Conference 2011

As registered health professionals in NZ, every optometrist must complete at least 20 points (roughly 20 hours) of continuing education every year. This ensures that the registered person you see for your eye health needs is up to date with clinical techniques and understanding of the science behind these. Hearing about a company's wonderful new frame or lens product doesn't count!

So, NZAO organises an annual conference along with its AGM, and we were in Wellington for this last week. Speakers included Australian and NZ academics, NZ clinicians and NZ optometrists sharing their stories of disasters (fire and earthquakes) so we learnt some tips as to how to support staff and patients during and after these.

Some of the presentations were very scientific/research orientated - and these are likely to provide clinical tests in the future. And others were of the "this is what you see, now what do you do?" variety. Very useful for the patients even this week back at work!

There is also a social component in a conference - and you learn a lot from discussing the day's lectures over a quiet sauvignon blanc at day's end. And we enjoyed the presentation at the Weta cave in Miramar - thanks to the Taylors in setting up such a great film-making facility in suburban Wellington.