Welcome to the first issue of mivision for 2024. In this issue we draw your attention to the rewarding but challenging specialisation of paediatric eye care.

Contributors

The KeepSight program is having success in reaching people at risk, and at both ends of the diabetes spectrum, after having its most successful year since the start of the program.

A potential new strategy for glaucoma cell replacement therapy has been identified by a multidisciplinary team led by researchers at the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear.

Heidelberg Engineering will partner with RetInSight to deploy the RetInSight GA Monitor – the first AI-based medical software solution for automated image analysis for routine clinical use in patients with geographic atrophy (GA).

Researchers from the United Arab Emirates have developed ‘smart’ contact lenses that have both UV-transition and temperatureresponsive capabilities.

A smartphone eye drop app developed by a junior doctor in Australia aims to improve compliance and clinical outcomes by reminding patients and their carers when to instil eye drops.

OPSM plans to widen the number of sites offering remote optometry, after a successful pilot program in Western Australia last year. The service offers a remote comprehensive eye exam, where the patient is in a conveniently located practice, accompanied step by step by a trained technician, and the optometrist is remote. The technology has been trialled in OPSM South Hedland in Albany, and Kalgoorlie.

Ocutrx Technologies has announced its ground-breaking augmented reality (AR) headset, for people living with advanced age-related macular degeneration, will be launched in the United States early this year.

A survey of almost 2,000 Australians living with macular disease has found one in 10 struggles to afford the cost of sight-saving treatment, while a similar number cannot afford visual aids.

At a non-approved dose, the anti-VEGF drug brolucizumab (Beovu) showed similar results to aflibercept (Eylea) for visual outcomes among patients with diabetic macular oedema (DMO), according to results from a Phase 3 trial.

Optometry Australia (OA) has called on the federal Government to support regular, comprehensive workforce mapping of optometry, saying the information is “critical to understanding where there are supply shortages and informing consideration of solutions”.

Computer screens, rather than mobile phones or tablets, are a main cause of the myopia (shortsightedness) epidemic according to a new study from The University of Western Australia.

People with low vision and blindness may soon be able to play ping pong – an accessible version of tennis – using technologically advanced human echolocation that enables blind users to perceive their surroundings in precise detail.

James Gibbins and Chedy Kalach, directors of the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing (ACOD), have established the Australasian College of Audiometry (AuCA).

Ophthalmologist and Clinical Associate Professor Smita Agarwal has established a stateof-the-art private hospital in Wollongong in partnership with her husband, Ash Agarwal, who is a solicitor with a management degree.

Aelo has launched a selfheating, disposable and recyclable eye mask that provides moist heat to hydrate and warm the ocular area, enabling the natural secretion of essential oils from meibomian glands, and providing much-needed relief from eye irritation.

An Australian study has concluded that specific types of defects in vision are associated with increased risk of car crashes.

Healthia Limited has delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange as of 12 December 2023.1

Melbourne ophthalmologist Dr Jacqueline Beltz has launched a clinically tested mascara that is formulated for sensitive eyes and packaged to be accessible for people with low vision. Following will be an eye cleansing balm, along with colourful eye shadows and eye liners because, she said, “I love colourful cosmetics” and “because make up isn’t just about looking beautiful, it’s about feeling powerful, in control and strong”.

Glaukos has announced the approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of iDose TR, a travoprost intracameral implant to treat glaucoma.

Specsavers has been named among Australia’s top retailers for delivering customer experience in two new surveys.

With the aim of removing financial barriers to paediatric eye care, the Australian College of Optometry (ACO) has extended bulk billing to all eye examinations for children under the age of 18, with immediate effect.*

Matteo Accornero, previously General Manager Retail of EssilorLuxottica ANZ, has been appointed to the role of General Manager.

A clinical study has demonstrated that Shamir’s new myopia control lens – Optimee – can control the progression of myopia and ensure long-term vision retention in children as they progress to adulthood.

Ophthalmologists must be aware of signs that indicate elder abuse, according to a presentation at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in San Francisco late last year.

Medownick Laser Clinic in Victoria has introduced SmartSight, a new lenticule-extraction laser eye surgery procedure, that can give myopic and astigmatic patients vision results that are close to or even beyond 20/20 vision, while experiencing rapid recovery that has most back to work on or close to the next day.

Childhood vision impairment, which includes children who have low vision and those who are blind, is rare in Australia. At any one time it is estimated there are approximately 4,000 children growing up with vision impairment, although it remains challenging to determine the accuracy of this figure.1 What is known is that vision impairment can have a lifelong impact on a child, in all areas of their development such as social, emotional, physical and cognitive, but that it also impacts on the child’s family – financially and on their quality of life. As well as holding a vital clinical role, all eye health professionals should be aware of the part they can play in minimising this impact, writes Dr Sue Silveira.

Working with children is fun. It is vital to remember this. We also need to make it fun for them. Children of all ages are very good at detecting anxiety or unhappiness. There is no rush to get the information that is required. A little preparation will go a long way to making the task enjoyable and maximising the usable clinical information obtained.

Growing up in Mumbai, India, as the only child of two paediatrician parents, Dr Shivanand Sheth absorbed the behavioural mannerisms, techniques, and skills that seasoned paediatricians use to engage young children. He tells mivision about his fascinating journey to become a specialist paediatric ophthalmologist.

Neurodivergence is a term which ”describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works”. As Adelaide orthoptist Natalie Ainscough writes, a very different approach is required when a neurodivergent child is in your chair.

How can we ensure optimal surgical results are achieved every time our patients have cataract surgery? How can we try to avoid refractive surprises? What can be done at the initial clinical consultation to help attain excellent results postoperatively? In this article, Dr Christolyn Raj offers her pearls of wisdom.

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The 54th Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) Scientific Congress, themed ‘Reconnecting Vision’, provided a rock-solid program catering to every need and the biggest exhibition in some years.

In clinical practice, we can expect to see children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. For these individuals, apart from providing the required basic eye care, should we consider contact lenses as a visual correction option or even a myopia management intervention? The answer may not be that clear cut given the multifactorial nature and varying severity of these conditions. Being adaptable, and tailoring our decisions relative to the individual’s need, will aid in determining contact lens suitability. Neil Retallic and Dr Ketan Parmar present tips and tricks for use in practice.

In the last of a series of articles summarising the key findings of the BCLA CLEAR publications, a major review of the published evidence relating to all aspects of contact lens practice, Neil Retallic and Dr Manbir Nagra offer an overview of ongoing care aspects from the ‘Evidence-based contact lens practice’ (EBP) report.This section discusses application and removal, dropouts, and long-term care. The article builds upon the previous article on ‘Evidence-Based Contact Lens Practice: Part One. A Review from BCLA CLEAR’, in the November 2023 issue of mivision, which covered lens fitting and selection.

An unanticipated diagnosis of diabetes type 2 set about a cascade of ocular complications leading to a precarious situation.

Timely diagnosis of eye disease in children is crucial and can even be lifesaving.

Genetic causes underlie almost every eye disease ranging from paediatric syndromes through to common eye diseases such as agerelated macular degeneration, glaucoma, and myopia.

Usher syndrome, first described by Scottish ophthalmologist Charles Usher in 1914, is a rare genetic disorder characterised by hearing loss and vision impairment. Dr Usher observed this condition in families in which individuals experienced both deafness and progressive vision loss, identifying it as a distinct syndrome with dual sensory deficits.

From a child refugee to a paediatric optometry resident, Dr Diba Rezazadeh is constantly challenging herself to step out of her comfort zone, to provide professional, supportive care to her young eye care patients.

All eyes are focussed on the west, with the much-loved WAVE Conference just weeks away, as Evan MacRae reports.

KeraClub, an annual community event dedicated to patients with keratoconus and their caregivers, has become a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge and fostering community bonds. Dr Himal Kandel and Professor Stephanie Watson, two of the speakers in the most recent online event, share this report.

Hong Kong has proved its enduring status as an international optical fashion destination, with the 31st edition of the Hong Kong International Optical Fair. mivision Publisher Todd Tai was among the eager throng checking out the future of eyewear and optometric technology.

What are the keys to attracting and retaining great employees in a highly competitive market? Investing in them while engaging with them, writes Kasia Groves.

The role of the optical dispenser in paediatric dispensing is crucial, both for the child’s vision and for setting them up for future success and growth.

Frames for Your Littlest Patients

Frank Seed eyewear is truly handcrafted – from the frame design to the cutting of acetate, riveting, polishing, and shaping, the bench tools involved are minimal. mivision met with Francis Hwang, the creative director and craftsman for Frank Seed – and owner of Green Infinity Eyewear – to find out how he bends the rules to create eyewear that is both highly technical and brilliantly creative.

AM Eyewear has celebrated 20 years in business with a massive party in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst surrounded by musicians, creatives, models, friends, and family, right where it was born.

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