular pressure lowering medications; driving standards; patient compliance issues; when ocular hypertension should be treated as glaucoma; and how to manage a patient with glaucoma who cannot perform visual field tests and OCT scans.

“As always amongst the optometrists, ophthalmologists and GPs in attendance, constructive and thought-provoking discussion and debate followed,” said Bay Eye Care’s Alex Petty, adding this was often where the choice educational “morsels” were to be found.

Ophthalmic Instrument Company (OIC) sponsored the event and contributed a Glaucoma Imaging Atlas textbook to the best case as judged by Dr Kain.

“This prize was shared by Paul Stockman and Michael White from Visique Whakatane, possibly due to the shameless compliments paid to the judge by the pair during the evening, or the opportune use of the word 'nonagenarian' in the presentation title. Well done chaps!” said Petty.

The next BOP Optometry Forum is pencilled in for Tuesday 30 June in Tauranga and is open to all eyecare professionals.