- CONFIDENTIAL TO MEMBERS OF THE NZ ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS -

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS

MEMBER NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2017

TOTAL VISION CARE TOTAL VISION CARE

Over 150 delegates turned out for the

wide range of lectures and excellent

speakers of the 87th Annual

Conference, held over a sunny

Hamilton weekend on 13 - 15th

October. Attendees were treated to a

wide range of topics, from

international and New Zealand based

speakers.

Our two keynote speakers for 2017,

both from Australia, were Michael

Yapp from the Centre for Eye Health,

and Sharon Bentley, Director of

Clinical Services at the Australian

College of Optometry in Melbourne.

Michael Yapp was a big hit, presenting

four intriguing lectures over the three

day conference. His first presentation

provided delegates with practical

advice when interpreting ocular

imaging. He also discussed glaucoma

diagnosis and highlighted some clinical

pearls he learnt from working in a

glaucoma diagnostic and management

clinic.

On the Saturday, Michael talked about

AMD and discussed the structural risk

factors that have been shown to

increase AMD’s risk of progression. His

final presentation finished on a series

of cases studies to test delegates

differential diagnostic abilities.

Our second keynote speaker, Sharon

Bentley, had a focus on low vision.

Sharon’s first talk looked at falls

prevention and showed what vision

aids optometrists can prescribe to

NZAO 87th ANNUAL CONFERENCE reduce risk. How and when an

optometrist should tell their patient to

hang up their car keys due to poor

vision was Sharon’s second

presentation. Her last lecture evaluated

the impact low vision has on quality of

life and gave delegates some helpful

low-vision measuring tools to use in

practice.

A group of post-graduate and post-

doctoral researchers from the

University of Auckland presented at this

year’s conference. Priyanka Agarwal, Dr

Akilesh Gokul, Wilson Pan and Dr Safal

Khanal presented on their current

research and shared results from their

investigations.

Dr Nicola Anstice, Professional

Standards Advisor for the ODOB gave

an eye-opening lecture on the

importance of cultural competence in

and outside the practice.

The annual dinner was held on the

Saturday night and Eric’s band from the

Soundcave entertained us all. Delicious

wine and food was enjoyed by all and

the call of the music lured many to the

dance floor to boogie with the band.

Sunday presentations ended with a

panel discussion, presented by Wilson

Sue, to explore Health & Disability

Commissioner cases and reflect on

common issues seen in optometry

related complaints. Wilson provided

real-life cases and delegates gave their

input as to how they would best

manage these sticky situations.

Annual dinner

Renee Edgar, Courtenay Le Cheminant & Jenny Stewart

Alistair Thompson, Gary Crowley & Brian Gifford

Murray Rogers and Jane Langford

2 | New Zealand Association of Optometrists

DATA SHEETS

NEW

Tradename Active ingredient(s) Dose form

DP-Travoprost

travoprost eye drops solution

UPDATED

Tradename Active ingredient Dose form

Sofradex dexamethason; framycetin; gramicidin

ear/eye drops

Travatan travoprost eye drops

Mydriacyl tropicamide eye drops

Additions to the

Medsafe Website

from 11 Sept -

13 October

CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

UPDATED

Tradename Active ingredient(s) Dose form

Travatan travoprost eye drops

Sofradex dexamethason; framycetin; gramicidin

ear/eye drops

Mydriacyl tropicamide eye drops

Membership Subs

Now Due

Subscription payments for the

2017-2018 year are now due.

Invoices have been sent by email

to all members. If you didn’t

receive your invoice, or require a

receipt, please email

admin@nzao.co.nz. Subscriptions

were agreed upon at the AGM

during conference. The

subscription amount remains

unchanged from last year.

AGM Update

The Association's Annual Meeting was held on Saturday afternoon at conference this

year. Fifty-seven hardy souls attended as President Callum Milburn opened the

meeting and called the assembly to order using the dark oak gavel purchased for the

occasion. After the welcome, the apologies and the proxies were dealt with the

meeting stood in silence remembering members Michael Hopley and Gordon

Sanderson who passed away during the previous year.

The officers for the ensuing year were announced: our new President is Rochelle van

Eysden and in support is Chelsey Wood as our new Vice-President.

The business of approving minutes of last AGM, adopting this year’s annual report

and approving the financial statements passed smoothly and the subscription for the

current year was confirmed unchanged from previous years being set at $1185

(excluding GST) for a full subscription.

The main topic of discussion under general business was the funding opportunities

available within the NZAO Education and Research Fund. It was noted that most of

the funding for advanced clinical training in the 2016-2017 year had been approved

for the 80-hour glaucoma credentialing program at Auckland DHB.

Currently, Auckland District Health Board is the only regional DHB to offer a program

of clinical study building on the Optometrist and Dispensing Opticians Board 20-hour

glaucoma endorsement requirement for independently treating glaucoma. The

Auckland DHB eye department has plans to discharge selected patients to

community care as DHB patients, with planned review dates for department

appointments.

The purpose of NERF, which is a charitable trust registered with the Charities

Commission, is to provide financial assistance for optometric education, learning,

and research for the benefit of the community. With this in mind and being

cognisant of the benefit that optometrists credentialed to provide glaucoma care in

the community can provide, especially when the eye department is failing to provide

timely follow-up appointments, it was entirely appropriate that NERF support this

training opportunity.

From the further discussions it seems optometrists in other DHB regions do not yet

have similar training programs and in some areas it is difficult to obtain DHB

cooperation for achieving the 20-hours clinic time necessary to obtain ODOB

endorsement for glaucoma prescribing. However, despite the slow time-frames for

advancement in some regions it can be seen that there is in inexorable increase in

recognition of the ways in which optometrists can contribute to the supply of clinical

eye health services.

It was encouraging to hear of some of the steps being taken in places such as Hawkes

Bay and Wellington where DHB glaucoma specialists are working with optometrists

to enable the involvement of optometry in managing glaucoma patients. Although it

seems strict guidelines are being set and the co-management process might not

provide much independence for optometrists progress is being made.

On a more optimistic note it was good to hear that the Ministry of Health has told

the DHBs and the Optometry Expert Advisory Group that the Eye Departments must

find a new way of working and they will not be able to just keep repeating the same

old formula as they have done for so many years.

www.nzao.co.nz | 3

J Neuroophthalmol. 2017 Sep 6. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000572. [Epub ahead of print]

Visual Structure and Function in Collision Sport Athletes. Leong D1, Morettin C, Messner LV, Steinmetz RJ, Pang Y, Galetta SL, Balcer LJ.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vision-based measures have been shown to be useful markers in multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Therefore, these testing paradigms may have applications to populations explaining repetitive head trauma that has been associated with long-term neurodegenerative sequelae. We investigated retinal structure and visual function in professional collision sport athletes compared to age- and race-matched control participants.

METHODS:

In this cross-sectional study, participants underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC = ganglion cell + inner plexiform layers) thickness. High-contrast visual acuity (100% level), low-contrast letter acuity (LCLA) (1.25% and 2.5% levels), and King-Devick Test of rapid number naming performance were administered. Vision-specific quality of life (QOL) measures were assessed.

RESULTS:

Among 46 collision sport athletes (boxing, n = 14; football, n = 29; ice hockey, n = 3) and 104 control participants, average RNFL thickness was a significant predictor of athlete vs control status with athletes demonstrating 4.8-μm of thinning compared to controls (P = 0.01, generalized estimating equation [GEE] models accounting for age and within-subject, intereye correlations). Athlete vs control status was not a predictor of RNFL thickness for the subgroup of football players in this cohort (P = 0.60). Binocular (P = 0.001) and monocular (P = 0.02) LCLA at 2.5% contrast and vision-specific QOL (P = 0.04) were significant predictors of athlete vs control status (GEE models accounting for age and within-subject, intereye correlations). Rapid number naming performance times were not significantly different between the control and athlete groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study showed that retinal axonal and neuronal loss is present among collision sport athletes, with most notable differences seen in boxers. These findings are accompanied by reductions in visual function and QOL, similar to patterns observed in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Vision-based changes associated with head trauma exposure that have the potential to be detected in vivo represent a unique opportunity for further study to determine if these changes in collision sport athletes are predictive of future neurodegeneration.

PMID: 28885451

DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000000572

Sports Vision returned to conference in 2017 Wellington optometrist Renee Edgar took the plunge to share her growing passion for sports vision in practice and found that

many of the delegates at this year’s conference were interested to hear of the practical application of this fast evolving area.

Renee expanded on the concept that Vision is more than just what we see but also how we see things and what to do with

that information. Sports vision is an evolving area that appreciates that the vision required is more dynamic and thus different

testing techniques should be used to understand how the athlete sees when they are performing. Optimal vision correction is

important but investigating the accuracy of vision and the processing of that information forms the basis of a comprehensive

sports vision specific examination. She concluded by talking about what extra tests should be included and how to go about

enhancing these visual skills?

Having left with a heightened awareness of the particularities of vision testing iand correction in sport I was intrigued by the

very recent article in the Journal of Neuroophthalmology concerning the consequences of sport on vision function. The ab-

stract is reprinted below and provides a mirror view to vision affecting sport by looking at how some sport can affect vision.

4 | New Zealand Association of Optometrists

New Imaging project needs optometrist partner(s)

Ehsan Vaghefi is heading a project to develop a novel imaging modality, based on laser raster scan and stereo camera triangulation.

This imaging modality will be capable of providing very rapid scan of the anterior and posterior eye.

Using these scans we can measure the surface curvatures of the cornea, anterior and posterior lens and structure of the retinal vasculature in the back of the eye. These data are presented to the clinician using our in house developed visualization software.

We are looking for an enthusiastic optometry partner for initial tests and follow up clinical trials.

These involve participant recruitment through the practice, using our device for imaging the patient and analysis of the processed data by the registered optometrist. Ideally and to ensure the diversity of our participants, our clinical partner will include multiple practice locations, with at least one practice in Auckland. If you are interested please email Dr Ehsan Vaghefi e.vaghefi@auckland.ac.nz or call him on 021 10 27 77 05

Practitioner PhD studentship

There is a fully funded PhD position on offer for a NZ-registered practicing optometrist. This would suit a person with 3-4 years experience in practice who is looking to return to study and complete a doctorate.

The thesis will build on prior research that has shown that undergoing cataract surgery increases the chances of pos-terior vitreous detachment and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment significantly and that patients who have under-gone vitrectomy have a significant higher chance of developing cataracts.

We believe that the key in these correlations is the linked ‘hydration state’ of the anterior and posterior eye. Since the fluid flow of these two parts of the eye are interlinked, any surgical operation and replacing part of the eye will change the fluid equilibrium of the tissue. We believe that this can be monitored by measuring the ‘hydration’ state of the eye before and after surgery. We have developed an MRI routine to measure these parameters.

In this doctoral project we focus on recruiting patients that are about to undergo cataract surgery or vitrectomy. The participants are then imaged immediately before and after the operation, as well as annually for five years. The pa-tient recruitment will be done through ADHB and WDHB eye clinics. The supervisory team are Drs Vaghefi, Polking-horn, De Souza and Donaldson.

This is a fully funded full-time project, which covers university fees, living expenses, as well as professional costs (e.g. indemnity insurance, …). If interested please email Dr Ehsan Vaghefi e.vaghefi@auckland.ac.nz or call him on 021 10 27 77 05

Best regards

Ehsan

Dr Ehsan Vaghefi

Senior Lecturer

School of Optometry and Vision Science

University of Auckland

Phone: 09 3737599 - Ext: 81036 DDI: 09 9231036

News from the School of Optometry

and Vision Science

www.nzao.co.nz | 5

Regarding this advisory from Pharmac:

NZAO National Office has received clarification from Pharmac that it is not their intention that a prospective diagnosis of bacterial keratitis requires chloramphenicol as first line treatment.

INFORMATION FOR ALL OPTOMETRIST AUTHORISED PRESCRIBERS:

6 | New Zealand Association of Optometrists

VOSO Dinner

Fundraiser

Dine any Tuesday night for the month

of November at Merediths restaurant

in Mount Eden and the cost of your

meal will be donated to VOSO.

Bookings are essential so contact

Merediths at info@merediths.co.nz

Volunteer Ophthalmic Services

Overseas (VOSO) is a New Zealand

charitable trust that provides free eye

aid to the Pacific. They are a

completely voluntary based service

that have been supported for over 30

years by optometrists, and

ophthalmologists alike.

Latest Issue of

Clinical and

Experimental

Optometry Journal

Now Available

Volume 100, Issue 5

Pages e17 - e20, 409 -

545, September 2017

The September

issue of Clinical and

Experimental

Optometry is now

available.

To access the journal, go to the members

area on the NZAO website and click on

‘Journal of Clinical and Experimental

Optometry’ under the ‘TVC and Journals’

heading. From here, you will be directed to

a link that gives you full access to current

and previous journal issues.

The Save Sight Society is a charitable incorporated society with the main aims of

raising public awareness of the causes of blindness, preventing eye injuries,

improving the quality of and access to eye care in New Zealand and promoting

research into the causes of eye diseases and their treatment.

As part of the Save Sight Society's long term commitment to research, over

$700,000 in grants have been awarded since 2003 to ophthalmologists, trainee

ophthalmologists, and University Departments of Ophthalmology. These funds

have resulted in publications in highly ranked international journals, provided a

springboard to further funding and have supported emerging New Zealand

clinicians and scientists. Recent grant project reports summarising the outcomes

of funding can be viewed at http://www.savesightsociety.org.nz/grants.html

Membership benefits include:

A 10% discount on registration fees for the annual Save Sight Society

conference

Eligibility to attend and vote in the AGM

The opportunity to support cutting edge research in ophthalmology and

related fields

Access to the John Parr Collection of digital images for teaching (see

attachment for more information)

To find out more about becoming a member of Save Sight Society, visit

www.savesightsociety.org.nz or email info@savesight.org.nz

www.nzao.co.nz | 7

Schedule of Optometry Related Events

CPD credits are given below for events where credits have been approved by the Optometrists and Dispensing

Opticians Board. Where credits are yet to be approved the program time is noted in terms of hours of education.

Current CPD cycle is from 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2018

Local CPD Events

Overseas Conferences

DATE EVENT TITLE LOCATION CONTACT CPD CREDITS

4 Nov 2017 Eye Institute Workshop —Practical Indirect

Ophthalmoscopy Auckland amber.p@eyeinstitute.co.nz 1.5 hours

4 Nov 2017 Eye Institute Workshop – Practical Gonioscopy Auckland amber.p@eyeinstitute.co.nz 1.5 hours

5 Nov 2017 Eye Institute-Annual Scientific Conference Auckland amber.p@eyeinstitute.co.nz 5.58 CD + 0.5

gen

8 Nov 2017 Eye Doctors Grand Rounds Auckland practicemanager@eyedoctors.co.nz 1.75 CD

13 Nov 2017 City Eye Seminar Series Auckland Sharron@cityeye.co.nz 1.5 CD

15 Nov 2017 Advanced Optic Nerve Examination Techniques in

Glaucoma

Hastings belinda@eyesurgeonshawkesbay.co.nz 2 CD

17-19 Nov 2017 Primitive Reflexes, Vision and Learning Wellington niallmc@xnet.co.nz 11.79 gen

20 Nov 2017 Glaucoma Case Review Evening Auckland conference@eyeinstitute.co.nz 2 hours

22 Nov 2017 City Eye Seminar Series Auckland Sharron@cityeye.co.nz 1.5 CD

24 Nov 2017 Educational Evening Dr Chris Murphy Hamilton michaelladolling@gmail.com 2.25 hours

29 Nov 2017 Optometry Lecture Series 2017 Wellington info@capitalvision.nz Application TBA

5 Dec 2017 Bay of Plenty Optometry CPD Forum Tauranga alex@bayeyecare.co.nz Application TBA

10-11 Feb 2018 20th Retina International World Congress Auckland s.barrett@auckland.ac.nz Application TBA

On-going NZAO Clinical Placement Network for Practitioners admin@nzao.co.nz 1.75 credits

This educational programme developed for Members of the NZAO is a network for clinical placements at the rooms of

participating ophthalmologists. It provides practitioners with opportunities to sit in with a professional colleague and learn/

observe/interact one-on-one in a clinical setting. Some practitioners already do this with the surgeons to whom they refer; this

is an extension of that information system. Placements are nominal half days (3.5 hours) scheduled morning or afternoon.

Please login to the member area at the website of NZAO to find out how to enrol into this programme.

DATE EVENT TITLE LOCATION CONTACT CPD CREDITS

11-11 Nov 2017 Blue Sky Congress 2017 Adelaide, Australia l.boschen@optometry.org.au Application pending

8-10 Dec 2017 11th Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS)

Congress

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://www.apvrs.org/# Application TBA

7-8 April 2018 Australian Vision Convention Brisbane, Australia avc@optometry.org.au Application TBA

26-28 May 2018 Southern Regional Congress Melbourne, Australia s.stewart@optometry.org.au Application TBA

Providing Total Vision Care www.nzao.co.nz

Phone: 04 473 2322

Email: admin@nzao.co.nz

NZAO Office

173 Main Road

Tawa

Wellington 5028

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS

- CONFIDENTIAL TO MEMBERS OF THE NZ ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRISTS -

Classified Ads www.nzao.co.nz/classified_ads

If you would like your advert placed in the next TVC and on the NZAO website, please

email membership@nzao.co.nz (Free to our members)

NZAO Postal Address

Po Box 51008

Tawa

Wellington 5249

VACANCIES Paterson Burn Optometrists are looking for an experienced Optometrist to join our team on a locum/contract basis. This position is flexible and requires you to provide cover at any of our Waikato branches during extremely busy periods and covering staff holidays. If you would like to be part of one of the largest independent optometry practice groups in New Zealand, please email your CV and a cover letter to sandri@patersonburn.co.nz or call 07 9035424.

Part Time Optometrists - Specsavers Manukau Full time and part time TPA qualified optometrist wanted with at least one year experience. Continuous education is encouraged and supported. The store is a very busy store and the successful applicants must be available to work full time or part time, one late night and one weekend. Please provide a CV to: dir.manukau.nz@specsavers.com

Fulltime Optometrist required in Queensland. In search of a lifestyle change in tropical Far North Queensland? John Hulme Optometrist, a long established, fully equipped independent Optometry practice requires the services of a full time, experienced optometrist. If you are interested in a career in our full scope practice, and want the freedom to make autonomous decisions, then contact John at john@tabopt.com.au. Partnership opportunities are available after a qualifying period. An attractive salary package is negotiable based on experience.

George & Matilda Eyecare unite independent Optometrists across Australia, our partner optometrists have established themselves as trusted professionals in their community. We currently have opportunities for passionate Optometrists to join us in the following locations: Bundaberg, Noosa, Whitsundays, Launceston, Graduate Opportunities. Generous remuneration packages including salary and relocation support, with a fantastic team environment. If you’re a dynamic Optometrist, passionate about patient care and are looking for a work environment you can be proud of please email Heather at hr@georgeandmatilda.com.au

Professional Teaching Fellow Role Available The School of Optometry & Vision Science has a full-time permanent Professional Teaching Fellow role available beginning mid-February 2018. If you are interested please see full details at: https://www.opportunities.auckland.ac.nz/ Professional Teaching Fellow - Clinical Tutor.

LOCUMS Jayesh Unka - TPA endorsed locum based in Mount Maunganui/Tauranga area. P: 021 148 3817 or E: jayeshu23@gmail.com

Experienced TPA optometrist, Wellington preferred but can travel, Thur & Fri only, please call Annette 04 293 3311 or myotis-13@hotmail.com

Mellissa Teh - locum optometrist available in Auckland. P: 0211571136 or E: hetassillem@gmail.com

Theresa Nowak - B.Optom (1994), Therapeutic qualified. Experienced Locum since 2000. Auckland based but will travel. E: tereska@ihug.co.nz

P: 021 614 661 or 098346661

Erin O'Connor - Based in Nelson but happy to travel. P: 021 635 409 E: eoco001@yahoo.com

Kath Collins - 1994 NZ grad, non TPA.

E: kckathcollins@gmail.com P: 021 037 8672

Sarah Augenstein - Locum available, Auckland and surrounding area. P: 021 113 0934

E: augensteinsarah@gmail.com

Adrian Young - P: 021 152 6522 E: y_adrian@paradise.net.nz

Bharat Raniga - Experienced TPA qualified Locum available. 021424253 E: bharatraniga@yahoo.com

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Hand Held Burton Lamp UV and White including spare tubes German made frame heater inc spare element. Various optical pliers Range of frames including Silhouette Adidas Charmant William Morris Morell price negotiable. Contact Martyn eyesite48@gmail.com

Digital retinal camera (DRS) for sale used for 2 years and not used for a year as have upgraded to OCT. Picture transmits to iPad which is included, or to a computer. All manuals etc $7,500 plus Gst and delivery. Contact micktoll@xtra.co.nz

OPSM VACANCIES - Please contact Hirdesh Nair for details at: +64 21 523 282 hirdesh.nair@luxottica.com.au Bayfair, Tauranga | Thames, Thames-Coromandel Queensgate, Wellington | Lambton Quay, Wellington Dunedin, Otago | The Crossings, Christchurch Masteron, Wellington | Wellington Relief, Wellington Region

Optometrist, for Foate Optometry Christchurch, a family business based on long term patient relationships. TPA optometrist with general experience in all areas, preferably in a NZ independent practice. Highly developed communication skills and an understanding of the importance of the patient experience are essential. Not simply a consulting room based role, applicants must also have dispensing skills. Must be able to make a positive contribution to our small team. Full time position. Please provide CV with employment history & references to recruitment@foate.co.nz

Optometrist/12 Month Fixed Contract Grant & Douglas Optometry & Eyewear is looking for an Optometrist to join our team on a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. We are an independent optometry practice providing excellent eye care with a personalised service. We have 2 locations - Hastings & Havelock North - within a 10 minute drive of each other. Our practices are busy, modern and well equipped enabling full scope clinical optometry. You will be supported by a friendly, experienced and professional team. Ideally starting in early December 2017, we operate Monday to Friday only. No weekends! If you would like the opportunity to enjoy the lovely climate and lifestyle of Hawkes Bay then please email your application to Anna Byers abyers@grantanddouglas.co.nz

OPTOMETRIST required - Dunedin Full time or part time for a busy long established Dunedin private practice. Must be TPA qualified. We require an eager colleague with an innate interest in people and supreme communication skills. In return, we offer the opportunity to practice full scope optometry in spacious, well equipped rooms, with experienced support staff; 45 minute (negotiable) exam time allotments. Salary to be negotiated. Would consider a new graduate – full mentoring offered. Reply in confidence to “Optometrist” PO Box 5670, Dunedin, 9058 or email Jack Crawford at jack@fccdunedin.health.nz