The Cornea Contact Lens Society (CCLS) had a near Achy Breaky Heart moment when it discovered its conference dates for 2024 clashed with music festival Homegrown, with 20,000 people expected to grace its festival grounds right outside the CCLS 2024 venue, Wellington’s Harbourside Function Centre. 

“We would have been Kung Fu Fighting against the bands and the people, not to mention over flights and accommodation prices,” said CCLS president Adele Jefferies. So the 2024 CCLS conference has now been moved to 22-23 March, with a welcome function on the evening of Thursday 21 March, she said. “The great news is our keynote speakers have shimmied over with us, so we hope you can too!”

The Cornea and Contact Lens Society of New Zealand (CCLSNZ) hosted this year’s Corneal Contact Lens Conference at the Holiday Inn Auckland Airport. Bringing together optometrists, ophthalmologists, researchers and industry experts, the day’s discussions included the latest pharmacological treatments, contact lenses (CLs) and surgical options, software and technology advancements. Despite being offered a hybrid option, it was clear people enjoyed seeing each other kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face), with over 90% of delegates attending in person.

The impressive line-up of speakers included keynote Lachlan Hoy, director of Innovative Eye Care, who treated us to a corneal care and measurement masterclass covering everything from keratoconus, ortho-k, the latest in CL software technology and corneal grafts. A leading practitioner in specialty contact lenses, Hoy presented his learnings from his Adelaide clinics and the development of the Eyespace software tool which has revolutionised how we image and understand all forms of hard contact lenses. His experience using it to design custom lenses for patients with irregular corneas offered some unique and unexpected results, highlighting the complexity of CLs.

After a significant time with the CCLS Council, Roberta Mcllraith leaves the council as immediate past president. The entire CCLS Council has been appreciative of all of Roberta’s efforts to carry CCLS successfully through the Covid-years. Eleisha Dudson also finished her term as president on a high with the 2023 conference, having brought the fun back to in-person conferences. She now becomes the immediate past president and will focus on the integration of the New Zealand Myopia Action Group into CCLS and building our members' myopia management resources, while I have the honour of taking on the role of president.