by Zina Mobarak, FY1 Doctor, Manchester University Foundation Trust, UK.
The Belfast Eye conference was held online over two days, aimed at anyone interested in ophthalmology and focused on delivering informative talks from specialists in various ophthalmic specialties and presenting current research in these areas.
Dr Williams, UG and PG Lead at the RCOphth, opened the conference, outlining the agenda for the rest of the weekend. He kicked off the first talk, giving an overview of imaging modalities used in ophthalmology. Following this, Ms Shirley gave an insight into conditions within paediatric ophthalmology, such as Coat’s disease or retinoblastoma, and current screening services offered. Other talks from the first day included informative presentations on oculoplastics, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, neuro-ophthalmology and ocular trauma. For those of us interested in applying to ophthalmology, Ms Weisner gave advice on the portfolio. There was a virtual poster hall showcasing excellent research from delegates that we had been given time to look at and ask questions about during the breaks.
A highlight of the first day was the talk on diabetic eye disease from Professor Virgili. He explained how visual impairment due to causes such as cataracts, refractive error, glaucoma and AMD is decreasing with better healthcare, however, diabetic retinopathy is increasing, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
The second day provided us with another fantastic programme. The first talk was on translational ophthalmology and new research within the specialty. Dr Csincsik then talked about eye involvement in neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, and novel developments within this. Dr Bell then gave a thorough overview of diabetic retinopathy, followed by a fascinating talk by Professor Medina on repairing blood vessels in retinal ischaemia, with a large focus on vascular repair in diabetic retinopathy. He discussed his research on the use of endothelial colony forming cells, which are angiogenic, and their use in repairing the ischaemic retinal vasculature.
The afternoon session began with a talk from Professor Jackson giving us a better understanding of the role of optometrists within ophthalmology. The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to oral presentations from delegates, providing an impressive selection of work and research. A standout presentation was from Essemfon Nikanga on strabismus in a hospital in Nigeria, as it gave a better insight into a tertiary hospital in a developing country, and it was interesting to learn about how demographics and co-morbidities differ from the UK.
Overall, the conference was a great success. Its online format allowed it to be accessible for all and provided a very easy platform to ask questions to the speakers. The topics chosen were highly engaging and the oral presentations were of excellent quality.
