The New Zealand Optical Wholesalers Association (NZOWA) is promising to stage an event that “brings industry together” when Visionz and Eduvisionz 2016 take place at the Ellerslie Events Centre in Auckland this October.
The three-day event, from 14–16 October will encompass a comprehensive industry exhibition, a low vision conference, a practice management conference and a St John first aid course which will be open for practice owners, managers and staff.
“NZOWA is putting this event on to bring the industry together. It is an opportunity for practice owners and their staff to gain new ideas and skills to enhance their performance and elevate a practice’s retail image,” said Gary Edgar, President of the NZOWA.
The low vision conference on Friday 15 October, boasts an impressive slate of speakers including Dr. Mike O’Rourke, ophthalmologist at Tauranga Eye Specialists, who recently carried out a life-changing procedure that is helping a low vision patient improve her vision; Professor Stephen Lord, senior principal research fellow, from Sydney’s Falls and Balance Research Group; and Melbourne’s Dr. Alan Johnston, who will discuss his recently updated sliding scale logMAR visual acuity calculator which includes Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) scoring principles, now widely used for monitoring any vision gain or loss with intra-vitreal injection of anti-VEGF.
At the Eduvisionz practice management programme for practice owners and staff, speakers will discuss topics including best business practice, managing people, how to conduct a SWOT analysis and get the most out of it, how to prepare your business for sale, and handling complaints.
Around 35 companies are expected to exhibit at the Visionz industry showcase which is free of charge to all optometrists, ophthalmologists, optical dispensers and practice staff from 9.00am Friday 14 October. A Visionz cocktail party will commence from 5.15pm on Friday 15 October.
Visit nzowa.org.nz/conference.
