The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has warned that an autoimmune and malaria drug being investigated as a potential treatment for COVID-19 can cause permanent retinal damage. Read more
COVID-19 restrictions sparks Optometry Australia-Oculo partnership
Optometry Australia (OA) members will have access to Oculo’s telehealth platform, including its real-time videoconference feature, as part of a new partnership to ensure patients continue to receive optometric care during COVID-19. Read more
Can we close the gap by 2020?
In 2008, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults had 6x more blindness than other Australians. The leading cause was unoperated cataract followed by uncorrected refractive error, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma. One third had never had an eye exam. Read more
Patients gambling with vision due to COVID confusion
Uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 lockdown measures has led to a major spike in missed appointments for macular disease treatment, sparking concern that thousands of Australians are putting their vision at risk. Read more
Optometrists move to urgent care model amid COVID-19
Optometrists across Australia, including the country’s largest optical chains and independent groups, have adapted their service models in response to the COVID-19 emergency and are hopeful of restoring normality to their businesses within a month. Read more
RANZCO: Looking to the future at the 51st Annual Scientific Conference
Coinciding with half a century of RANZCO, the 51st Annual Scientific Conference played host to lectures on a wide variety of topics. In part one of his report, LEWIS WILLIAMS details some of the many presentations on show. Read more
Sector pushes for Medicare telehealth items amid COVID-19
The ophthalmic community is lobbying the government to allow eyecare professionals to deliver telehealth consultations under Medicare during COVID-19, as e-referral platform Oculo unveiled a new videoconference feature in response to the crisis. Read more
Cataract operations cancelled under elective surgery ban
RANZCO has published new triage guidelines and warned of the potential ramifications for ophthalmologists that perform unnecessary cataract procedures during a government-imposed suspension of elective surgery amid COVID-19. Read more
Study examines ocular transmission of COVID-19
Researchers investigating links between COVID-19 and the eye have found there is a low risk of transmission via tears, after other studies established a link between the virus and conjunctivitis. Read more
Optometrists limited to urgent cases; telehealth update
Optometry Australia (OA) is seeking to clarify the extent to which optometrists are allowed to practice after it was suggested eyecare professionals should only limit themselves to urgent cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more