Webinar on disease risk communication in myopia

BCLA to host webinar on disease risk communication in myopia

The British Contact Lens Association is inviting eye care professionals to register for an upcoming webinar exploring how risk is communicated in myopia management – an area of growing importance as prevalence rises across the UK.

**Taking place on Tuesday, 9 June, Disease Risk Communication and Myopia will be delivered by Emma Lennox**, optometrist and PhD candidate at Glasgow Caledonian University. The session is free of charge, offers 1 CPD point, and is open to both members and non-members.

The webinar, which starts at 7pm, will examine the association between myopia and sight-threatening conditions such as myopic macular degeneration, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and primary open angle glaucoma. Crucially, it will challenge how practitioners interpret and communicate these risks in clinical practice.

Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the distinction between relative and absolute risk – an essential consideration when discussing prognosis with patients. The session will highlight how reliance on relative risk alone can distort perception, and will introduce practical strategies for presenting risk in more meaningful, patient-friendly ways, including the use of natural frequencies and visual decision aids.

Emma Lennox brings both academic and clinical insight to the topic. Her PhD research focuses on the financial burden and quality of life impact of myopia in the UK, alongside hands-on teaching experience in myopia management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Commenting on the webinar, Brad Parkes, Chief Executive of the BCLA, said: “Effective communication is at the heart of modern eye care. This webinar tackles a critical yet often overlooked aspect of myopia management – how we convey risk to patients. By improving understanding and clarity, practitioners can support more informed decision-making and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.”

This session is particularly relevant for optometrists and dispensing opticians seeking to refine their communication skills and strengthen patient engagement in myopia care.