213 mivision Magazine 2025

National Diabetes Awareness Week runs from 13–19 July.

“The development and commercialisation of a voice-based diabetes risk prediction tool has the potential to provide a novel type 2 diabetes detection system for wide adoption”

Melanie Eagle has been appointed as the new Board Chair of The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, effective 1 July 2025. Ms Eagle brings extensive experience in governance, policy reform, and strategic leadership across various sectors, including government, healthcare, and the not-for-profit sector.

Patients with diabetes are more likely to experience post-operative endophthalmitis (POE) and posterior capsule rupture (PCR) with cataract surgery, a new study has found.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have developed a new surgical technique for implanting multiple tissue grafts in the eye’s retina. The findings in animals may help advance treatment options for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

ZEISS MyoCare and ZEISS MyoCare S continue to significantly slow the progression of myopia according to the latest two-year results from Asia presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) at Salt Lake City in the United States.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Papua New Guinea (PNG) has eliminated the eye disease trachoma as a public health problem.

The “first and only” continuous delivery treatment to treat diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).1

“Super vision” may be one step closer, with neuroscientists and materials scientists creating contact lenses that convert infrared light into visible light.

Intalight has received a CE mark for its Dream OCT platform, allowing the company to commercialise the optical coherence tomography (OCT) device in Europe.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has officially launched SeeWay, Australia’s first free national holistic service designed specifically for people with moderate low vision. The launch event took place at the Ace Hotel in Sydney on 14 May, with approximately 50 eye care professionals in attendance.

Sylentis has released promising topline results from its Phase 2a study evaluating SYL1801, an eye drop therapy for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). The double-blinded study evaluated three parallel dose level cohorts of SYL1801, an investigational siRNA therapy administered via eye drops, unlike other treatments that require intravitreal injection.

Lumenis Be ANZ has launched OptiPlus in Australia and New Zealand, describing the device as “the first-ever dual frequency radiofrequency (RF) device designed specifically for eye care professionals”.

Atsena Therapeutics has announced positive clinical results from the LIGHTHOUSE study, evaluating subretinal injection of a novel gene therapy to treat X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS).

Eyerising International has responded to a recent JAMA Ophthalmology publication suggesting structural changes in the retina following repeated low-level red light (RLRL) treatment for myopia, highlighting several study limitations.

Research presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology annual meeting reveals a connection between mitochondrial eye diseases and dementia risk. The first human study of its kind found patients with ocular mitochondrial disease face five times the risk of developing dementia compared to healthy controls.

Phoropter Free Fridays (PFF) – a forum formed in late-2024 by a group of employee optometrists and independent owners – is advocating for workplace reform through the Health Services Union.

OptomConnect is a new service designed to match Australian optometry practices with locums. Developed by Kyrillos Mansour, who practised as an optometrist in Sydney before pivoting to app development, OptomConnect is able to match locums with practices within seconds.

Living with diabetes can be challenging at the best of times. But following her diagnosis at 17, the road to living well with diabetes for Amber Mauigoa has had many ups and downs.

More than half a million Australians with diabetes are now heeding the message about the importance of regular eye checks in reducing their risk of diabetes retinopathy thanks to KeepSight, the diabetes eye screening reminder programme run by Diabetes Australia.

A balanced, healthy lifestyle is critical – not just for systemic health but also for preserving vision, particularly in individuals with diabetes. While diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) remain leading causes of vision impairment, emerging evidence underscores the role of nutrition in prevention. This article explores how glycaemic control, antioxidant support, and omega 3 intake can contribute to ocular health, shifting the focus from treatment to

The management of diabetic eye disease is undergoing a paradigm shift. New imaging modalities could potentially change the classification of diabetic retinopathy, and new options for treatment are on the horizon.

Dry eye disease (DED), a common yet often debilitating condition affecting the ocular surface, takes on a heightened significance for individuals living with diabetes.

Over the past few years, throughout her clinics, Melbourne retinal specialist Dr Christolyn Raj has seen an undoubted increase in the number of patients presenting for cataract surgery with co-existing diabetic eye disease.

In the fourth article of a series encapsulating significant conclusions from the BCLA CLEAR Presbyopia publications, Dr Melissa Barnett and Dr Debarun Dutta provide an overview of the contact lens management options for presbyopia, including the historical and market context, clinical management challenges, product performance, and potential future developments. The content is based on insights from the BCLA CLEAR publication, Presbyopia: Management with Contact Lenses and Sp

Intraocular lens (IOL) technology is rapidly evolving, allowing us to provide incredible visual results for our cataract surgery patients. The speed of the IOL ‘technological evolution’ can, however, be overwhelming, with new IOL options being brought to market on what seems like a daily basis.

In a night celebrating both academic achievement and professional legacy, the University of Technology (UTS) Sydney’s Graduate School of Health hosted its annual Orthoptics Awards evening, recognising outstanding students while honouring influential figures in the field.

Always the visionary, Alan Saks’ dreams of futuristic technologies are now catching up on him… and threatening to overtake.

The high value that Veronica Giang has always placed on the sense of sight pushed her into a career in optometry, and she was delighted to discover the profession was more than just refraction.

Isaac Curkpatrick, the new State Lead for Victoria, takes a moment to introduce himself and reveals projects underway in the southern state.

John Nguyen didn’t know much about optometry when his parents suggested the profession, but he’s more than made up for this ever since, by steadily progressing from employee to business owner to franchisor. Here, he shares his experience, insights, and goals.

Imagine this: a patient clicks your website to book an appointment – and ends up on a gambling site in another language.

In a tight labour market, it’s tempting to hire based on credentials and availability alone. But in the optical sector – where patient care, team collaboration, and clinical innovation must align – the real challenge is finding people who not only ‘can’ do the job, but who are also the right fit for your team’s unique rhythm.

Getting Ahead in the Year Ahead

Technology breakthroughs have made the best of premium multifocal contact lenses that can now offer superior visual performance through advanced optical designs and high-quality materials. These lenses differentiate themselves through customised optical zones, enhanced pupil optimisation and breathability, and exceptional stabilisation features.

Stuart Weitzman and Carrera Sport

Since the creation of the couture house in 1987, Christian Lacroix style has been exuberant, colourful, and baroque. Coveted and embraced by many great international fashion editors and stars alike, the house of Christian Lacroix’s unique collections are destined to be future collectables.

The annual conference of the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS), taking place on the spectacular Darwin Harbour, is an invitation to ‘Disconnect to reconnect – experience the Top End in every sense’.

July 16–19, AUSCRS 2025, Darwin, NT. Info: auscrs.org.au/2025-conference