“Updates in Contactology and Ophthalmology”
The 2nd International Conference on ‘Updates in Contactology and Ophthalmology’ took place at the Hotel Porto Giardino in Monopoli (Bari). Promoted by ‘Formazione Continua in Medicina sas’ and supported by the University of Salento and Monopoli City Council, it brought eyesight specialists from all over Italy to the city in Puglia. Various qualified sponsors were responsible for its success: Abbott Medical Optics, Bausch & Lomb, Cooper Vision, Avant Italia, Hoya, Indo, Topcon, Sanalens and David Thomas.
This year’s theme was presbyopia, a topical subject with wide-ranging and important applications in the area of ophthalmology and contact lenses.
The conference was introduced by Giancarlo Montani (professor of the degree course in optics and ophthalmology at the University of Salento, the organizer and scientific head of the Monopoli conference) who pointed out the importance of the presbyopia market and that presbyopes now have a “youthful” lifestyle that requires close-up vision not only for reading a book or a newspaper, but also for other activities such the use of VDTs. He also underscored that, thanks to technology in the areas of contactology and ophthalmology, sector operators now have highly technological corrective systems that have overcome a great many of the problems with previous generations of corrective systems.
The work was concentrated and productive, thanks to the quality of the speakers and the commitment by course participants who were punctual and attentive throughout the various stages of the conference. The expert Italian speakers included: Domenico Brigida (professor of the degree course in optics and optometry at the University of Salento), Carlo Falleni (B. Zaccagnini Institute, Bologna), Roberto Pregliasco (sector professional, Genoa), Maurizio Martino (coordinator of the degree course in optics and optometry at the University of Salento), Pasquale Attimonelli (sector professional, Andria), Umberto Benelli (University of Pisa), Silvio Maffioletti (professor of the degree course in optics and optometry at the Bicocca University of Milan), Mauro Montagna (sector professional, Catania), Vito Primavera (University of Foggia).
The Monopoli conference was enriched by the presence of Craig Norman, Edward Bennet and Mo Jalie, three speakers of international standing whose contributions added considerable weight to the relevant subjects.
Craig Norman (professor at the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University) talked about compensating for presbyopia with monovision. There are about 110 million people worldwide who wear contact lenses and this number is certain to increase rapidly; according to major experts in the sector, Craig Norman emphasized, in the coming years we will see a considerable increase in the use of contact lenses by presbyopes, who do not want to forego the advantages and comfort of this type of optical compensation. This phenomenon will also apply to Italy, where the use of contact lenses for presbyopia is not extensive: only 1% of the almost 14 million people between 45 and 65 years of age wear them regularly. Craig Norman also held a theoretical and practical course on the use of RGP lenses based on new geometries and available materials. He emphasized how these lenses might be the best answer for certain refractive conditions (such as high or irregular levels or astigmatism) or to guarantee the correction of refractive defects through orthokeratology. Moreover, according to Craig Norman, RGP contact lenses have some advantages over soft contact lenses in the conventional correction of refractive error because of their excellent optical quality, respect for corneal physiology, ease of handling and maintenance, little tendency to accumulate surface deposits and, lastly, symptomatology which, in the event of complications, makes problems explicit.
Mo Jalie (professor at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, Londonderry) presented various types of progressive ophthalmic lenses and described with considerable expertise and clarity the geometrical characteristics of their surfaces. The professor went over the history of progressive lenses (fifty years of improvements and progress have made them increasingly reliable and comfortable) and pointed out how recent progress in the design and construction of progressive ophthalmic lenses (high-precision Free Form technology, asymmetric configuration, variable inset, aspheric and atoric surfaces, assessment of the cornea-lens apex distance, the pantoscopic angle, winding angle, reading or working distance) have made latest generation progressive ophthalmic lenses extremely safe with top performance and excellent quality.
Edward Bennett (professor at the St. Louis College of the University of Missouri) spoke about compensating presbyopia with RGP contact lenses. According to the speaker, RGP contact lenses are an invaluable resource and, for the optical compensation of presbyopia, they are making up ground thanks to excellent bifocal and multifocal geometries and new materials that are highly oxygen permeable and have improved wettability. As the prestigious American professor explained, this is a silicone hydrogel material with a low wettability angle, new plasma treatments of the surface, and new, customized and more appropriate geometries. For compensating presbyopia with RGP contact lenses, comfortable and safe top-quality products are now available; these contact lenses are already widely used in Anglo-Saxon countries and they are now available to Italian professionals.
The 2nd International Conference on ‘Updates in Contactology and Ophthalmology’ met with expectations and the organizers and participants were completely satisfied. It is a symposium that has gained considerably in the space given to it by eyesight specialists and, thanks to a successful formula, it is certain to be a confirmed appointment in Italy’s scientific calendar. Also foreseeable is an increase in the number of participants in this conference in Puglia, which included congenial external activities in the splendid city of the ‘hundred districts’.
