DETAILS OF THE 2007 OIA CONFERENCE

Conference Report

OIA President Monique Hope-Ross and OIA guest lecturer Steve Vernon with Richard Cragg from Nottingham. [See image gallery below » for large image]

The OIA conference began this year with some interesting talks on retinopathy screening. Nationally we are identifying retinopathies and the number of diabetics is increasing. Evidently we are still missing some of the diabetic population and suggestions were invited to catch all cases.

The Certificate in Retinopathy Screening is still ongoing and encouraged by the industry.

Automated screening has been tested again more recently and proved useful and efficient in filtering out zero retinopathy cases, which would allow graders more time to concentrate on those with retinopathy or other duties. There were talks on radiation retinopathy and its likeness to DR, Imaging of animal and human eyes, Imaging in Oncology, diagnosing Stargardts using AF imaging and Electrophysiology.

On day 2, there was an update on drug trials for ARMD with Lucentis most commonly being used, as its safety profile has just been published. The IVAN and NEI trials are ongoing to decide whether to use Avastin or Lucentis. The long term effects of Avastin which is a bowel cancer drug with a larger molecule than Lucentis have yet to be determined. The result for this is due in 3 years. The NICE appraisal for anti Veg-f therapies is due in 2008.

A case study presented by Monique Hope-Ross showed that FFA is needed only at presentation of ARMD. A combination of Lucentis and PDT can be used to treat it and OCT and a clinical examination are needed monthly for monitoring and maintenance.

The next talk illustrated the use of microperimetry and HRT 2 and 3 for ARMD. They both have their advantages and limitations. They have normal databases inbuilt but we must also take into consideration the normal range for the particular patient and know how to interpret the data.

Lastly a talk not for the weak stomached. We were glad they left this one till after lunch. This was an interesting insight into Ocular trauma, graphically illustrated and with an explanation of how they go about dealing with patients who present for example with having golf balls smashed into their eyes or even a knife sunk into their forehead. We were also treated to a Portuguese serenade from Major Gerry Clare while IT posed its normal challenges in between presentations, to fill in the gap.

The free paper sessions showed us imaging in corneal disease and an overview of SLO technology. SLO produces colour images of higher accuracy and are more representative than achieved by existing technologies, for example disc drusen shows more clearly.

All the trade stands brought their newest products and each made a short presentation with Topcon being the most inventive dishing out Rubik cubes and pop up boxes to advertise their product.

OIA will soon have a new website up and running where it will be a more learning based site and if anyone misses meetings or talks in the future there will be a section for downloading lectures if all goes to plan.

The theme for this year's conference was the Wild West. The shooting gallery was a popular attraction! They also had a bucking bronco which was more difficult than it actually looked. There were a few sore heads about the following morning although we were all still lucid enough to enjoy the conference which was thoroughly worthwhile.

Thank you to Medical Imaging for making some places available, I hope some more of you enjoy it as much next year.

OIA 2007 Conference Image Gallery

Click on any of the images below to open the image gallery (large images).


OIA President Monique Hope-Ross and OIA guest lecturer Steve Vernon with Richard Cragg from Nottingham		Medical Imaging team who attended the conference


Jon Hildred and Raphael Sofair shoot it out at The Wild West evening.		Could be Mr Hildred?


Some Trade exhibitors		Mandy & Mike Conference organisors


Steve Aldington