The European Academy of Optometry and Optics

15 June 2010

190 delegates from 26 countries met at the European Academy’s conference in Copenhagen, Denmark from 15 - 16 May 2010.

The event appealed to those with a diverse range of clinical, research and educational interests and delegates heard a broad range of oral presentations from researchers and academics from across Europe. They also benefited from the opportunity to engage directly with researchers at the poster presentations.

Commenting Dr Feike Grit, President of the European Academy said:

“The excellent response to our Copenhagen meeting demonstrates the real desire for events which promote clinical, educational and scientific excellence that transcends geographical barriers. This year’s conference programme was structured around, but not limited to, the themes of education and research. We presented an ambitious, exciting programme and feedback from delegates was exceptionally positive.”

This year’s conference programme was extended to include Academy member-only round-table discussion groups. Academy members had the opportunity to discuss strategies for optometry research and share ideas on the challenges in assessing professionals within Europe. The programme also featured a range of  education and clinical workshops on communication skills, managing clinics, Optical Coherence Tomography and screening and diagnosis. Workshops were designed to support the development of practical skills.

For the first time the Academy awarded prizes for the best poster and oral presentation, sponsored by  The College of Optometrists, United Kingdom).  The prizes which were judged by the Academy’s Abstract and Programme Panel, were awarded to:

• Professor Giancarlo Montani won the prize for his oral presentation ‘Change of Tear Film in Keratoconus and its Management with Solium Hyaluronate Eye Drops’
• Dr Heiko Pult’s poster focusing on ‘The Impact of Soft Contact Lens Wear on Ocular signs with Increasing Experience’.

Two new Academy programmes were launched at this year’s conference, Academy Fellowship and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). The SIGs work as online forums and aim to provide Academy members with a unique opportunity to build geographical and specialist links with colleagues in the following areas: Cornea; Contact Lenses and Refractive Technology; Education and Refraction;  Dispensing and Visual Optics and Community Eye and Vision Care Health. The Academy’s new Fellowship programme will recognise those who have made significant contribution to the practice of optometry or optics.

The Academy’s next annual conference will be held in Prague from 13 - 15 May 2011.

To download the press release click here ,  Academy meets in Copenhagen 2010