For all YO members: please register directly via Zoom using the link at the bottom of this page. You do not need to register as a 'non-member' on the event page.
Join us for an informative evening with Adjunct Professor Hemal Mehta presenting on New Treatments for Geographic Atrophy and Dr Robert Chong presenting on Causes of Vitreous Haemorrhage. This practical session will focus on recognising key clinical signs, interpreting modern imaging, understanding the latest evidence for emerging treatments, and knowing when timely referral can make a difference.
Learn how recent advances in complement inhibition are changing the outlook for patients with geographic atrophy, including which patients may benefit from treatment, how to counsel them regarding expectations, the treatment burden, and potential risks. The session will also provide a practical and structured approach to assessing vitreous haemorrhage, including common causes, complications, investigations and referral pathways through real-world case discussions.
New Treatments for Geographic Atrophy (A/Prof Hemal Mehta)
Recognition of geographic atrophy, OCT interpretation, complement inhibition, pivotal clinical trials, patient selection, counselling and referral.
Learning Objectives
- Recognise and assess geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration, including the clinical and imaging features associated with disease progression and the risk of future visual function loss.
- Critically interpret the efficacy evidence from the pivotal OAKS, DERBY, GATHER1 and GATHER2 clinical trials, including reductions in geographic atrophy lesion growth and the influence of lesion location and treatment frequency on outcomes.
- Identify patients who may be appropriate for referral for consideration of geographic atrophy treatment, taking into account lesion characteristics, disease stage, visual function, fellow-eye status, treatment burden and patient preferences.
- Counsel patients regarding the anticipated benefits, limitations and risks of complement inhibitor therapy, including the need for repeated intravitreal injections and monitoring for macular neovascularisation, intraocular inflammation, endophthalmitis, ischaemic optic neuropathy and retinal vasculitis.
Adjunct Professor Hemal Mehta is an ophthalmologist in Sydney specialising in the management of macular disease and cataract surgery. He is Co-Director of Clinical Trials at Strathfield Retina Clinic and is internationally recognised for his contributions to retinal research, having served as principal or sub-investigator on more than 50 retina clinical trials.
He was an investigator on the landmark OAKS and GATHER2 studies that established the first therapies to slow geographic atrophy progression. He is a Section Editor for Eye and has authored more than 75 peer-reviewed publications, including national and international consensus guidelines on cataract management in patients with macular disease. He serves on the steering committees of the Fight Retinal Blindness! Registry and the CUREOS research network and completed research fellowships at Sydney Eye Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, contributing to his higher research degree through the University of Cambridge on novel endpoints in diabetic retinopathy clinical trials.
A/Prof Mehta is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia, where he co-supervises PhD students investigating the mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration using the Sarks pathology archive, and currently serves on the RANZCO Therapeutics Committee.
Causes of Vitreous Haemorrhage (Dr Robert Chong)
Signs and symptoms, causes, investigations, complications, natural history and case-based management of vitreous haemorrhage.
Learning Objectives
- Recognise the common signs and symptoms of vitreous haemorrhage and develop an appropriate clinical assessment.
- Differentiate the major causes of vitreous haemorrhage, including retinal vascular disease, posterior vitreous detachment, trauma and other retinal pathology.
- Understand the natural history, investigation and potential complications of vitreous haemorrhage to guide management and referral decisions.
- Apply clinical knowledge through case-based discussions to optimise patient care and referral pathways.
Dr Robert Chong is a Medical Retina Specialist with expertise in age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and other retinal diseases. He is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney and runs a Retina Clinic at Sydney Eye Hospital, where he teaches ophthalmology trainees, retinal fellows and medical students. He has been an investigator in numerous interventional retinal clinical trials and has extensive experience in anti-VEGF therapy and retinal laser treatment.
Following ophthalmology specialist training in Sydney, Dr Chong completed two Medical Retina fellowships at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and Southwest Eye Hospital in Chongqing, China, supported by competitive scholarships from RANZCO and the Australian Government. He has a longstanding commitment to outreach ophthalmology through the Royal Flying Doctor Service Outback Eye Service, providing retinal care to rural and remote communities across north-west New South Wales. He is a Fellow of RANZCO, a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Retinal Specialists and the American Society of Retinal Specialists, and speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese.
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 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.
Ti CPD hours have been applied 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!
