Alumni Evening Event Summary
Title: Cardiovascular Diseases and the Eye
Date: Tuesday 29 October 2024 6:30-8:30pm
Location: UNSW Optometry Clinic and Rupert Myers Theatre
The 2024 UNSW SOVS Alumni Evening highlighted the important and evolving role of optometrists in health care, reminding us that there is far more than meets the eye. With ~50 participants joining in person and online, the evening was a lively convergence of ideas, networking, and robust discussion on cardiovascular diseases and the eye.
The evening began with networking over dinner and drinks, fostering connections among alumni and speakers. We were honoured to have four esteemed speakers for our event. Our discussions began with opening remarks from Professor Michael Kidd, emphasising the role of optometry as a key component of primary health care and a frontline profession in detecting systemic health issues. He introduced the potential for optometrists to integrate opportunistic blood pressure measurement into routine practice, discussed the future role of AI in healthcare, and touched on the importance of sustainability in shaping the future of multidisciplinary collaboration.
Next, optometrist, Paula Katalinic shared her expertise on the ocular manifestations of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, providing practical insights into using advanced imaging technologies like OCT for early detection and management. Following this, ophthalmologist Dr. Jennifer Sandbach explored the relationship between cardiovascular neurology and ocular health, offering real-world strategies for diagnosing and managing conditions such as amaurosis fugax. Finally, Dr. Isabella Tan closed the presentations with an engaging talk on the high rate of undiagnosed hypertension in the community, urging optometrists to incorporate blood pressure monitoring into routine practice to support prevention and early intervention. Adding a creative and entertaining twist to her presentation, Dr. Tan captivated the audience by performing a reimagined version of David Bowie’s Major Tom, cleverly retitled Major Op(tom), with lyrics adapted to highlight the importance of blood pressure measurement in optometry.
A robust panel discussion followed, facilitated by Dr. Daisy Shu, the incoming SOVS Alumni Engagement Coordinator. Questions ranged from practical considerations - such as how optometrists can incorporate blood pressure measurement as a routine entrance test and establish effective referral pathways when abnormalities are detected - to recommendations for reliable blood pressure devices suitable for optometric practices. The discussion underscored the value of optometrists as essential healthcare providers, capable of detecting systemic diseases early and fostering collaborative care pathways to support patient health beyond vision.
The evening was a testament to the opportunities for optometry in multi-disciplinary team-based healthcare. It reinforced the vital role of optometrists in systemic disease prevention and management while inspiring attendees to embrace innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.