Australian eyecare professionals and their patients can gain a behind-the-scenes look at ‘LOSING SIGHT – Inside the Myopia Epidemic’, a new documentary that will be followed by a live panel discussion featuring pre-eminent experts such as Brisbane’s Dr Kate Gifford and Melbourne’s Dr Philip Cheng.
A private screening of a work-in-progress film excerpt can be viewed on Thursday 3 November, with feedback panel discussions to take place around the world with leading experts and film maker Ms Jane Weiner.
The Asia Pacific panel, which will help take the film to the next phase, will take place in Melbourne 6pm, Brisbane 5pm, Hong Kong 3pm, Auckland New Zealand 8pm, with more details below.
The film focuses on the plight of filmmaker Weiner who was confronted with an irretrievable loss of sight. She discovers that her situation is not unique, and that serious ocular diseases associated with so-called ‘school myopia’ is a primary cause of vision-threatening diseases that can strike many years later.
With her camera in hand, she travels throughout America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe to create a documentary that pulls back the curtain on the global myopia epidemic.
Embedded with the world’s leading vision scientists, including Gifford, Weiner interweaves their pioneering research with testimonials of individuals coping with vision loss caused by childhood myopia, providing a first-hand account of the challenges and triumphs in discovering ways to slow eye elongation in children.
“Our film offers new hope with an insider’s view on the development of newly-devised therapies to stem the tide of this silent epidemic that threatens millions of children with vision loss or total blindness,” a film description said.
Eyecare professionals and patients can sign up for the 3 November private screening via this link. A trailer of the film can also be accessed on the website.
Asia Pacific Panel
3 November, Melbourne 6pm, Brisbane 5pm, Hong Kong 3pm, Auckland 8pm
Moderator: Kate Gifford, clinical optometrist, research fellow, peer educator and director of Myopia Profile – Brisbane, Australia
Panelists:
- Philip Cheng, children’s optometrist, clinical director of Eyecare Concepts/The Myopia Clinic – Melbourne, Australia
- Wen Juan Chui, optometrist – Singapore
- Jane Weiner, filmmaker
European Panel
2pm CET, 1pm London
Moderator: Ian Flitcroft, paediatric ophthalmologist, vision scientist, principle investigator on multiple clinical trials, co-founder of Ocumentra.
Panelists:
- Nicola Logan, vision scientist, Professor of Optometry, Aston University – Birmingham, UK
- Matjaž Mihelčič, optometrist in Bled, Slovenia, Professor at Aalen University, Germany, president of European Council of Optometry and Optics – Bled, Slovenia
- Jane Weiner, filmmaker
North American Panel
6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern
Moderator: David Troilo, biological and vision scientist, Professor and Dean, administrative affairs, SUNY College of Optometry – New York City
Panelists:
- Thomas Aller, optometrist, visiting scholar UC Berkeley, scientific and clinical advisor at Treehouse Eyes, and self-described ’Myopia Warrior’ – San Bruno, California
- Xiaoying Zhu, vision scientist, optometrist and lead clinician of myopia management at the University Eye Center of the SUNY, College of Optometry – New York City
- Kevin Chan, optometrist – Bethesda, Maryland
- Jane Weiner, filmmaker.
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