The following talks are confirmed for Conference 2015
Making The Most Of Your Ophthalmologist
By Michael Carke, Clinical Director of Plastic Surgery, Ophthalmology and Dermatology
How to make the most of your hospital appointments;
- What is the most useful information patients can give?
- What are the best questions to ask?
- What is the most efficient way to build the doctor-parent/patient relationship?
Aniridia: Check Your Knowledge
By James Buller and Jenny Langley
An explanation on what aniridia is, how it affects vision and why, will be provided. The session will also cover some of the more common eye conditions associated with aniridia, such as nystagmus, cataracts, glaucoma and cornea disease, as well as, what treatments are available. This talk is suitable for people learning about aniridia for the first time and those who would like to brush up on their knowledge.
Annual General Meeting
By Aniridia Network UK trustees
The AGM is a formal meeting of ANUK’s members. This year it is especially important as the trustees hope you will approve a new constitution so we can register our organisation with the Charity Commission. .
The trustees will also present their reports about the past year. It is an opportunity to ask the trustees questions and put forward suggestions. People can also be nominated and then be elected by members to be trustees for the coming year.
The cornea: in health and disease
By Professor Martin Collinson
Corneal degeneration, as a result of infection, injury or genetic conditions such as aniridia, is one of the commonest causes of poor vision and blindness worldwide. In spite of this, there are big gaps in our knowledge of how the cornea is maintained during normal life and what goes wrong during disease processes. This talk will give a research perspective on the problem, outlining our work at University of Aberdeen that investigates the activity of corneal stem cells and patterns of cell migration in the cornea, and summarises our attempts to develop a computer model that could be used to understand conditions such as aniridia.
Developing a Human Model for Aniridia Related Keratopathy
By The latest advances into treatment of a common cause of further sight loss among people with aniridia. For background watch video of similar talks at last year’s conference
Befriending, the story so far
By Lyn Buller
The session will begin with a personal view of the importance of supporting each other. There will be an update on the work of the Befriending Scheme, which was launched in 2012, including a brief description of how the service works and what has been successful. Finally it will include information about the support available from local authorities.
Education, Health & Care Plans
Information about the new system for children with special needs
Questions & Answers
With a panel of experts and individuals affected by aniridia chaired by Lyn Buller
What’s the query that you always remember on the way home from your appointment? Got a non-medial question that you’ve always wanted to ask, but there never seems to be a good time? This is your chance.
Video of the Questions & Answers session at last year’s conference.
WAGR Families Convention
Sponsored by IWSA
In a private room, an opportunity for anyone affected by WAGR/11p Deletion Syndrome to get together to discuss experiences and issues. It is also hoped to organise a teleconference with specialist clinician and researcher Dr Hann in the USA.
Other sessions
We may also have talks on: b education health and care (EHC) plans and VI sports, plus a report from the aniridia youth summer camp.
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