People with keratoconus, their families, friends and the wider keratoconus and eye-carer community, are invited to attend the annual KeraClub meeting, which this will year be presented as a webinar.
Themed, ‘Living with Keratoconus today and beyond’ the webinar will focus on managing keratoconus in a COVID-19 world and beyond.
Themed, ‘Living with Keratoconus today and beyond’ the webinar will focus on managing keratoconus in a COVID-19 world and beyond
KeraClub is a joint initiative of the Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, and Keratoconus Australia. The 2021 event will be held on Monday, 18 October 2021, from 5pm to 6pm AEDT.
This Year’s Presentations
Ophthalmologist Professor Stephanie Watson will discuss issues arising from the COVID-19 lockdowns and in particular, the need to seek immediate assistance if people with keratoconus experience a deterioration in vision.
She will also explore how the Save Sight Keratoconus Registry project is improving outcomes for people with keratoconus and assessing the likelihood that a person’s keratoconus will progress. Professor Watson is the Head of Corneal Research Unit at the Save Sight Institute and Head, Corneal Unit at Sydney Eye Hospital, the Chief investigator of the Save Sight Keratoconus Registry project and Chair of the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia.
Associate Professor Mark Roth, OAM will present on the topic, Allergy, dry eye, eye-rubbing and keratoconus. With the arrival of spring and its annual cargo of pollens, dust and hot northerly winds, A/Prof Roth’s advice and tips will be invaluable for many people with keratoconus – especially those wearing rigid contact lenses. A/Prof Roth is an expert optometrist who will also present his top contact lens management tips for keratoconus.
Dr Himal Kandel, the Kornhauser Research Associate at the Save Sight Keratoconus Registry will present ground-breaking research from the Save Sight Keratoconus registry. The research findings have had a global impact, with papers published in leading international journals and presented at 15 national and international conferences over the past year.
Ms Chloe Davies has been invited as a patient-speaker. Ms Davies has lived with keratoconus for a long time and had her first corneal transplant when she was 12 years old.
“Patient’s perspectives are the centre of the KeraClub, and we are excited to hear Ms Davies’ experience,” said Dr Kandel, who is also an expert on the patient-reported outcomes research.
Mr Larry Kornhauser, OAM, president of Keratoconus Australia, will briefly describe patient support activities conducted by Keratoconus Australia.
As in previous years, KeraClub 21 will be chaired by Ms Michelle Pritchard, an internationally reputed violist and violinist who has also lived most of her life with keratoconus.
Last year KeraClub moved to a webinar only format due to COVID-19 restrictions. Prior to 2020, the KeraClub was an in-person event held at the Sydney Eye Hospital. The talks and panel discussion were followed by a social gathering where participants actively engaged in the informal discussion.
“While the in-person interaction is greatly missed, organising it as a webinar has allowed us to reach a larger number of people and avoid the risks of COVID-19,” said Professor Watson.
Registration for this event is free but essential. Click here for registration. Zoom details for the event will be emailed to the participants closer to the event.
For more information, email: [email protected].
