INSPIRED BY WATER. DESIGNED FOR COMFORT.1-3

I love this issue. We have a fabulous variety of stories that will get you thinking from both personal and clinical perspectives.

Dr Alex Ioannidis is an ophthalmic surgeon with over 20 years’ experience performing small incision refractive cataract surgery. He has published extensively and has been the recipient of several awards for his research and academic achievements.

A multinational review has issued a strong warning to policymakers: without immediate and coordinated action, surgical ophthalmology services worldwide – including in Australia – will be unable to meet growing demand, leaving patients waiting longer, falling more, and losing more of their sight.1

A five-year observational study has found a “significant association” between metformin use in people with diabetes and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – with an incidence reduction of 37% over five years.1

A clinical trial investigating the use of patients’ own CD34+ stem cells to treat vision loss caused by central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) has found the treatment “well tolerated and feasible”, establishing an important safety foundation for future studies.

Mark Nevin has not long been in the top job at Optometry Australia (OA), but already he sounds like a man who has found his way home. Appointed Chief Executive Officer of the peak body for optometrists early this year, he came to the role via an unusually wide arc – one that began behind a slit lamp and passed through European policy chambers, radiology and radiation oncology, and federal government consulting before completing its loop back to eye care.

Johnson and Johnson Vision has released three-year data for Acuvue Abiliti 1Day soft therapeutic lenses for myopia management (Abiliti 1-Day).

CooperVision has launched its new myopia control soft contact lens, MyDay MiSight 1 day in Australia and New Zealand. The lens combines the proven ActivControl Technology of MiSight 1 day with the advanced silicone hydrogel material used in MyDay lenses.*1

UNSW Sydney has received a unique AU$10.8 million philanthropic commitment from the Sarks Macular Degeneration Research Foundation to establish the Shirley and John Sarks Chair in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, strengthening Australia’s capacity to address age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other blinding eye diseases.

Rayner has secured Medical Device and Human Tissue Advisory Committee acceptance and Prostheses List (PL) reimbursement for RayOne Galaxy, effective 1 March 2026.

Researchers have developed a novel deep learning-based algorithm for detecting strabismus by analysing subtle eye gaze patterns – a promising advance that could one day transform early screening and referral pathways.

A European study suggests that early, active management of myopia in children could significantly reduce the lifetime financial and health burden associated with the condition.

Highly aspherical lenslet target (HALT) technology is an effective, non-invasive intervention for slowing the progression of myopia of prematurity (MOP), according to a new study.1

A subscription service for knives used in cataract surgery will reduce the medical waste carbon footprint, and operating expenditure according to the company behind the new plan, EXCEL-LENS.

While rising rates of myopia are often attributed to increased screen time (as well as genetics), researchers at State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry propose that a common underlying risk factor may be prolonged close-up focus in low-light environments, which limits how much light reaches the retina.

For optometry students preparing to enter the profession, the transition from university to clinical practice can feel abrupt. mivision’s student subscription program is designed to bridge the gap – and, according to those involved, it is doing exactly that.

A new study has found cataract surgery does not cause non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to progress to neovascular AMD.

The 20th International Cornea and Contact Lens Congress (ICCLC) will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hobart in Tasmania, from 16–18 October 2026.

O-SHOW26 – the optical industry’s most dynamic trade event – will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday 16 and Monday 17 August 2026.

Tenpoint Therapeutics has launched Yuvezzi, the “first and only combination eye drop approved to treat presbyopia” in the United States.1

Optometry and eyewear retailer Bailey Nelson is seeking a new equity partner as it pursues an ambitious five-year growth plan, with co-founder Nick Perry confirming the business is performing exceptionally well and is self-funding its expansion.

Paralympics Australia is seeking ophthalmologists to classify athletes with vision impairment, as it works to establish a regular pipeline of pre-competition assessments for Australian para-athletes.

After almost 15 years of successful collaboration with Designs for Vision and subsequently Paragon Care, HOYA Surgical Optics Australia has transitioned to a direct sales model.

WRITER Dr Jo Mitchell

Time is a well-researched topic in physics and philosophy but less so from an ethical perspective.1 As conscious human beings, we are continually thinking about time. How to best spend the time we have and what constitutes a life well-lived are issues debated philosophically, ethically, and spiritually. In an increasingly capitalistic and social media driven society we are surrounded by the idea that accumulating wealth as fast as we can will lead to a more fulfilled and happ

Lessons from the Global Optics Market

In this article, Dr Ben LaHood explores complex cataract management from a practical, real-world perspective, focusing on scenarios commonly encountered in optometric practice and highlighting how shared care, expectation management, and communication contribute to better patient outcomes.

mivision.com.au.

In 2026, at the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO), the focus is on education with the newly launched ASO Academy and the upcoming Skills Expo.

Neuroadaptation has emerged as a hot topic for cataract and refractive surgeons, as some patients are challenged by presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (PC IOLs) and extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses. While most patients adapt quickly to these implants, some adapt more slowly, and a small minority not at all. This article explores this specific challenge that we face in modern cataract surgery, and how to best manage patient expectations. It also looks at ways to imp

Several studies have shown that the more a patient is informed of a procedure, invested in the details, and understand their role, the more likely they are to embrace their experience and report positive outcomes.1 In the same way that vaccination of a population will spread ‘herd immunity’, dissemination of accurate and relevant information among a cohort of individuals can assist in educating an entire community with the knowledge it needs. In this article, Dr Christolyn Ra

Despite decades of clinical progress and product innovation, toric soft contact lenses (SCLs) remain significantly under prescribed in many markets, particularly for patients with low-to-moderate astigmatism. In this article, Megan Zabell explores key barriers to prescribing toric SCLs that have been identified by eye care professionals across multiple markets, and examines the clinical evidence behind them. Many of these longstanding concerns no longer align with what we now

Managing Disease with Confidence

goodopticalservices.com.au

International Technology Rollout Lessons

A DEWS III-Guided Approach

TFOS DEWS III and Rohto Dry Aid’s Role

To realise its ambition as a proactive partner in eye health, optometry must move from individual optimisation to system-level design, writes Peter Larsen.

From a young optometrist chasing a relief posting across the Tasman to running two distinct optometry ventures simultaneously, Eric Cheng has never been afraid to chart his own course.

In life and in work, change is a given. Andrew McKinnon reminds us of the importance of keeping up to date in practice and dares you to be different in your approach.

Truly ‘Chalk and Cheese’

Great salespeople aren’t those equipped with pre-scripted patter – instead they’re people who have developed sales skills through self-awareness. As Alison Schiena writes, strength-based selling helps optical teams turn natural talent into stronger patient relationships, more confident recommendations, and higher sales.

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it is essential that your practice clearly offers services and products that make you stand out and are valued by patients over other providers. As Mark Overton writes, while this is hard for franchises, it is particularly important for independent practices.

We live in a time where our patients are more informed, more fashion-conscious, and more aware of their comfort and performance needs than ever before. Premium lens coatings, memory metal frames, and advanced contact lens coatings all play a vital role in meeting patient expectations, addressing their needs, and creating a positive dispensing experience that leaves a lasting impression. In the optical market today, premium products are no longer just ‘nice to have’ – they are

Through its selection of eyewear brands, Safilo produces several frames with flexibility and shape memory characteristics. The most iconic of these materials is called ‘Ultem’ and is available within the Carrera brand.

Crizal is Essilor’s premium lens coating range, offering a combination of clarity, durability, cleanability, and UV protection. Crizal lens coatings reduce glare, scratches, smudges, dust, and water. The anti-reflection coating is composed of ultra-thin transparent layers, placed on the front and back surfaces of the lens, to reduce the amount of light that reflects on it. Oleophobic, hydrophobic, and anti-static properties help lenses stay cleaner for longer.

The Language of Design

Informed by modern architecture, each frame from the new release by Miga Studio reveals a dialogue between material, proportion, and function. Nothing is ornamental. Every line serves purpose. Positioned between East and West, Miga Studio brings together the discipline of Japanese craftsmanship and the progressive edge of European design, merging meticulous hand-finishing with advanced production and pushing the boundaries of what eyewear manufacturing can achieve. Constructe

April 6–8, SILMO Academy Congress, Hotel Paradisus, Bali, Indonesia. Info: silmoparis.com/en/silmo-academy/bali