Learning Objectives:

• Know the causes leading to progressive (chronic) and sudden (acute) loss of vision
• Be able to assess a person with deteriorating vision and appropriately formulate a differential diagnosis
• Be able to recognise possible serious complications presenting with loss of vision
• Be able to implement emergency treatment in critical situations relating to vision loss
• Understand how cataracts are likely to affect vision and the management principles

Expert Presenter:
Dr Anthony Pane
Dr Pane is a University of Queensland graduate who undertook his eye specialist training in Brisbane. In 2004 he returned from three years advanced training in the United Kingdom to join the Queensland Eye Institute. Although Dr Pane's practice covers general adult ophthalmology, including cataract surgery, his special clinical and research interest is in neuro-ophthalmology. This is the branch of ophthalmology dealing with diseases of the brain and nerves which can cause blurred vision, double vision, or abnormal eye movements.

One of Dr Pane's key interests is in improving outcomes for patients by developing a method for ophthalmologists to detect and diagnose serious causes of optic nerve disease earlier and more accurately. He is currently pursuing his PhD in this area.

Dr Pane has recently written two practical textbooks of ophthalmology which have been published internationally. His third book, on neuro-ophthalmology, will be published this year. Through his positions as Director of Teaching at the Queensland Eye Institute and Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology at the University of Queensland, Dr Pane enjoys teaching trainee ophthalmologists and medical students.