YO Webinar - Eye Emergencies in Practice: Triage, Referral and Communication for Optometrists (24 Jun 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Not sure when to refer, where to send patients, or who to call? Join us for an interactive session with consultant ophthalmologists and senior ophthalmology registrars from Sydney Eye Hospital covering vitreoretinal, paediatric and adult ophthalmic emergencies.

This session will provide practical guidance on referral urgency, appropriate referral destinations, and interim patient management while awaiting specialist review. Learn how to navigate NSW public ophthalmology referral pathways, communicate effectively with on-call ophthalmology teams, and determine whether patients should be referred to the Emergency Department or an outpatient ophthalmology service.

We are fortunate to have Dr Jessica Xiong presenting on vitreoretinal emergencies, Dr Liane Papantoniou presenting on paediatric eye emergencies, and Dr Rajeev Naidu presenting on adult ophthalmic emergencies. Join us for an engaging evening of case-based learning and practical advice to help you confidently assess and facilitate timely referral of patients with ophthalmic emergencies.

For information on how to register, please refer to the registration details at the bottom of this page.

Vitreoretinal Emergencies (Dr Jessica Xiong)

Retinal detachments, vitreous haemorrhage, endophthalmitis, macular holes, PVDs, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and referral pathways.

Learning Objectives

Differentiate common vitreoretinal presentations requiring urgent same-day ophthalmic assessment from conditions suitable for routine outpatient referral.
Identify key clinical findings and risk factors associated with retinal detachment, vitreous haemorrhage and endophthalmitis that influence referral urgency and management.
Provide appropriate patient counselling and referral information to optimise patient safety while awaiting ophthalmic review.

Dr Jessica Xiong is a Vitreoretinal Surgeon and Medical Retina Specialist with appointments as a Consultant Vitreoretinal Specialist at Westmead, Concord and Liverpool Hospitals in Sydney, Australia. She is also an Associate Clinical Lecturer involved in the teaching and supervision of ophthalmology trainees and vitreoretinal fellows.

Dr Xiong completed fellowship training in Medical Retina at Westmead Hospital, followed by a Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, where she served as Chief Fellow. Her clinical interests include complex vitreoretinal surgery, retinal detachment repair, secondary intraocular lens fixation, diabetic eye disease and macular disorders. She has presented her work at numerous national and international meetings including RANZCO, EURETINA, ASRS, CRS and APVRS, has published in peer-reviewed ophthalmic journals, and serves as a reviewer for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. Her ongoing research focuses on vitreoretinal surgical outcomes, retinal detachment repair, secondary intraocular lens techniques and innovations in medical retina.

Paediatric Eye Emergencies (Dr Liane Papantoniou)

Common paediatric emergencies, referral pathways, ED versus outpatient management, paediatric ophthalmology services across NSW.

Learning Objectives

Identify common paediatric ophthalmic presentations that require urgent assessment and distinguish these from conditions suitable for routine outpatient referral.
Determine the most appropriate referral destination for children with ophthalmic emergencies, including the role of Emergency Departments and specialised paediatric ophthalmology services in NSW.
Provide evidence-based advice to parents and carers regarding interim management and red flag symptoms while awaiting ophthalmic assessment.

Dr Liane Papantoniou is a Senior Ophthalmology Registrar within the Sydney Eye Hospital Training Network. Her early career as a music teacher naturally translated into a passion for paediatric ophthalmology, and she is currently the Senior Ophthalmology Registrar at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. She holds a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Medicine (Ophthalmic Science) from the University of Sydney and has successfully completed her RANZCO RACE written and clinical examinations.

Dr Papantoniou’s comprehensive clinical training is complemented by a strong interest in medical education, having served as a RANZCO clinical examination assistant, OSCE examiner and a guest speaker lecturing on emergency eye management for junior doctors and medical students. She is an active contributor to clinical governance and research, having presented at local and state ophthalmology meetings.

Adult Ophthalmic Emergencies (Dr Rajeev Naidu)

Common adult eye emergencies, referral pathways, communicating with on-call ophthalmology teams, ED versus outpatient referrals.

Learning Objectives

Recognise common adult ophthalmic emergencies and determine whether referral to an Emergency Department or outpatient ophthalmology service is most appropriate.
Prioritise ophthalmic referrals according to clinical urgency and prepare referral documentation that facilitates timely patient management.
Demonstrate effective communication strategies when discussing and handing over patients to on call ophthalmology registrars and emergency eye services.

Dr Rajeev Naidu is an Ophthalmology Registrar with the Sydney Eye Hospital Network and currently serves as the Senior Registrar in Eye Casualty at Sydney Eye Hospital. He was also a practising clinical optometrist for over 15 years, providing a unique perspective across both primary and specialist eye care.

After graduating in Optometry from the University of New South Wales, he completed his medical degree at the University of Sydney before undertaking specialist ophthalmology training. He has a strong interest in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus and will commence a Paediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship in the United Kingdom in 2027.

Dr Naidu is the Co-Founder and Director of Eyes of Hope, an optometry-led charity providing accessible eye care and eyewear to people experiencing homelessness across New South Wales. He was the Founding President of Young Optometrists NSW/ACT and remains actively involved in education and collaborative eye care, teaching optometrists, medical students, junior doctors and ophthalmology trainees.

Registration

This webinar is FREE for all YO members. If you have any questions that you would like to send in beforehand, please email them to us at y.optoms@gmail.com.

For YO and StuYO members: to register for the webinar, please click here.

(You do not need to register as a 'non-member' on the event page)

For non-YO members: if you would like to attend, you can either sign up here for a full membership or register just for this event ($39 non-member registration fee). Please email us at y.optoms@gmail.com once this is done so we can approve your Zoom registration.

2.25Ti CPD hours have been approved for this event. A certificate of attendance will be provided at the conclusion of the event.

Special thank you to CooperVision for their unwavering support of Young Optometrists for making these events happen!

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YO Webinar - Eye Emergencies in Practice: Triage, Referral and Communication for Optometrists (24 Jun 2026)