'Contactology queries', the conference results

The conference revolved around six queries: for each one, a brief presentation was given by a moderator, followed by one speaker's theory and immediately after another speaker put forward an opposing theory. Subsequently, the audience took part in a very lively debate.

In an atmosphere that smacked of the forensic, the expertise and oratory skills of the speakers who had the role of advocating one theory or another came under a lot of pressure.

For Query 1, Carlo Tronti and Fabrizio Zeri, introduced by Alessandro Fossetti, discussed whether there was still any point in correcting conventional ametropia with RGP contact lenses.
For Query 2, Luigi Lupelli asked Stefano Lorè and Paolo Palombo if silicone hydrogel lenses were to be preferred in general to those in hydrogel as first choice lenses.
For Query 3, Umberto Merlin introduced Pietro Gheller and Luigi Lupelli who spoke about assessing lacrimal function by means of clinical tests or questionnaires.
With moderator Fabrizio Zeri, Query 4 was the turn of Silvio Maffioleti and Umberto Merlin who examined how much space should be dedicated to continual use.
For Query 5, Anto Rossetti and Laura Boccardo presented different theories on the number of hours a day soft contact lenses can be worn.
Lastly, Query 6 was introduced by Antonio Calossi after which Edoardo Marani and Alessandro Fossetti discussed two different parameters that had been proposed for defining whether soft contact lenses were able to meet the cornea's requirement for oxygen.

During the conference, Professors Robert Fletcher and Umberto Merlin were appointed honorary members of AILAC (Accademia Italiana di Lenti a Contatto - Italian Academy of Contact Lenses) for their long careers dedicated to the study and application of contact lenses.

The conference was supported by the contribution of major companies operating in the Italian contact lens market: AMO, Baush&Lomb, Ciba Vision, Cooper Vision and Johnson&Johnson.