Dr Armand Borovik is an ophthalmic surgeon with fellowship training in cataract, cornea, and refractive surgery who practises in Sydney and Wollongong. He holds a staff specialist position at Prince of Wales Hospital, where he teaches cataract and corneal surgery.

It’s often said that Australia has one of the best health systems in the world. And yet there are still gaps.

An experimental drug – part of a new class of therapeutics called ‘senolytics’ – is offering a promising new approach to treating diabetic macular oedema (DMO).

Optometrists face “funding, regulatory, technological, cultural, and inter-professional barriers to maximising the utilisation of their professional skills and qualifications”, Optometry Australia (OA) has warned.

A unique hub and spoke model initiated and supported by the University of Western Australia (UWA) is creating “very rich rural and remote and cultural experiences” for optometry students and helping to meet key recommendations set out in the Vision 2030 report.1

A gene therapy used to treat skin wounds has improved visual acuity in a 13-year-old boy with cicatrising conjunctivitis due to a rare genetic disease.

A first-of-its-kind supplementation study has revealed that Lutemax Kids, a proprietary, low dose extract of lutein and zeaxanthin isomers manufactured by OmniActive, resulted in significant improvements in aspects of vision per formance and cognition.

Ophthalmologists from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) have created a new protocol to rapidly diagnose retinal artery occlusion, also known as eye stroke, to prevent irreversible vision loss.

Patients with retinal disease may one day have their colour vision restored with tiny solar panels inserted at the back of the eye.

SightGlass Vision has been granted Breakthrough Device designation for its Diffusion Optics Technology (DOT) spectacle lenses from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

A 3D printed ‘metamaterial’ boasting levels of strength not normally seen in nature or manufacturing could change how we make everything from medical implants to rocket parts.

The way we manage glaucoma has changed and, as evidenced by a recent evening of discussion, ophthalmologists have different perspectives on management – even for the same patient.

Sixty companies have confirmed that they will be on show at O-SHOW24 in Sydney next month.

Sight loss in certain inherited eye diseases may be caused by gut bacteria, and is potentially treatable by antimicrobials, a new international study has found.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication, warning consumers, patients, caregivers, and health care providers of risks related to using smartwatches or smart rings that claim to measure blood glucose levels (blood sugar) without piercing the skin.

Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA), the country’s peak body for the optical dispensing profession, has aligned with Eyebenefit, a national buying group that provides independent practices with access to deals on brand products as well as marketing expertise and business building services.

Specsavers has dispatched its 60 millionth pair of glasses into the Australia/New Zealand market. The 60 millionth pair of glasses was sent to a customer at the Wonthaggi store in Victoria.

Registrations for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC24) are open until 30 April.

Maui Jim has teamed up with Red Bull, promising a collaboration that combines the precision and clarity of Maui Jim’s high-performance sunglasses with the energy drink’s excitement and action.

In what has been described as “an incredible milestone for the prevention of diabetes-related eye complications”, the KeepSight eye check reminder program has registered its 400,000th participant.

As part of its preparation to progress Sozinibercept (OPT-302) – a new drug for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) – towards registration and launch, Opthea has appointed internationally recognised retina specialist and clinical scientist, Arshad M. Khanani MD MA FASRS, as its Chief Medical Advisor.

The Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO) will host its national conference on the Gold Coast from 6–7 July featuring Canadian keynote speakers Dr Angela Peddle and Dr Vi Tu Banh.

CR Labs has made an AU$500,000 investment in a high-tech lens testing facility in Melbourne – the first of its kind in Australia.

Cataract affects 20% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (40 years and older) and 14% of non-Indigenous Australians (50 years and older).1 Surgical treatment is safe, effective and cost-effective, yet access to this surgery is currently inequitable: privately-funded patients are able to have surgery within weeks of diagnosis, but publicly-funded patients can wait anywhere from four to more than 30 months from the time of referral.1

Eye disorders are one of the most common long-term health problems experienced by Australian children, with an economic impact of AU$624 million per year, or $1,845 per child.

It's a fascinating time in optometry. While the perception is that practices for sale are being swept up by consolidators, there are in fact, several brave optometrists across the country who are choosing to step out on their own, either establishing a greenfield site or buying an established practice.

As a cataract and refractive specialist, Dr Armand Borovik sees a large proportion of presbyopic and cataract patients who wish to gain independence from glasses or contact lenses. This can be achieved through either corneal refractive surgery to give the patient monovision, or through lens-based surgery. Here, he provides advice on talking to patients about presbyopia correcting intraocular lenses.

Glaucoma specialists gathered in Hobart, Tasmania in late February to share their knowledge and experiences on diverse glaucoma-related topics at the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Society Congress 2024 (ANZGS 2024). Here we review some of the lectures presented over three days on Australia’s Apple Isle.

The 39th Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) congress in Bali, Indonesia, attracted exactly 7,778 delegates from across the globe. The Asia Pacific region, with its vast population and diversity of eye disease, contributes to some of the world’s most important research into eye health, making the APAO conference an important meeting of global minds on the annual calendar.

One of the defining moments in ophthalmology was the introduction of intravitreal anti-VEGFs to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Now, eye care professionals outside the United States await news from their respective regulatory bodies about the approval of the newest intravitreal injection (IVI) agents, pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol. Given the green light by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year, these drugs represent the first-ever treatments for geographic atrophy (GA) – and the first real hope for clinicians and patients alike.

Many patients suffer from digital eye strain driven or exacerbated by the environments we live and work in. A study has found that Systane Hydration Preservative-Free, which is available in multi-dose bottles and unit dose vials, can relieve the ocular discomfort symptoms associated with digital eye strain. 1 The formulation’s multi-dose container may also appeal to more environmentally aware patients, as Megan Zabell explains.

The diagnosis of dry eye disease can be confusing for patients, many of whom do not experience the classic ‘desiccated’ feeling on their eyeball surface, but rather complain of excessive wateriness of their eyes.

Ever wanted a dry eye treatment that can give improvements within minutes? In this article, optometrist Dr Leigh Plowman discusses the science and benefits of Zest for dry eyes, blepharitis, and ocular surface pain.

Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most prevalent eye conditions, affecting millions of people globally. The worldwide prevalence is estimated to be between 5–50%, depending on geographic location. DED is multifactorial, however, this article concentrates on those with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Patients with MGD and DED are quite often debilitated by symptoms and finding the right topical regime can be difficult. Dr Nisha Sachdev writes that in her experience, a novel, officebased treatment for patients with DED from MGD, which is both non-invasive and painless, has provided excellent results.

Emerging dry eye treatments have the potential to improve our patients’ quality of life. Dr Margaret Lam spoke to optometrist, educator and dry eye enthusiast Martin Robinson about where he feels dry eye management is today, and where it can be in the future.

New Systane Hydration Multi-Dose Preservative Free lubricant eye drops provide long-lasting dry eye relief in a multi-dose bottle, free from preservatives.

We experience the world through our senses and around three in four Australians (76%) consider eyesight as their most important sense. For us to live to our full potential, looking after our health, wellbeing, and eyesight must be a priority. Interestingly, over half of Australians (59%) worry about the quality of their eyesight, yet are anxious about visiting an optometrist.We experience the world through our senses and around three in four Australians (76%) consider eyesight as their most important sense. For us to live to our full potential, looking after our health, wellbeing, and eyesight must be a priority. Interestingly, over half of Australians (59%) worry about the quality of their eyesight, yet are anxious about visiting an optometrist.

Your website is a crucial part of the strategy for growing your eye care business. According to a recent survey by Patient Pop, 48.5% of people were influenced in their choice of medical professional by the provider’s online presence.

They say variety is the spice of life. That’s certainly the case for Stephanie Lai, who reflects here on more than 10 years working in optometry and an increasing passion for dry eye management.

Find yourself being pulled in multiple directions 24/7? Andrew McKinnon has some suggestions. They may feel clunky at first, but they could very well change your life and your work habits for the better.

Brought to you by the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA), O-SHOW24 provides a unique opportunity to explore all the eyewear and eye care technology you need to boost business in your practice.

Leading independent design company Paul Smith turns 54 this year. Championing positivity, curiosity, and creativity in every design, whether it’s a sunglass, a spectacle, a shirt, shop, or special collaboration, this British company has a global outlook.

AM Eyewear – an original Australian eyewear brand – has launched a new collection with unique colour combinations inspired by Australia’s beaches and coastline.

Events

April 6–7, australian vision convention (avc 2024), gold coast convention centre, gold coast, qld.