214 mivision Journal 2025

As we went to print with this issue, the optometric industry was coming down from a post-ODMAFair high. The event, hosted by the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA) was described by many I spoke to as “amazing” and “the best ever” for writing business – a welcome relief after an “up and down” start to the year.

Dr Loren Rose is a clinical senior lecturer at Macquarie University and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra. She practises privately at Sydney Eyecare Burwood, Sydney. In 2021, she completed her PhD, titled Myopia in Children, at Macquarie University.

A damning new report has exposed the extent of Australia’s specialist healthcare crisis, revealing that chronic shortages and high fees are forcing patients to delay or skip essential health services, including ophthalmology.

New guidelines have been released to support the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical coding practices in Australia. The guidelines outline key considerations that are essential for the responsible, ethical, and effective application of AI in producing clinical coded data.

A new Queensland optometry study has started in Brisbane, aiming to explore how lifestyle and environmental factors affect the eyesight of pre-myopic Australian children, an understudied cohort in myopia research.

New research from China suggests instant coffee consumption may significantly increase the risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), with researchers recommending people at high risk for AMD should avoid instant coffee altogether.

Optometry Australia (OA) said its “Off Screens, Outside, Optometrist” myopia campaign has had more than 31 million impressions, and Australians are now taking action.

A new study has identified a link implicating problems with cholesterol metabolism with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Revised state-wide referral criteria for glaucoma have been issued in Victoria.

An eight-year clinical study has provided strong evidence that defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) technology continues to significantly reduce myopia progression and axial elongation in children over the long term.1

At a time when the profession of optometry is rapidly changing – with new treatment paradigms, the use of artificial intelligence, and an evolving scope of practice – structured learning combined with professional networking has never been more important.

A Chinese study has found that highly aspherical lenslet target (HALT) spectacle lenses – used for myopia control – may also be effective in preventing myopia.

An inexpensive retinal camera with comprehensive diagnostic abilities, developed by the University of Notre Dame Australia, has proved successful in an extended trial at two remote communities in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

French designer Olivier Lapidus will chair the jury of the annual SILMO d’Or awards this year in Paris. With his “boundarypushing perspective” and expertise in contemporary design, craftsmanship, and innovation, SILMO organisers said his “presidency symbolises a desire to open up to new territories in contemporary design”.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) is awarding more than AU$1 million to eight groundbreaking research projects as part of its 2025 funding round.

EssilorLuxottica has been named in the ‘Time100 Most Influential Companies’ list for 2025 in the category of ‘Innovators’. The global eye care company joins a group of 20 others in that category, including Le Creuset, Nintendo, and Alibaba.

A mass vision screening programme, hosted by Cricket NSW, has revealed “supernormal” vision among elite cricketing participants, as well as a range of eye conditions requiring urgent treatment.

A European review has concluded the risk of vision loss from semaglutide-containing medicines should be classified as “very rare”.

Myopia Profile is promising next month’s Myopia Action Month will be “more focussed, flexible and engaging than ever”.

A vitamin supplement that improves metabolism in the eye appears to slow down damage to the optic nerve in glaucoma. Promising results have been published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.1 The researchers behind the study have now started a clinical trial on patients.

EyeHub, an ophthalmology practice on the Sunshine Coast founded by Dr Sonia Moorthy, has become home to the first ZEISS Advanced Laser Suite platform in Queensland.

Imagine being able to see exactly what your eye doctor sees. That’s the revolutionary idea behind One Right Eye – an innovative, interactive 3D eye model created in Australia. Designed to transform patient education, this user-friendly tool helps bridge the communication gap between eye specialists and their patients.

Sydney ophthalmologist Dr Tanya Trinh was one of three doctors on board Qantas Flight 2 from London to Singapore when a fellow passenger suffered a life-threatening cardiac emergency. Within 30 minutes, the specialists made the critical call to land the plane in Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku, in an effort to save the patient’s life. In this article, Dr Trinh writes about her experience and shares the lifelong lessons she learned.

Welcome to mivision’s annual Myopia Issue.

The Reality of Early-Onset Myopia

Myopia management continues to be an evolving and exciting field in eye care. While the efficacy and availability of treatments is now well established, there’s so much more to learn. Myopia Profile’s Dr Kate Gifford looks at the latest developments.

Early Intervention and Management

The growing epidemic of myopia and, with it, the prevalence of high myopia1,2 (defined as greater than -6D or 26 mm in axial length3 ) has prepared us to expect the presentation of young children with high levels of myopia in our practice. However, as Dr Loren Rose writes, this group includes a small but very important subset of patients: those with syndromic myopia.

August is a significant month for the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) with a number of advocacy projects reaching fruition, including the annual World Ophthalmologist Day campaign and the ASO Eye Surgery Showcase in Canberra.

GenEye, a three-day immersive surgical training event, recently held at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, provided a highvalue education programme, encouraging participants to strive for excellence and high performance learning by training the mind and body.

www.anatomyoftheeye.com

While outdoor time and screen limits dominate myopia prevention discussions, emerging research reveals another critical factor: sleep. Dr Nicole Liu and Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg explore the fascinating biological connections between sleep patterns and eye development, uncovering how disrupted circadian rhythms, altered dopaminemelatonin pathways, and compromised melanopsin signalling may contribute to myopia progression.

In this article, Eyerising International’s Dr Yuri Aung hears from four leading ophthalmologists from around the world – Dr Loren Rose (Australia), Professor Jason Yam (Hong Kong), Mr John Bolger (United Kingdom), and Professor Junwen Zeng (China) – as they share their expert perspectives on repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) for myopia with case studies from a range of difficult-to-treat patients.

Data Revealing Observations

A study presented by the Lions Eye Institute at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting in May highlighted the increasing importance of measuring axial length when looking at change in myopia rates over time.

For decades, single-vision correction has been the default approach for managing myopia in children. But the evidence is now unequivocal: this strategy is no longer defensible as a first-line treatment. While single-vision lenses correct blurred distance vision, they do nothing to address abnormal axial elongation -and in doing so, leave young eyes vulnerable to future vision-threatening complications. Jagrut Lallu explores why the continued use of single-vision correction al

Once considered a minor refractive error, myopia is now recognised as a leading cause of visual impairment, prompting urgent calls for action from the international eye care community. Central to this movement is the World Council of Optometry (WCO), which in 2021 established myopia management as the global standard of care.

Getting into myopia for the first time or expanding your scope of practice? Dr Margaret Lam takes a look at the tools that will deliver the most value to your patients and your practice.

odamembers.com.au

Observing the ripple effect of the ocular care she provided to a paediatric patient inspired Specsavers Newcastle optometrist Halin Nam’s deep interest in myopia management.

A collaborative spirit and sense of the urgency required to address the myopia pandemic were hallmarks of the recent Asia-Pacific Myopia Management Symposium (APMMS). Jeanne Saw was there for Myopia Profile and reported for mivision.

By now we’ve all heard the sobering statistics and predictions that nearly half the world’s population will be myopic in a quarter of a century.¹ As optical dispensers, we are uniquely positioned to step up to this challenge and proactively support myopia management.

Optometry Australia (OA) has a responsibility to its members to build demand (to match community need) and build opportunity. Skye Cappuccio explores the options.

Under the unifying theme of ‘Vision Made Possible’, a group of enthusiastic global contact lens leaders met in Korea recently to explore everything from lens design evolution to patient communication, offering a platform for collaboration, critical thinking, and the shared pursuit of better contact lens outcomes for patients. With more than 1,000 others attending online, the Contact Lens Leaders’ Summit was an engaging exchange of ideas, innovation, and clinical excellence.

In the world of optometry, asking the right questions is second nature – it's how you understand your clients’ needs, build trust, and deliver personalised care. But what if that same skillset could transform your team culture too? Business leadership coach Alison Schiena explores how the art of thoughtful questioning, when turned inward, can foster stronger relationships, boost engagement, and create a workplace that people genuinely want to return to.

Established by Optometry Australia (then known as the Australian Optometrical Association) in 1989, ProVision was born as Australia’s Independent Optometrists and created to support independent optometry at a critical juncture when corporate optometry was entering the Australian market. With 445 member practices across Australia, representing both metropolitan areas and most regional centres, its mission remains highly relevant today: to promote a vibrant independent sector a

Optometrists Mandy Huynh and Sheila Lam, both 27, opened their practice, Eye Definition in Wolli Creek Sydney, two years ago. In discussion with mivision, they reflected on how a friendship at university turned into a business partnership, and how their complementary skills have been essential to their success.

The Stuart Weitzman woman is a self-styled sophisticate. She is strong, bold, and ambitious. Confident in herself and in her success, she knows just what she wants and is ready to step up for anything she sets her mind to. In line with the brand’s DNA, the new Stuart Weitzman eyewear collection seamlessly melds style, comfort, and quality. Each piece is meticulously designed in the United States and crafted in Italy to inspire women with strength and confidence.

Building on the success of SRC and O=MEGA, the Optometry Clinical Conference is a proud collaboration between OVSA, OQNT and OTas, and the main event in the Optometry Australia conference calendar. Speakers include Professors Jamie Craig, Robyn Guymer, Celia Chen, Eric Papas, and Blair Lonsberry; as well as Richard Johnson and Associate Professor Zhichao Wu.

August 8–10, Optometry Australia Ski Conference, Thredbo Alpine Resort, Thredbo, NSW. Info: optometry.org.au/institute-of-excellence/conferences