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With the start of a year comes new possibilities for each of us to grow personally and professionally. But what about the children?

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mivision’s Founding Editor, Mark Cushway, has passed away at the age of 62.

Optometry Australia will head into 2025 with a refreshed Board following the appointment in late 2025 of Theo Charalambous as President, Shuva Bose as Vice President, and Ramy Aziz as Treasurer. Elise Pocknee-Clem joins the national Board as a new director.

A major study has found AREDS and AREDS2 oral supplements slowed geographic atrophy (ga) progression towards the central macula,1 a finding that would be “highly valuable”, potentially helping people with late-stage disease preserve their central vision.

A new study has found that tobacco and alcohol use did not significantly affect the rate of change of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), while a high body mass index (BMI) was associated with slower structural changes in the visual fields.

High myopia eyes implanted with Vivinex Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) are at no greater risk of post-operative rotation than ‘normal’ eyes, according to a study published in the Journal of Refractive Cataract Surgery.

Accumulated DNA damage in the retina is a key contributor to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and targeting specific retinal cell types may lead to treatments that slow or stop progression, according to a United States research team.

A United States consortium has been awarded up to US$46 million to support research and innovation into vision-restoring human whole eye transplantation.

Optometry Australia (OA) is ramping up its advocacy campaign ahead of this year’s federal election, while at the same time rolling out a consumer awareness campaign focussing on myopia.

Registrations are open for eye health professionals to attend the 3rd asia-pacific strabismus and paediatric ophthalmology society (apspos) congress.

Regular eye tests may help predict a person’s risk of developing dementia, researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) have found.

Researchers in the United States have discovered that specialised stem cells – that can be readily isolated from the patient’s own bone marrow – can be safely administered into retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients’ eyes.

University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Optometry and Vision Science has established a new Graduate Certificate in Vision Impairment that is open to students from all disciplines.

Eyes4Everest is calling for adventurous optometrists to join two new outreach missions to Nepal, revealing plans to head to the Annapurna Mountain range, and the Langtang Valley – both remote areas renowned for their stunning natural beauty – for the first time.

Are you an optometrist who assesses older adults for their driving fitness?

JuzVision, a specialised Sydney-based lens laboratory with a reputation for handling complex prescriptions, has been acquired by Simon Ponnusamy of AM Eyewear and Dean Clyke from Double Agent.

A webinar on Eyerising International’s patented repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL), is now freely available for eye care professionals to watch.

Surgeons in Australia now have access to the latest ZEISS surgical microscopes, following the launch of the Aretevo 750 and Artevo 850.

The first travel grant, established in the name of Kyoichi Tanaka, the pioneering founder of Japan's contact lens industry, has been awarded to Mengliang Wu from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Patients prescribed Ganfort, or Ganfort PF (bimatoprost/timolol) and Lumigan, or Lumigan PF (bimatoprost) eye drops can be enrolled in AbbVie’s free two-year program, which provides them with ongoing support through their glaucoma journey.

Ophthalmologists and industry representatives were treated to an evening of lively discussion and personal perspectives on cataract and refractive surgery at an Alcon Symposium, held in conjunction with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) Congress.

Adults who use electronic cigarettes (vapes) had more than double the risk for developing uveitis than non-users, with elevated risks persisting for up to four years.

Optometry Australia (OA) and its state divisions will offer a diverse range of in-person, live streamed, and hybrid conferences in 2025 that delve deeper into key clinical areas.

The 2025 OKKO masterclass for optometrists, presented by Eye Specialist Centre in Brisbane, will take place next month on Sunday 30 March.

Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s (MDFA) annual meeting, held at the NSW State Library and attended by eye care professionals, people living with macular disease and their supporters, drew attention to the growing challenges facing macular disease management, while simultaneously paying tribute to MDFA’s pioneering work, and its community of supporters.

As Guest Editor for the February 2025 issue of mivision, it is a pleasure to bring you a collection of articles by orthoptists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists, putting the spotlight once again on paediatric eye disease. With this issue’s focus on collaboration, the words of Aristotle, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” certainly ring true when we consider how, together, we can efficiently and effectively bring eye health care to the paediatric population.

The critical period of vision development is in infancy and early childhood, and many paediatric vision problems need to be addressed in a timely manner to avoid lifelong repercussions. The waiting lists at most public hospital paediatric ophthalmology departments in Australia and New Zealand are too long and children are at risk of not being seen within the appropriate timeframes.

The strategic statement on the future of eye health care in Australia, Vision 2030 and beyond1, from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), focusses on addressing inequities in access to eye health care. In this article, RANZCO’s Secretariat and co-Chairs of theVision 2030 and beyond Paediatric Working Group provide a highlevel overview of collaborative care and consensus guidelines as they relate to paediatric eye care.

Capturing cald

Professor Frank Billson AO is a retired paediatric ophthalmologist who spent over five decades working tirelessly to prevent and cure blindness and to improve sight in patients both in the local and international community. In 2021, his former patient, Shelley Kline, established the Professor Frank Billson Research Scholarship in his honour. Today the scholarship supports the research efforts of orthoptists like Dr Sandra Staffieri AO, guest editor of this issue, and ophthalmologist/ orthoptist team Dr Anu Mathew and Cathy Lewis, who are developing the framework for a collaborative model of paediatric eye care in Victoria.

Strabismus, when first encountered by the novice health professional, can be very confusing. Perhaps some of the most confounding and even most hazardous aspects are the myths surrounding this condition. In this article, Dr Craig Donaldson AM sets out to debunk some of them.

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With around 2,000 delegates, the 55th annual Scientific Congress of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) is one of the largest in Australasian eye care. And as Alan Saks reports, the Adelaide event was accompanied by an industry exhibition showcasing the latest intraocular lenses (IOLs), drugs, and equipment – including digital operating suites. Of course, there were the usual posters, talks, and meetings, as well as a film festival and a sustainability initiative that saw the donation of more than 1,100 trees.

When it comes to minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices, Australian ophthalmologists and their patients are currently spoiled for choice. And as a group of ophthalmologists attending a MIGS Masterclass in Sydney recently heard, that choice usually comes down to what the practitioner feels most comfortable – and confident – working with. Late last year, Alcon set out to broaden surgical horizons with an entire day focussed on achieving optimal outcomes with the Hydrus Microstent.

The aim of any screening program is to identify or diagnose pre-symptomatic disease that can be readily treated. The screening tests need to be rapid, with a high sensitivity and specificity to detect the desired condition(s). Additionally, if one is to screen for a condition, there must be accessible evidence-based treatment to justify screening in the first instance.

Vision screening is an economic and sustainable way to provide basic eye checks to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. In this article, optometrist Cassandra Haines explains common visual problems in diagnosed children and their impact, and describes how to establish effective screening programs, with practical advice to get things underway.

Myopia management has come a long way in a very short time. We have a better understanding about the risk factors for myopia onset and progression, especially the role of outdoor time and near work. There is now a bigger range of optical interventions (incredible that we started with just orthokeratology (OK)), the application of low dose atropine, and, of course, the increased popularity of combination treatment. Even so, many questions remain unanswered, including being able to predict accurately who will develop myopia (and when) and how to best customise the current treatment options to improve long-term outcomes. This article will explore the current understanding of myopia risk factors that are clinically relevant.

Myopia is one of the major eye care challenges of the 21st century. We are all aware of the rapid rise of myopia seen among younger generations in East and South-East Asia over the past 30 years. 11 In cities in East Asia, as many as 80% of students finishing high school are myopic. 22 In Australia, definitive, population-based evidence of an increase in myopia among young people is lacking; however, our group has shown an increase of approximately 5% among adults aged 49–70 over the past 20 years. 33 This increase may seem small, but, when applied across the whole population, equates to an extra one million Australians requiring myopia eye care, of whom approximately an extra 1–2% 44 (10–20,000) will experience vision loss directly attributable to myopia, through conditions such as myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. 55

Public health messaging about increasing outdoor time to combat myopia must include “equally important” messaging about protecting eyes from UV-related eye diseases “to combat both sight threatening epidemics”.

Procedural anxiety can be defined as any fear or worry that is experienced relating to medical interventions, procedures, or appointments. In ophthalmology, procedural anxiety is common enough, even with seemingly innocuous procedures, such as instillation of eye drops and measurement of intraocular pressure. In paediatric ophthalmology, procedural anxiety is more frequently encountered and can become a challenge or indeed a barrier to providing care to this patient group. Dr Sandra Staffieri explores strategies to help ease the way for the child in your clinic.

The National Framework for Preschool Vision Standards in 3.5–5-year-olds is an important initiative from Vision 2020 that deserves to be a high priority in the ongoing debate surrounding accessible eye care for all Australians.

John Nguyen, co-owner of Zoom Optics and an optometrist of 19 years’ experience, had an unusual introduction to the practice of orthokeratology (OK), deciding that he wanted to be his own first patient. As Vivienne Pearson writes, Mr Nguyen “wanted to go through the whole experience” so he’d know “exactly what the patient was going through”.

Visual disorders can impact a child’s educational, social, emotional, and physical development, especially if there is a delayed diagnosis. Dr Margaret Lam asked Dr Craig Donaldson AM about paediatric eye health, and the advice to offer parents.

Ebru Efem’s experience as a child inspired her to become an orthoptist. A placement at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne shaped her career in optometry.

When it comes to vision correction, kids are no longer treated like ‘little humans’ with glasses for kids being smaller versions of adults’ frames. Paediatric eyewear has become its own category and a lucrative one at that, with increasing numbers of children being prescribed eyewear for sightthreatening conditions like myopia.

As the global focus on myopia prevention and management continues to intensify, so does the demand for correctly fitted kids’ optical frames. STEPPER EYEWEAR, renowned for its precisionengineered adult frames since 1970, has partnered with leading dispensing optician Alicia Thompson to create STEPPER Start – a collection that prioritises clinical efficacy, comfort, and style in equal measure.

With only weeks to go until the Optometry Western Australia (OWA) WAVE 2025 conference opens, anticipation is building. OWA’s Evan MacRae provides an update.

The recent Johnson and Johnson (J&J) Contact Lens Leaders’ Summit brought together industry and key opinion leaders from across Asia-Pacific (APAC), serving as a dynamic platform to discuss the latest scientific insights, foster collaboration, and discuss advancements and innovations that could help to develop the standard of care within the contact lens industry.

Why is video marketing becoming so important for eye care professionals? Simply put, it’s one of the most effective ways to engage potential patients. The digital world is increasingly video-driven, with audiences preferring to watch content rather than read, as Paul Sallaway explains.

It seems just the other day that Chris Beer announced the start-up of George and Matilda Eyecare. In fact, the company was launched on 29 April 2016 – almost nine years ago. And since then, Mr Beer – with almost 40 years’ experience in the retail sector across the Asia Pacific – has led a flurry of activity, acquiring over 100 partners and with that gaining a presence in most states and territories of Australia.

After four decades in optometry, Dirk Den Dulk (right) made a strategic decision to sell his two practices on the New South Wales south coast to George and Matilda Eyecare, a move he said transformed his professional life and provided a robust exit strategy.

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On 2 December 2024, founding mivision editor Mark Cushway passed away. At 62, after a double-lung transplant in 2016, he was a cystic fibrosis survivor (not sufferer). He was one of the planet’s longest-living people with the disease. But a rare cancer found its way into his transplanted lungs. In his last days, Mark wrote a series of letters to his daughter, Em, about his “life, thoughts, absurdities, and meanderings”.