The 10th Congress of the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania (OSO) was held at the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa on the Gold Coast, Queensland last month, from 6-8 July.
This biannual event featured presentations from 25 international and local speakers, and attracted an impressive attendance of almost 200 delegates. The conference lecturers certainly had an international flavour, with speakers deriving from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Canada and the USA.
The conference program catered for delegates with a broad spectrum of contact lens expertise and interest areas, and encompassed both the research and clinical aspects of orthokeratology practice. As well as providing a beginner’s program covering the basic principles of orthokeratology lens design, a series of lectures delivered by experienced orthokeratology clinicians explored the use of new computer-aided lens design programs and customisable lens designs.
Research-based presentations were provided by members of the ‘Research in Orthokeratology’ (ROK) group from the University of New South Wales, including the subject areas of hyperopic orthokeratology, peripheral refraction and myopia control, the effect of corneal toricity on lens decentration and corneal sensitivity and nerve morphology during orthokeratology. As in previous years, the hot topic of myopia control was another major focus of the program. Keynote speaker A/Prof Patrick Caroline from the Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon provided an insight into the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the attenuation of paediatric myopic progression with various myopia control modalities.
As in previous years, the hot topic of myopia control was another major focus of the program
Specialty Contact Lenses Lectures
A new and exciting aspect of the conference program this year was the incorporation of lectures on the rapidly growing area of specialty contact lenses, including hybrid Clearkone lenses, mini-scleral lenses and scleral lens designs. A/Prof Christine Sindt from the Ohio State University College of Optometry delivered an outstanding series of lectures on advanced contact lens fitting for children, including the specialist fitting
of paediatric aphakes.
Another particular highlight was the Australia versus New Zealand “KBA versus Rose-K” contact lens ‘fit-off’, featuring the two eminent contact lens specialists John Mountford and Paul Rose. Both practitioners were put to the test on stage, with the challenge of live contact lens fittings for several patients with keratoconus. After a very close competition, an expert panel of judges deemed Australia to be the victor for 2012; the re-match in 2014 is already highly anticipated.
The event attracted significant corporate support, with Platinum sponsorship from Capriconia Contact Lenses, Menicon and Innovative Contacts; Gold sponsors were the Contact Lens Centre Australia, Gelflex, Designs for Vision and Australian Contact Lenses.
Tribute Paid
The conference was also the appropriate opportunity to pay tribute to Don Noack
who sadly passed away on 28 June 2012. Mr. Noack will always be remembered as a pioneer of orthokeratology; a brilliant mathematician and optometrist who is most well known for his achievements in contact lens design and manufacture.
The Congress was officially concluded by the OSO President, Gavin Boneham, who presented the prestigious OSO Award to Professor Helen Swarbrick from the University of New South Wales, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to orthokeratology research and education.
The next OSO Congress will be held in July 2014. For information go to: www.oso.net.au
