Eye surgeons and medical technology innovators have taken the ‘operating theatre’ to Australian Parliament House, using National Science Week (10–18 August) to give politicians and policy makers a ‘hands on’ experience with eye health technology.
The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists’ (ASO’s) inaugural Eye Surgery Showcase aimed to increase understanding of the prevalence and surgical treatment of eye disease, awareness of the critical role of ophthalmologist in access to world-class eye health technology and surgical treatments, and appreciation of the innovative surgical technologies used in the prevention of blindness.
ASO Chief Executive Officer, Kerry Gallagher AM, said ophthalmologists are world leaders in addressing eye health diseases and conditions that, without surgical intervention, will rob people of sight and quality of life.
“Close to one in two Australians have one or more long-term eye conditions that impact upon the quality of their day-to-day life,” Mr Gallagher said.
“A further nine in 10 of us say that sight is our most valued sense, yet a remarkable 90% of all cases of blindness in Australia are preventable.”
Close to one in two Australians have one or more long-term eye conditions that impact upon the quality of their day-to-day life
A ‘Hands On, Experience it Yourself’ Approach
ASO President Dr Peter Sumich said the rate of unaddressed and treatable blindness will continue to increase in Australia unless change is made.
“By bringing global leaders in medical technology and local Canberra-based eye surgeons together at Australian Parliament House, we are taking a ‘hands on, experience it yourself’ approach to educating our elected representatives and healthcare policymakers on what is at stake,” Dr Sumich said.
“Australian eye surgeons and our medical technology industry are among the best in the world, yet our community eye health statistics are alarming for a first-world country.”
He said the government must collaborate with the profession on strategies and principles for the delivery of eye services to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities as well as improved access within the public sector to ophthalmology services.
Currently, most ophthalmology services in Australia are delivered through the private health sector.
Medical technology innovators Alcon, Device Technologies, Glaukos, Johnson and Johnson, and ZEISS brought the tech to the event, as local Canberra ophthalmologists guided politicians and healthcare policymakers as they ‘tried their hand’ at complex eye surgery.
The ASO Eye Surgery Showcase was an officially recognised National Science Week 2024 Inspiring Australia event.
