As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, most events scheduled for the months ahead in New Zealand and overseas have been cancelled or postponed. Some event organisers, however, were quick to overcome the challenges and have transformed their planned conferences into virtual ones.
The Australian Vision Convention (AVC), hosted by Optometry Queensland and Northern Territory, was successfully live streamed from Brisbane in April to more than 520 delegates. Quick to follow suit, Australia’s national optometry body Optometry Australia (OA), will host a three-day virtual event, including a comprehensive accredited CPD programme and product showcase, Optometry Virtually Connected, on 26-28 June. OA’s CEO Lyn Brodie said while details are still being finalised, attendance will be open to New Zealand optometrists.
Following the cancellation of the New York optical fair, Vision Expo East, organisers have launched a virtual format of its Eye2Eye educational series, including panels and interactive conversations. The weekly series presents a new topic twice weekly and features several panels originally scheduled for the live event as well as timely conversations addressing current challenges for the vision community from the Covid-19 pandemic. See: https://west.visionexpo.com/virtual-eye-2-eye/
The International Council of Ophthalmology’s World Congress, scheduled for 26–29 June in Cape Town, has also gone virtual. WOC2020 Virtual organisers promise an “outstanding scientific programme with over 2,000 presentations of the highest level given by leaders and experts from around the world”. See: https://icowoc.org
Locally, private Auckland-based eye surgeries Eye Institute and Re:Vision have also taken their education online. Eye Institute is providing a virtual version of its upcoming educational seminar on 12 May, with capacity limited to 500 people, while Re:Vision has set up an e-learning platform (see below).
