Experienced US optometrist Dr Brenda Montecalvo headlined the recent Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO) conference on the Gold Coast, which attracted more than 110 optometrists and vision therapists from across the country.
“The 2024 ACBO Connect conference was a huge success with excellent education that we were able to share with wonderful colleagues and friends,” said ACBO Executive Director Steve Leslie. “And it is so helpful to be able to put what we learned in the talks and workshops into practice on Monday.”
Dr. Montecalvo of Ohio, the keynote speaker at the event held July 6-7, 2024, is chair of the Division of Vision Rehabilitation of the American Optometric Association and past president of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.
At ACBO, she presented on a variety of clinical and theoretical topics, including assessment and treatment of strabismus, visual factors in writing, autism and vision, assessment and treatment of vision problems in patients who have suffered a stroke, visual factors related to mathematics, and current research on the functions and effects of ipRGC cells in the retina.
Another international guest, Canadian optometrist Dr. Angela Peddle, founding president of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation Association, spoke alongside her.
She explained the principles and practice of programming and delivering vision therapy for a range of vision disorders including accommodation and convergence disorders, eye movement disorders, concussion-related vision problems, and learning-related vision problems.
Participants were then tasked with designing treatment plans for these conditions, including glasses and vision therapy, and comparing different approaches to Dr. Peddle’s treatment. This created valuable discussion and learning opportunities, ACBO said.
ACBO 2024 sponsors Rodenstock Australia, BOC Instruments, Good Optical Services and FAL Lawyers had their hands full as attendees spent breaks chatting to exhibitors, asking questions, viewing and purchasing equipment.
“The annual dinner on the theme of Red and Blue or Red and Green (test and therapy glasses) was a great success,” said Leslie.
“The same goes for the annual auction of perfectly aged wines from Rockford and other Barossa producers, which raised $5,000 for the Susan Larter Vision Trust. The Trust is named in honour of optometrist Susan Larter, who died suddenly while serving as President of the ACBO. The Trust provides funds for patients who otherwise cannot afford optometric vision therapy. The evening ended with a chat amongst colleagues and some dancing.
Award winners
The 2024 ACBO Connect Conference also featured an awards ceremony where three members were honored for their outstanding service to patients and the profession.
The Keith Woodland Award was presented to Ms Lesley Vedelago of Vedelago Optometrists in Browns Plains, Queensland for her outstanding contribution to behavioural vision care.
“Receiving the Keith Woodland Award was a great surprise for me. I am very honoured to be recognised for my contribution to behavioural optometry, particularly neuro-optometric rehabilitation and chronic fatigue syndrome,” she said.
“My passion for neuro-optometric rehabilitation was sparked after a family member suffered a traumatic brain injury and my mother suffered a stroke 37 years ago. Early in my career, it was clear to me that behavioral optometry could play an important role in the vision rehabilitation of our patients with TBI, stroke, and neurological impairments (including CP, CFS, MS, ADD, ADHD, autism spectrum, etc.) and significantly improve their quality of life.”
The Graham Peachey Award was presented to Ms Liz Wason of EyeSense in Leederville, Western Australia, for her contribution to behaviour education.
“When I look at the list of past award winners, I am proud to be part of such a valued and admired group of people who have taught and inspired me throughout my career,” she said.
“I believe in sharing my skills and knowledge with the intention of contributing in some way to the betterment of our profession by providing exceptional patient care. ACBO is such a wonderful group of caring and compassionate optometrists who I consider to be intelligent and caring colleagues, so I am grateful and a little shocked to be recognized in this way.”
The President’s Award for significant contribution to ACBO and behavioural eye care went to Mr Steve Leslie, Managing Director of ACBO and also of EyeSense in Western Australia.
“I started learning the concepts and clinical practices of behavioral optometry in 1983 and have learned as much as I can from Australian pioneers such as Graham Peachey and Chris Henderson, and American practitioners such as Don Getz and Bob Kraskin. And I have enjoyed sharing the never-ending learning process with many great colleagues who are dear friends,” he said.
Further reading
An answer to Visual Snow Syndrome? – Dr. Terry Tsang and Dr. Charles Shidlofsky
Vale Margaret Banks – Australia’s first behavioural optometrist
Explaining Visual Snow Syndrome — A/Prof Clare Fraser
