Optometrist Dr Amanda Ryan (nee Rungis) passed away on 13 June 2019. The founder of Sure Eye Care in West Gosford, Dr Rungis was much loved for her generosity of spirit and dedication to her profession.
Dr Rungis developed an interest in optometry at the age of 15, which was heightened when her grandfather lost his vision due to macular degeneration in 2003. Soon after, she opened her own state of the art practice, and became the first optometrist in Australia to invest in the MPOD, a machine that quickly and painlessly detects those at greatest risk of macular degeneration.
Continually selfless and always good-humoured, Amanda showed a passionate commitment to her family and her profession at all times
Dr Rungis was the Vice President and marketing coordinator of the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania (OSO), a Board member of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (IAOMC) and a volunteer supervisor for fourth and fifth year optometry students, at the University of New South Wales.
Gavin Boneham, President of OSO told mivision, “Amanda’s loss will be hard felt by the OSO. She joined our society a number of years ago, when the interest in orthok was just starting to take off. We needed to lift our performance in a number of areas and her talents fitted the bill exactly. She brought her expertise in business, marketing, and corporate governance to the board, and she shared it with us, such that we really improved greatly in all those fields.
“Amanda was generous, dynamic, hard-working, professional and always up for a laugh. Most of all, I will remember her willingness to help and to serve her friends, the OSO and the profession at large. The OSO and the world have lost a generous soul.”
In a letter written last week to OSO members, Lee Pepper – optometrist and OSO Treasurer/Membership Administrator – wrote, “Amanda was an inspiration to so many in our profession. From her origins as an enthusiastic and insightful student at UNSW to eventually becoming the founding optometrist of her excellent Sure Eye Care practice on the Central Coast, Amanda was committed to excellence with everything she involved herself. Continually selfless and always good-humoured, Amanda showed a passionate commitment to her family and her profession at all times.
“Amanda did much to advance the cause of orthokeratology and I speak for the whole board of the OSO in saying what a great honour it has been to serve alongside her. She will be profoundly missed by us all.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband Gordon and her son Varis, of whom Amanda was always immensely proud.
“You will always be remembered with fondness and admiration, Amanda, by all whose lives you have touched. May you rest In peace, our dear colleague and friend”.
Dr Rungis was a great supporter of several charities among them, Optometry Giving Sight. Ron Baroni, Australian Country Manager for Optometry Giving Sight said her death was devastating.
“I got to know Amanda through her efforts to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight. I know she gave to other organisations, but her heart was always big enough to allow a lot of different charities in, and I totally respect her for that.
“Personally, I believe Amanda was one of the nicest, sweetest people that I have dealt with in a long, long time. I will miss her immensely, not only for her support of Optometry Giving Sight, but as a friend.”
Dr Rungis’ life will be celebrated this Friday, 21 June at 2:30pm at the Hillside Chapel, 57 Palmdale Road, Palmdale NSW. Her husband Gordon Ryan, has asked that donations be made in place of flowers to The Brain Cancer Group in Dr Rungis’ name.
