Featured Presbyopia-Correcting IOL Success | Severe Diabetic Retinopathy | Equal Vision: Women in Ophthalmology

“Women who are in ophthalmology now have such an opportunity” but they “need to be very brave and assume the power positions”. So said dr kerry meades when interviewed for our lead story in this issue on equal opportunity.

Associate Professor Abhishek Sharma is a specialist in medical and surgical retinal ophthalmology. Prior to his ophthalmology training, he completed a PhD in the field of Public Health and Epidemiology from the University of Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. He is the author of Mindmaps in Ophthalmology, published through CRC Press.

Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure was associated with myopia in children, according to a cross-sectional study from Hong Kong.

Bausch and Lomb and Novaliq have announced United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an ophthalmic solution for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED) – the first that directly targets tear evaporation.

Cequa (ciclosporin 900 microgram/mL) has been listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for a subsection of patients living with chronic, severe dry eye disease (DED) with keratitis.

A 30-year partnership in Nepal, established by Professor Fred Hollows and Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit, has been successful in restoring sight to millions of people worldwide. The centre, which is supported by the Australian Government, treats more than 6,000 patients each week, and builds local capacity and expertise in eye health by providing research, training, and education. Additionally, it produces high-quality, affordable intraocular lenses (IOLs).

A cost-effectiveness analysis of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) has thrown shade on the procedure, in comparison with standard phacoemulsification cataract surgery (PCS).

Optometry Australia (OA) has just completed a month-long bid to highlight concerns about mental health and wellbeing within optometry through a push up challenge.

Researchers in the United Kingdom have reported that decreased cone densities are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Eye trauma associated with non-powder guns – such as foam projectile blasters – is increasing, according to a French study.

Seven months into her role as Australia and New Zealand Country Leader and Surgical Franchise Lead at Alcon, Penny Stewart is excited by a new series of product innovations that will drive growth and increase access to eye health for public and private health patients.

Day Hospital provider PresMed Australia (PMA) has entered a new phase of growth, acquiring a majority interest in Devonport Eye Hospital (DEH) in Tasmania. PMA has also taken a shareholding in North West Eye Surgeons (NWES) in Devonport and Burnie.

Lifestyle and diet are major contributors to the rising incidence of dry eye disease (DED) in the community and something within eye care professionals’ power to change, according to Dr Rolando Toyos, founder of intense pulsed light treatment (IPL) for dry eye disease.

Alcon says a decision to switch to sustainable cold chain packaging for the shipment of its ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) across Australia will reduce waste by 135,600kg each year.

Good positioning and alignment are essential for accurate intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. However, this is not always possible, particularly when consulting paediatric patients and complex cases.

Plans are now being finalised for Silmo 2023 in Paris.

Optometrist Warehouse has commenced its clinical journey with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate with Singaporean artificial intelligence (AI) company EyRIS, on a ground-breaking study focussed on the effectiveness of AI in screening diabetic retinopathy.

A tariff concession order (TCO 0315708) covering metal spectacle frames is to be revoked, causing more pain for frame distributors, the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA) has warned.

The highest-achieving students of optometry from University of New South Wales School of Optometry and Vision Sciences were recently recognised at the Class of 2022 Graduation Dinner and Annual Prize Giving in Cockle Bay, Sydney.

CooperCompanies has released its 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, highlighting its progress on social and environmental issues.

Colourful Asian lion dancing and vibrant drumming mesmerised more than 100 people at the recent launch of Eye Definition Optometry in Sydney’s multicultural suburb of Wolli Creek.

You hear stories of female ophthalmologists choosing to wear white coats, or introducing themselves by their title, to establish their credentials as a qualified medical professional in a male-dominated industry.

During the recent Australian Private Hospitals Association Congress, Vision Hospital Group's General Manager, Greg Brown learned that the combined healthcare sector has the same CO2 footprint and waste generation as the fifth-largest polluting country in the world. Like fellow attendees, he was shocked.

Patients neglect to seek medical care for many reasons – culture can be one of the most influential barriers.

Management of severe diabetic retinopathy involves well-established treatment options, including laser therapy, intravitreal injections, and surgery. There are also promising upcoming therapies, as Associate Professor Abhishek Sharma and Dr Thanh Nguyen discuss in this article.

Designed for busy clinicians and eye specialists who need great image quality and portability, the welch allyn retinavue 100pro imager offers access to diabetic eye exams with a simple, affordable, and flexible solution at the point of care. Can assist in early detection of diabetic retinopathy.

Presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (PCIOLs) are increasingly being used in Australia and New Zealand. 1 Our patients are often aware of friends and family who have had cataract surgery and, as a result, are significantly less dependent on glasses for many of their daily tasks.

In the seventh in a series of articles summarising the key findings of the BCLA CLEAR publication, Wendy Sethi offers an overview of the section relating to contact lens properties and their interaction with the eye.

When a new patient presented with optic nerve head drusen and rapidly progressing visual field loss, optometrist Jessica Chi had to decide on a course of action. She decided to wait and see.

Keepsight is diabetes australia’s initiative to reduce the prevalence of vision loss and blindness among people with diabetes. With the support of the eye care sector, the program encourages people with diabetes to sign up to keepsight to receive a reminder when their diabetes eye check is due.

Dr malvika gupta explains why the eidon ultra-widefield fundus camera is a “jack of all trades and master of many” – and why that makes it a necessity in practice, even if it’s not a billable item.

Most of your patients probably don’t give much thought to lens tints. Yet different tints can make a significant difference to vision experience and even enhance performance.

Considering an investment in new technology, but don’t know where to start?

Trying soft contact lenses for the first time at the age of 14 was a transformative moment that forever changed melody she’s direction in life.

Optometry tasmania is calling on members to vote ‘yes’ for operational integration with optometry australia. Jonathan jones explains how your vote will make a difference.

The 11th super sunday took place at luna park, sydney on sunday 21 may, with diverse topics, talks, panels, and welldeserved awards.

After a hiatus of five years, eyeq optometrists team members came together in sydney for two days of clinical, business, and motivational discussion, punctuated by a gala dinner that celebrated the organisation’s superheroes.

In what will stand as a highlight in australia’s optical dispensing industry, optical dispensers australia recently held its first national conference. The event included a gala and graduation ceremony, neatly embedded into the heart of the conference, and was a resounding success.

At a recent visit to Rodenstock’s laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand, Australian practice owners were updated on plans for local growth and shown the intricacies of lens production.

Coming out of lockdown, raj dhanjal took a punt on a new optometry franchise and hasn’t looked back.

Much like clothing, while ‘one size fits all’ might be true in some situations, it's rare that one pair of spectacles is going to be adequate for all activities of a busy modern lifestyle. David birch explains why lenses specifically selected for certain tasks can help optimise your patient’s vision for nearly any scenario.

The number of teenagers requiring glasses continues to grow, particularly due to the rising incidence of myopia. Fortunately, there are a multitude of frames out there to choose from, and thanks to celebrities and influencers, teens are happy to wear them. Mivision spoke to Linda Simpson from see side Optometry in Thirroul, on the new south wales south coast, about her experience catering to this significant sector of the market.

When record-breaking english sailor dame ellen macarthur warned the world that there would be more plastic in the oceans than fish by 2050, françois van den abeele heard the clarion call. Today, his optical brand sea2see is responsible for removing, recycling, and repurposing about 250 tonnes of marine plastic from the oceans every year.

Evatik has expanded its collection with three new styles focussed on clean detailing, subtle pops of colour, and modern, yet timeless eye shapes that are sure to appeal to men looking for fashionable, easy-to-wear eyewear.

Alcon has expanded its partnership with plastic bank – an organisation that builds recycling ecosystems in under-developed communities to fight plastic pollution while providing collection members with a path out of poverty. For each ton of plastic introduced in the marketplace, plastic bank will collect an equivalent amount of ocean-bound plastic in vulnerable coastal communities.

Convened by new auscrs co-presidents, dr jacqueline beltz and professor gerard sutton, auscrs 2023 will commence with a dedicated program for advanced trainees and a ‘getting to know you’ event for support staff.