BCLA promises action-packed programme
2023 BCLA Medallist, Professor Eric Papas
The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) is promising an “action-packed programme” for its June clinical conference and exhibition in Manchester.
The line-up features keynote presentations delivered by Dr Gregory Sawyer on ‘The art of contact lens comfort’ and ‘More advanced understanding of the tear film and how it interfaces with a contact lens’ – while Professor Eric Papas will present the BCLA Medal Address titled ‘How football, luck and good people saved me from the golf course’.
Professor Papas said: “I’ve had a varied career path but I will talk about how I got started working with albinism, then working with industry to develop multifocal contact lenses and silicone hydrogels. I will reflect on work to understand ocular surface responses to contact lens wear and associated care solutions as well as contact lens related discomfort. I will finish up with a look at our work on MGD, dry eye and the tear film.”
Dr Sonia Trave-Huarte will present the Irving Fatt Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Dry eye management and treatment studies. Bringing my research to the field’, while Frank Schaeffel will deliver a keynote on ‘Visual cues for emmetropisation and mechanisms of myopia’.
The three-day clinical conference and exhibition returns to Manchester Central on 9-11 June and is designed to showcase world-class, clinically relevant research while nurturing new researchers, clinicians and young academics to present at this level.
Key features of the event, which is the first face-to-face BCLA clinical xonference to be held since 2019, include dedicated lecture tracks, workshops, peer-review sessions and free sessions at the exhibitor’s product pavilion. At least 45 CPD (UK) points in a range of domains are expected to be available throughout the conference.
BCLA chief executive, Luke Stevens-Burt, said: “This meeting will deliver the latest innovation and clinical insight, with world class speakers on all areas of contact lenses and ocular surface health. It promises to be a weekend to remember, featuring a host of passionate speakers who can inspire eye care professionals to make a real difference to patients’ lives and ensure we are ‘always learning’.”
As a new initiative for 2023, the BCLA is offering attendees micro-credential certificates at the end of the conference if they have gained the necessary credits. Micro-credentials are bite-sized chunks of learning that can help you to develop knowledge and skills in a specific area and identify that an individual has focused their learning on a particular specialism. Micro-credential certificates are being offered at the conference in four topics: Advanced Contact Lenses, Dry Eye, Myopia Control and Ocular Health.
A series of social events to be held throughout the conference will give delegates the opportunity to network with fellow eye care professionals. BCLA Celebrates – a fun evening of entertainment incorporating the BCLA awards ceremony – will be held at Manchester’s Imperial War Museum on the Saturday night.
Alcon, CooperVision and Johnson & Johnson Vision Care are Platinum sponsors of this year’s conference. Gold sponsors are Bausch + Lomb and Menicon.
Full programme details and booking information for the conference can be found at www.bcla.org.uk
Read a BCLA conference preview in next month’s Dispensing Optics – out on 1 May.