As new treatments emerge and diagnostic technologies advance, the profession of optometry is reshaping in real time. In this dynamic environment, staying informed isn’t enough. Optometrists need to be adaptable, clinically sharp and confident – ready to lead with clarity, even when the clinical path isn’t straightforward. Optometry Clinical Conference 2025 has been designed to guide you on the way.
Optometry is evolving at a pace we’ve never seen before.
Take the recent emergence of treatments for geographic atrophy. What was once an untreatable condition is now entering a new therapeutic era. For us, that means detecting changes, like hyper-reflective drusen or nascent atrophy on optical coherence tomography – long before symptoms arise. And it’s not just about spotting these signs. We help patients make sense of treatment options, navigating shared decisions and co-managing care with ophthalmologists. That’s where confidence becomes crucial – not as bravado, but as the calm assurance that comes from clinical readiness.
this conference bridges the gap between knowing and doing
Artificial intelligence is also becoming part of daily practice. Machine learning tools are helping with triage and image interpretation. But no matter how advanced the tool, it is the optometrist who makes the final call. These technologies require us to verify results, explain their relevance, and decide how they fit into the bigger picture. Integrating AI into clinical practice effectively requires clinical judgment, clear communication and confidence.
We’re also seeing more complexity in areas like presbyopia management. Multifocal contact lens fitting today is a nuanced process. It depends on centration, pupil size, lighting and binocular balance. When done well, it can reduce refits and increase patient satisfaction. But success isn’t accidental – it comes from technical precision, understanding the lens designs, and the confidence to fine-tune every fitting based on real-world feedback.
Meanwhile, our scope continues to broaden. Conversations about cardiovascular health, diabetes management, and even genetic testing have long been part of many consults. These aren’t peripheral topics, they’re central to how we support holistic patient-centred care. They require a confident communicator, someone who can make ethical referrals and navigate complex patient scenarios with clarity and compassion.
At the same time, patients are changing too. Australians are more informed and more focussed on values. Many are choosing providers who reflect their priorities, such as sustainability, transparency and ethical care. This means our role also includes showing the value and purpose behind the care we deliver. It’s not just about what we do – it’s about why it matters.
Optometry Clinical Conference 2025
More than just a CPD event, the Optometry Clinical Conference 2025 is a place to grow your clinical confidence and connect with what matters most in practice.
As our professional scope evolves and technologies reshape how we care for patients, this is where optometrists gain the skills that truly matter. From interpreting OCT scans and accurately fitting multifocal contact lenses, to leading collaborative care conversations and integrating AI tools with sound clinical reasoning – this conference bridges the gap between knowing and doing.
Taking place on 17 and 18 August at CENTREPIECE, Melbourne Park, the Optometry Clinical Conference 2025 offers up to 14 CPD hours, including up to five therapeutic interactive hours, through a practical and relevant program built by optometrists who understand the challenges you face.
Program highlights include:
- Professor Robyn Guymer on early detection and co-management of geographic atrophy
- Professor Celia Chen on clinically efficient anisocoria triage
- Jane Duffy on navigating Medicare compliance and ensuring clinical records meet legal, ethical and audit standards
- Richard Johnson on prescribing insights from a decade of therapeutic care in New Zealand
- Choose from four expert-led workshops: master soft multifocal lens fitting, explore virtual reality visual field testing, sharpen your gonioscopy technique, or gain practical skills in foreign body removal in a hands-on, ophthalmologist-led session.
From leading ophthalmologists to optometrists with years of first-hand experience, every session is designed to be clinically relevant, practical, and immediately applicable in practice.
Whether you’re aiming to build confidence in a new skill, refine your clinical judgement, or reconnect with your peers, the Optometry Clinical Conference 2025 is your opportunity to invest in the kind of learning that makes a difference – for you and your patients.
Register now at: occ.optometry.org.au
Timothy Lo is the President of Optometry Victoria South Australia.
Nancy Atkinson is the President of Optometry Queensland Northern Territory.
John Kingshott is the President of Optometry Tasmania.
