No CPD Points
In this episode, we hear about a scenario in which a sixth nerve palsy was detected in an urgent remote consultation with an elderly patient. We also explore methods that optometrists have at their disposal to detect and manage binocular vision problems in children.
Topics: Binocular vision assessment, Examining children, Amblyopia, Strabismus, Squint, Incommitant, Convergence insufficiency, Exercises, Ocular Motility, Stereopsis, Prisms, Double vision, Orthoptics, Referrals.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical practice, Professionalism
In this episode, we hear from both parent and child as they share their experiences with myopia management using soft contact lenses. Michelle Hanratty then speaks with optometrist Kathryn Webber about best practices in myopia management. Together, they discuss how to identify suitable candidates and offer practical advice on how to communicate the potential benefits of myopia management to patients and their families.
Topics: Myopia management, Risk factors for myopia, Communication, Fitting contact lenses in children, Pathological myopia.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical practice, Communication
In this episode, we hear from a patient diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma, before Michelle Hanratty speaks with Professor Heinrich Heimann about lesions of the ocular surface and anterior chamber. Their discussion explores how to recognise key signs, identify associated risk factors and approach the investigation, management and treatment of affected patients.
Topics: Conjunctival lesions, Uveal lesions, Ocular tumours, Referrals.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical practice, Professionalism
In this episode, Michelle Hanratty speaks with Dr Aleksandra Mankowska about key examination techniques for investigating binocular vision anomalies. Together, they explore the management of convergence insufficiency and delve into the challenging topic of prescribing prisms and orthoptic exercises.
Topics: Paediatric, Convergence insufficiency, Convergence excess, Esophoria, Exophoria, Prism, Cycloplegic refraction.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical Practice, Communication
In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the highlights of the BCLA Continued Learning Evidence-based Academic Report (CLEAR) with Professor James Wolffsohn and Neil Retallic.
Topics: Contact lenses, Evidence-based practice, Fitting, Presbyopia, Multifocal, Toric, CLEAR, BCLA.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical Practice
In this episode Michelle Hanratty first talks to optometrist Stephen Freeman about the clinical decision making process of when to conduct a visual field test. This is followed by a discussion with Dr Lindsay Rountree about visual field testing including how to best achieve reliable test results and how to interpret them; how to relate visual field loss to the location in the visual pathway and likely causes. The episode concludes with advice on referral, and the importance of communicating the impact of visual field loss to a patient’s driving status.
Topics: Visual Fields, Perimetry, Visual pathway, Stroke, Brain tumours, Neurological disease, Driving standards, Referrals.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical Practice, Communication
In this episode Michelle Hanratty asks optometrist Sarah Farrant and her patient Christine Lanaghan who suffers from dry eye disease how to talk about mental health in practice. Michelle then investigates the relationship between mental health and ocular health with Dr Dennis Pardo, an optometrist and psychotherapist in Massachusetts.
Topics: Mental Health, Well-being, Anxiety, Stress, Communication, Side-effects of systemic drugs, Dry eye.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical practice, Communication
In this episode, Michelle speaks with a highly myopic patient as well as a parent of highly myopic children about myopia’s impact on lifestyle and ocular health, and their hopes and fears for the future. We also hear from Kathryn Webber about recent myopia management research, advancements and guidance.
Topics: Myopia management, High myopia, Risk factors for myopia, Communication, Pathological myopia.
No CPD Points
Domains: Clinical practice, Communication
In this episode, we hear from the assistant headteacher and sensory impairment lead of a SEN primary school about the impact of visual dysfunction on SEN children. Michelle then speaks to Professor Rachel Pilling, delving into the potentially daunting task of carrying out an eye examination on children with SEN and providing valuable hints, tips and resources to better equip optometrists and lay the foundations to lifelong eyecare for SEN children.
Topics: SEN, Special educational needs, Paediatric eyecare, Eye examinations, Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI).
No CPD Points
Domains: Communication, Clinical Practice
In this episode, presenter Michelle and consultant ophthalmic surgeon Julia Sen discuss typical menopausal changes and subsequent ocular changes, as well as the need to take a more holistic approach in treating menopausal patients. We then hear from Professor Stuti Misra about current research into changes to ocular health in relation to fluctuating or decreasing hormone levels.
Topics: Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone replacement therapy, Dry eye, Ocular surface disease, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Glaucoma, Cataract, Communication.
No CPD Points
Domains: Communication, Clinical Practice
In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the vision standards for safety-critical occupations with Professor John Barbur, who has developed a sophisticated colour vision test that is widely used to grade the severity of colour vision deficiency. We also hear from Ian Trimmer, who provides an insight into communicating bad news and why vision can be a particularly sensitive topic.
Topics: Occupational vision standards, Driving and vision, Colour vision testing, Colour vision deficiency, Communication, Breaking bad news.
No CPD Points
Domains: Communication, Clinical Practice
This podcast episode builds on the Docet webinar Dementia and Optometry: Research and Practice. Michelle speaks with Rakhee Shah and Simon Raw to address attendee questions and reinforce the key messages about the vital connection between vision and dementia. We also hear from Fadi Alfaqawi about how to assess the best course of action for a patient when advanced visual corrections are needed.
Topics: Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Cataract, Vision loss, Visual impairment, Vision assessment, Domiciliary eyecare, Communication, Consent, Referrals.