NEWS NOW!

More than 900 delegates, predominantly ophthalmologists, met during the 43rd Annual Scientific Congress of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on 19-22 November.

Eye-research findings discussed during the congress included:

• Incidence of eye cancer (retinoblastoma) on the rise, as gene-carriers reach child-bearing age; 

• Blinding eye injury from a video game’s wireless handheld controller; 

• Young adults miss out, as eye research focuses on either the very young or the aged;

• Magpie beaks carry potentially blinding bacteria – magpie swooping season comes with an eye- health warning, as 20% of magpie attacks involve the eye;

• Organ donation – why 30% of donor families specifically refuse to donate corneas, and the implications; 

• Glaucoma treatment simplified by combining two drugs into one eye drop – reduces costs, side effects and the number of times a day people have to take medication; 

• Siblings of people with macular degeneration have a 10-fold risk of developing the disease;

• People who are legally blind have high rates of depression, 50% more hospital stays, and are twice as likely to have periods of psychiatric care;

• One in 3000 Australians has a potentially blinding inherited retinal disease. A DNA bank has been established which will aid gene-specific clinical trials and improve treatment;

• Despite whiz-bang technology and advanced drug therapies, the age-old problems of obesity, blood pressure and diabetes still put vision at risk;

• The incidence of legal blindness from macular degeneration has been substantially reduced in Australia since the introduction of a new drug (ranibizumab);

• New genes identified for glaucoma blindness Eye injections of an anti-cancer drug prove more effective than laser in saving vision of people with diabetes-related eye disease;

• Young people urged to be sun-smart as 20-21 year-olds were shown to have ultraviolet-related eye disease; 

• Australia has excellent eye-care services but inequitable access to this care means some people consistently miss out; 

• Glaucoma affects 2% of the population, although up to 50% of cases remain undiagnosed;

• Drinking more than two standard drinks of alcohol per day has been linked to a 20% increased risk of macular degeneration.

Dr Iain Dunlop, congress chairman, said: “In eye medicine and surgery, all our efforts are targeted at individualised treatments arising from better diagnostic technologies and specifically tailored treatment programs. That will be the future for eye care. It’s especially important for patients with multiple interconnected eye and general diseases.”

The new Fellows of the RANZCO

The Official Opening and Graduation Ceremony was followed by the President’s Reception