O=MEGA19, an innovative international event showcasing the best in education, eye care and eyewear, will take place from 19–21 July at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The collaborative event, hosted by Optometry Victoria and the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA), will combine the most credentialed and largest annual optometry conference in the Southern Hemisphere (SRC) with the largest eye care and eyewear show in Australia (ODMA Fair). Bausch & Lomb is the Platinum sponsor.
As the first official event following the merging of Optical Victoria and Optical South Australia, the event is attracting world-class speakers. Keynotes Professor Danica J. Marrelli, OD, FAAO, AAO Diplomate (Glaucoma) and Dr Jordan Keith are already confirmed.
The clinical conference at O=MEGA19 will be the strongest presented in Australia for many years
Clinical Professor Marrelli serves as Assistant Dean of Clinical Education and staffs the glaucoma, retina, and general eye disease clinics at the University of Houston College of Optometry. She is also the secretary of the Optometric Glaucoma Society.
Dr Keith practices at the Eye Care Center, a private group optometry practice in Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry, a member of the American Optometric Association, and serves as Chair of the Minnesota Optometric Association Education Committee.
Speaking of the educational component of O=Mega 19, Optometry Victoria CEO Pete Haydon said, “The clinical conference at O=MEGA19 will be the strongest presented in Australia for many years. We’ve been very eager to get Dr Marrelli here for some time – her reputation is superb, and Dr Keith also comes highly recommended. We think they’ll be wonderful keynotes. We’ll now look to complement these two speakers with the amazing talent we have available locally to produce a program worthy of this inaugural version of O=MEGA.”
Strong Industry Support
Industry support for O=Mega 19 is proving positive with 85 per cent of stands at the buying fair already sold. All the major equipment and lens companies are confirmed to exhibit such as BOC Ophthalmic Instruments, Optimed, Designs For Vision, Hoya Lens Australia, ZEISS, Essilor, J & J and Contact Lens Centre Australia. They have been joined by frame and sunglass brands including Maui Jim, Eyes Right Optical, Optique Line, and Frames Etcetera.
Speaking of support for the conference and buying fair Finola Carey ODMA CEO said, “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Bausch & Lomb on board as Platinum sponsor in a first ever sponsorship for us. We also welcome Alcon as Diamond sponsor, joining all our loyal exhibitors of many years. It heralds a new era of unity in the industry with every facet of optics united under the one roof and working together for the good of the industry”.
O=Mega 19 will take place from 19-21 July 2019 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Visit: omega19.com.au
