Social media giant Facebook is joining forces with EssilorLuxottica to develop smartglasses under its Ray-Ban brand. Read more
Government imposes new restriction on optical trainee wage subsidy
Without warning, the Federal Government has made a crucial change to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) scheme that is providing up to $28,000 in wage subsidies for a range of traineeships, including optical dispensing. Read more
Twin licensing deals bolster Bausch + Lomb’s myopia portfolio
Bausch + Lomb has acquired an exclusive license for a novel myopia control contact lens developed by a Sydney ophthalmic research institute, just days after signing another deal to commercialise an investigational microdose formulation of atropine. Read more
Myopia innovations snap up Silmo d’Or awards
Hoya’s new myopia control lens and Topcon’s Myah instrument for myopia and dry eye management have taken out their respective categories in the regarded Silmo d’Or Awards. Read more
New Specsavers website shares eye health data insights
Specsavers has launched its new HealthHub website to share updates on detection, referral and treatment progress for key eye conditions, as well as the use of optometry services in New Zealand and Australia. Read more
Long wait finally over for Melbourne optometrists
Melbourne optometrists have returned to provide the full scope of routine face-to-face services, ending a 10-week period of heavy operating restrictions. Read more
Scramble to sign up to optical dispensing wage subsidy
One of Australia’s largest optical dispensing training providers has had more than 60 enrolments within six days from employers keen to capitalise on a new 50% wage subsidy, with one practice set to receive almost $200,000 towards seven staff salaries alone. Read more
Expansion plans for Specsavers store network
Specsavers has announced it is ramping up its store opening program across all Australian states and territories, with five new locations expected to be the first of many over the coming months. Read more
Report finds Topcon is the #1 OCT provider
Topcon Healthcare has secured the number one position in the global optical coherence tomography (OCT) market, according to a major analysis of diagnostic ophthalmic devices. Read more
‘Largest ever’ business incentives unveiled in Federal Budget
A 50% wage subsidy for practices that employ and train new optical dispensers, an immediate asset write-off on the full value of new equipment and a hiring credit of up to $200 per week are among measures the ophthalmic sector is set to benefit from in the Federal Budget. Read more