News

Leading the way at VISION2014

Plenty of interesting discussions on eye health are in full swing at the 11th International Conference on Low Vision which kicked off at the Melbourne Convention Centre yesterday.

The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Advancing Research, Upgrading Practice and Improving Participation’ and there are a number of Vision 2020 Australia members presenting, exhibiting and attending the conference. Kudos goes to Vision Australia which is hosting the conference with the International Society for Low Vision Rehabilitation and Research.

Below is a selection of key sessions which Vision 2020 Australia members are presenting over the next three days. For more information or for the full program please visit the conference website.

Tuesday 1 April 2014

Concurrent Symposia Sessions

Falls and vision impairment (TS03) – 10.30am-12.30pm in room 106

  • Preventing falls among people with vision impairment – Sharon Bentley, Optometrists Association Australia

Delivery of low vision services where access is limited (TS04) – 10.30am-12.30pm in room 104
Moderators: Mitchell Anjou and Dr May Ho

  • Delivery of low vision services where access is limited – Mitchell Anjou, Indigenous Eye Health Unit, University of Melbourne and Dr May Ho, Brien Holden Vision Institute
  • Assisting in the prevention of vision impairment in Indigenous communities through improved access to eye care services in Victoria – Genevieve Napper, Australian College of Optometry

Service delivery – challenges and solutions (TS06) – 10.30am-12.30pm in room 103 

  • Collaboration: greater than the sum of its parts – Brandon Ah Tong, Vision 2020 Australia

Falls and vision impairment (TF11) – 4.15–4.30pm in room 106

  • Risk factors for home accidents in a sample of older people – Mei Ying Boon, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW

Employment for people with low vision (TF14) – 4.45-5.00pm in rooms 111 & 112

  • Project aspiro – an employment website bringing employment readiness and job search resources to blind and low vision persons – Penny Hartin, World Blind Union and Maryanne Diamond, Vision Australia

Ageing, activities of daily living (TR04) – 4.00-5.00pm in room 104

  • Chair: Ms Maureen O'Keefe, CEO Australian College of Optometry and Board Member of Vision 2020 Australia

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Concurrent Symposia Sessions

Medical & surgical management of low vision (WS05) – 10.30am-12.30pm in rooms 101 & 102

  • Psychosocial impact of repeated intravitreal injections on patients with neovascular age related macular degeneration –
    Dr Meri Vukicevic, Orthoptics Australia

Visually-impaired sport: From grassroots to paralympic competition (WS06) – 10.30am-12.30pm in rooms 111 & 112

  • A Visually Impaired Athlete’s First-hand Experiences of Vision Classification and Competition – Dr Jessica Gallagher, Paralympian and Vision 2020 Australia Global Ambassador

Electronic reading devices (WF01) – 2.15–2.30pm in room 105

  • Patients with low vision like both optical and tablet computer forms of magnification – Mei Ying Boon, School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW

Paediatric low vision (WF04) – 2.15-2.30pm in room 106

  • Refractive Error and Visual Status in Albinism – Jonathan Jackson, Australian College of Optometry

Service delivery – professional groups (WF03) – 2.30–2.45pm in room 103

  • Plans by optometry to advance low vision service provision in Australia, Sharon Bentley, Optometrists Association Australia

Service delivery (WR02) – 2.00-3.00pm in rooms 101 & 102

  • Chair: Karen Hayes, CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria and Board Member of Vision 2020 Australia

Thursday 3 April 2014

Plenary Session 6 What does the future hold? (PL06) – 11.00am-12.00pm in Plenary Hall 2

  • Stronger Together – Bob McMullan, IAPB President