RANZCO 2023

March 1, 2024

RANZCO 2023

Now that the festive season and new year rush has settled down, we have had time to reflect on the year that was 2023. Our team of Ophthalmologists and Orthoptists had many highlights of continued education throughout the year including being part of the hosting committee for the Australian and New Zealand Strabismus Society Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney and attending NSW branch Orthoptic meetings.

A stand out for the whole team was the joint 54th Annual Scientific Congress of RANZCO (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists) and 79th Orthoptics Australia Annual Conference which was held in Perth.

The orthoptic team took an early flight to Perth to see the beautiful Rottnest Island (and make friends with the unique inhabitants, the quokkas!) before getting stuck into 3 days of learning about the latest updates, research and products in eye care from Australia and around the world. Hot topics included myopia control in adolescence, advances in cataract surgery and intra-ocular lens selection, glaucoma and strabismus surgical techniques.

Our eye doctors were hard at work presenting the research they had conducted over the previous years and sitting on panels, giving expert opinions on complex cases.Dr Caroline Catt gives the Paediatric Update during Congress

Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists’ Director Dr Caroline Catt gave the conference’s paediatrics update, covering all the latest advancements in children’s eye care. Myopia control has dominated recent research in paediatric ophthalmology and Dr Catt covered updates on new lens technology which is showing promising results including peripheral defocus lenses (H.A.L.T – Stellest, DIMS – MiYOSMART, MiSight). She also provided comprehensive updates on Atropine drug therapy and the newly emerging research on repeated low-level red light (RLRL) therapy.

Dr Craig Donaldson gave insightful opinions as panel member on the “management strategies for strabismic conditions” talk where complex and challenging cases of double vision and eye turns are discussed.

Our newest ophthalmologists Dr Hugo Lee and Dr Linda Zheng also presented paediatric updates. Dr Hugo Lee gave an update on the treatment of eyelid conditions in children including ptosis. Dr Linda Zheng presented research on treating allergic conjunctivitis in children, including treatment with Immuno-therapy.

The orthoptic team also presented research which was conducted at Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists, with both Genevieve Ebbutt and Angela Serna presenting at the Orthoptics Australia Annual Conference. Genevieve presented a paper on vision outcomes in children with congenital cataracts and Angela presented an informative review of convergence insufficiency treatments.

The whole team have been busy putting all that we learnt into practice at the clinic and are excited about upcoming continued education opportunities in 2024.