All submissions should include the following information within the submission email:
1. Title and name of first author/presenter: the first author/presenter will be the first point of contact for all communications and must register for the event.
2. Address: contact address of first author/presenter.
3. Email: contact email address of first author/presenter.
4. Title of abstract: the title of the submitted abstract.
5. Abstract: attach the abstract as either a Microsoft Word or Open Office compatible file (maximum of 500 words in total, not including images and diagrams). Please use the following structure:
- Title
- First author
- Co-authors
- Names and affiliations of all authors
- Purpose
- Methods or work undertaken
- Results or outputs: for research projects and if applicable, please ensure that you provide clear information about the data you gathered and how it was analysed
- Conclusions and/or impact and future plans
- Learning objectives: please provide three learning objectives, based on the content of your poster, that reflect what delegates will take away from the content presented
- References (if applicable)
6. Challenge question: all submissions should include a question about their poster that can be used within the conference app to encourage people to view your poster. Please note a maximum of two will be chosen. At the end of your abstract, please provide a question in relation to your poster’s content with a short and straightforward answer, in the following format:
Q: What was found to be the key difficulty of low vision patients entering rehabilitation for an optometrist to address?
A: Reading
7. Formatting of abstract: please also use the following formatting for your abstract:
- Font: Arial, with headings in point 12 and text in point 11. For special symbols, use the standard Windows or Macintosh symbol font.
Please do not use any third-party symbol fonts or the special WordPerfect symbol and math fonts. - Alignment: the main body of the text should be left aligned.
- Spacing: single spacing should be used throughout and a clear line should be left between paragraphs.
- Images (3 maximum): images (including diagrams and tables) should be high-resolution JPG files (minimum resolution 600 dpi.).
It is important to provide images with enough detail to be acceptable for both online viewing and print.
Images will not be counted toward the maximum abstract length, but should only be used where they are useful, illustrative and aid understanding of the text. - Poster size: What about: Poster boards will be A0 landscape (1200x900mm), all posters must fit in this space.
8. Brief biography for first author/presenter: attach a brief biography (maximum 400 words). An additional list of recent/relevant publications can additionally be included where appropriate.
9. Conflicts of interest and commercial interests for first author and all co-authors: in your submission email you must disclose any commercial relationships or conflicts of interest relating to the first author and/or any co-authors that are relevant to the content of the abstract.
If applicable, you must identify the company and offer complete information about the commercial interests of the authors and details of funding organisations (where relevant) and any other relevant conflicts of interest.
These must be disclosed in the abstract and on your poster if you are accepted. The first author is responsible for providing this information.
10. Confirmation of copyright, co-author permissions and ethical approval: in submitting your abstract you are confirming that the following statement is true:
"I confirm that there are no pre-existing copyright agreements relating to this abstract being submitted that would prevent or limit the presentation of the abstract and associated information, data or material at the meeting or event concerned, or that would prevent or limit its inclusion in any printed or electronic material that may be produced in relation to the event/meeting. I also confirm that I have gained my co-authors’ permission to present this work, and that I will forward written proof of this to the College if my abstract is accepted, and that any research reported in it was conducted in compliance with ethical requirements and any other relevant legislation."
Please note: any research reported needs to have been granted ethical approval, where necessary.
11. Corrections: although the College makes every effort to support presenters, we would ask that you proof-read your abstract carefully before submitting it as the time available to College staff to process abstracts once received is limited and we are not able to proof-read all abstracts or make corrections. If you identify a significant error or amendment after you have submitted your abstract you are advised to notify us immediately, providing an updated/corrected version of the abstract. You will be advised whether your correction has been received in time to allow staff to incorporate the new version into the communications and publications.
12. First authors/presenters: individuals may submit any number of abstracts as first author and/or appear on any number of abstracts as a co-author. You should only submit an abstract if the first author is able to and intends to attend the event to present the poster. Presentations must clearly relate to the abstract as submitted and the research described (where appropriate). Once an abstract has been accepted, if circumstances arise that prevent the first author from presenting you must contact the College of Optometrists immediately to inform us.
13. Registration of clinical trials: the College considers that all reports relating to clinical trials/research that are to be presented at a College event or meeting should be from trials that are registered with a trial registry such as the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number scheme. The College will not accept abstracts relating to clinical trials if the trial has not been registered with an appropriate body (ISRCTN, NIHR for example). Authors should clearly indicate the relevant guidelines that were followed (such as START, CONSORT, WHO). For this reason, where appropriate the College requires a written statement from the first author (acting as the authorised agent for all authors), as an appendix to the submitted abstract, confirming that any trial reported on is registered, and the registration organisation, location and number must be included on the abstract and on the final poster.
14. Privacy statement: The College of Optometrists will use all personal information supplied as part of the abstract process to assess the abstract and to enable us to review the impact and equity of the process. Abstracts will be shared securely with Research Committee members for the purpose of review. Successful abstracts will be kept on file by the College until after the conference has taken place, after which they will be destroyed along with any personal details. Unsuccessful abstracts and accompanying information will be destroyed after the completion of the review process.
15. Evaluation criteria for abstracts
Research abstracts:
- The content will likely be of interest to an adequate number of delegates (please bear in mind that Optometry Tomorrow is a clinical conference, largely aimed at practising optometrists);
- The abstract is written so as to be understandable to a practising optometrist who may not have a research background;
- The scientific and/or clinical significance is clearly stated in the abstract;
- The methods appear to be adequate to test the stated hypothesis (including sample size and power calculations where possible);
- The results of the study are described in adequate detail and the conclusions in the abstract appear to be justified by the results presented.
All other abstracts:
- The content will likely be of interest to an adequate number of delegates (please bear in mind that Optometry Tomorrow is a clinical conference, largely aimed at practising optometrists);
- The abstract questions or potentially challenges conventional practice, through the uniqueness of the scenario or its outcome;
- The abstract highlights new information, or a unique treatment or management process, clinical governance structure or service delivery model;
- Where appropriate, the content adheres to relevant legal and ethical requirements regarding patient confidentiality;
- The abstract demonstrates the application of a new technology (or a new application for an existing technology) that provides new information about a condition or a disease.
