Hundreds of new genes have been linked to a person’s risk of developing glaucoma, including key genetic targets that could, for the first time, pave the way for treatments that prevent the retinal damage that causes blindness. The findings, from the largest-ever global genetic study of the degenerative eye disease, have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics.1 Led by Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer, this research significantly advances our understanding of the genetics of glaucoma. It builds on a previous 2021 study to identify another 185 pr ..read more

With growing prevalence of dry eye disease in the community, a group of optometrists in Queensland has established the Dry Eye Society to support eye care professionals in delivering accurate, evidence-based care. With a vision to become “recognised and trusted as the leading professional society for dry eyes in Australia”, the organisation’s stated mission is to “promote education, professional development and networking in the dry eyes and ocular surface disease field”. Led by President Jason Holland and Vice President Andrew Bowden, the Dry Eye Society plans to offer education to opt ..read more

Biopharmaceutical company Apellis said there was “no indication that drug product or manufacturing issues” contributed to reported events of retinal vasculitis in United States patients treated with Syfovre (pegcetacoplan injection). Syfovre is a first-in-class treatment, approved earlier this year by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is not yet approved for use in Australia or New Zealand. In a media release,1 Apellis said it had confirmed seven events of non-occulsive / occlusive r ..read more

A mobile app capable of early detection of glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts has been designed for use in parts of the world lacking easy access to healthcare. The project is the work of two students on the Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) as well as García Atutxa, a physicist specialising in data analysis, and Francisca Villanueva-Flores, a biochemist specialising in degenerative diseases. Dubbed BegIA (begia means ‘eye’ in Basque), the app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse a selfie and issue a diagn ..read more

An at-home device for myopia control has been approved for sale in Australia. The Eyerising Myopia Management Device, from Eyerising International, is designed specifically for children aged between three and 16 years old. It was already approved for sale in Europe and New Zealand and recently gained listing in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The therapy involves children looking into the device for three minutes of treatment, twice a day, five days per week, with a minimum of four hours between sessions. The device is controlled with a touchscreen. Patient compliance is m ..read more

Findings from a study examining the clinical validity of Melbourne Rapid Field (MRF) vision test, by comparing this technology with existing devices, have been presented as a Poster by Associate Professor George Kong at the World Glaucoma Congress 2023 (WGC23) in Rome. Vision testing is essential to detect and manage glaucoma, however standard perimetry is neither widely available or easily accessible. This means patients often do not perform visual field tests frequently enough to allow early detection of progressing disease. MRF was developed to make perimetry inexpensive, easy to do ..read more

Lately I’ve started to experience the signs of dry eye. Usually, it’s noticeable when I’m working at the computer, particularly when proofreading mivision, just ahead of going to print. My eyes feel tired. The differences between t, i, and l on the page are less obvious and I find myself increasing the font size (again). I’ve got drops, but I find the bottle difficult to use, so I ignore them. I don’t want to bother my optometrist about it. To do so would be to publicly admit my ‘stage of life’. That would be humiliating! I’ve read/edited all the articles abou ..read more

Professor Jamie Craig Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been proven to slow the progression of existing glaucoma disease by lowering pressure inside the eye. Now, in a world first, ophthalmology experts at Flinders University will determine the effectiveness and suitability of using SLT as an early intervention to prevent the onset of visual loss from glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease linked to increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Asymptomatic in the early stages, it is the leading cause of irreversible blind ..read more

People living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) may one day benefit from a new drug being trialled in Australia. PYC Therapeutics has been given approval to start a first-of-its-kind human clinical trial using a new drug to treat RP11 – a common subtype of RP. The Lions Eye Institute (LEI) and PYC Therapeutics have spent several years progressing a highly promising drug to treat RP11. Working in the Institute’s Ocular Tissue Engineering Lab, ophthalmologist Associate Professor Fred Chen (LEI), Professor Sue Fletcher (the Chief Scientific Officer of PYC), and her team, designed the drug to ..read more

Eyetelligence, an Australian-based leading innovator in AI-powered healthcare solutions, will showcase its cutting-edge eye screening software at O=MEGA23 in Melbourne from 7 – 9 September. The company’s advanced AI technology analyses full-colour fundus images to screen for referrable eye diseases including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. Additionally, the technology can screen for cardiovascular diseases and provide a risk assessment profile. Delegates to O=MEGA23 are invited to go ‘Eye to Eye with AI’ when they visit Eyetelligence at booth B12. E ..read more