A Learning Experience Like No Other

Current Trends in Myopia

The economic burden of myopia continues to grow worldwide, with costs reaching into billions and affecting national gross domestic product figures, according to leading myopia researcher Professor Padmaja Sankaridurg from ZEISS.

In the keynote address she cautioned that, “The burden of myopia is quite substantial, and all metrics indicate that it is only likely to increase in years to come”.

Prof Sankaridurg said research has revealed striking differences between countries, with individuals in China facing higher lifetime costs than those in Australia due to faster progression towards high myopia.¹

She said significant research now targets children likely to develop myopia. Outdoor activity (40–120 minutes daily) shows modest benefits for preventing onset,² while low-dose atropine (0.01–0.05%) demonstrates greater effectiveness in reducing both onset and refractive shift.³

“An area of increased activity has been in pre-myopia or targeting children who are likely to become myopic,” Prof Sankaridurg noted.

She described the mechanisms of current optical interventions, explaining that most incorporate a clear central zone that corrects refractive error with peripheral treatment zones that create myopic defocus.

“Optical defocus can manipulate eye growth. When you use positive power or myopic defocus, it acts as a stop signal” (to stop the axial elongation), Prof Sankaridurg explained.

Available options include specialised spectacle lenses, multifocal contact lenses, and orthokeratology. Prof Sankaridurg said these approaches have all demonstrated effectiveness in children up to 17 years, with no significant rebound effect after discontinuation.⁴

While high-dose atropine remains highly effective, its side effects and rebound concerns have positioned optical strategies as increasingly attractive alternatives.

Repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) has shown promising results, though it faces regulatory hurdles in China. Researchers are exploring combination therapies that pair optical interventions with atropine and RLRL to maximise efficacy.

“We’ve come a long way from just prescribing single vision lenses. By prescribing lenses with optical defocus elements, we can slow eye growth across a range of platforms – spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and orthokeratology lenses,” Prof Sankaridurg concluded.

The Art of Paediatric Dispensing

UK-based dispensing optician Fiona Anderson shared her wealth of expertise in paediatric dispensing, drawing attention to distinct techniques and considerations compared to adult dispensing.

From their different head-to-body proportions to their often-limited ability to articulate visual needs, children present unique challenges.

“Kids are little people with little personalities,” she observed, highlighting the importance of engaging directly with these patients while simultaneously managing their “entourage”of parents and caregivers.

Ms Anderson advocated a methodical approach to dispensing, recommending what she terms the “shoe shop mentality”; measuring first, then presenting only frames that will fit properly. This strategy minimises disappointment and tears when children inevitably gravitate toward inappropriate frame styles.

The presentation detailed three critical measurements that form the foundation of successful paediatric dispensing: crest height (where the frame rests on the nose), temple width (25 mm behind the back plane of the lenses), and head width (for pre-adjusting frames before collection).

Proper frame positioning is particularly crucial for children, who frequently look upward due to their height. “We want the specs to sit up as best as we can, so they get the benefit of looking through the lens,” she explained, noting this becomes even more critical with myopia management lenses.

For lens selection, Ms Anderson advised dispensers to recommend based on professional judgement rather than assuming budget constraints. “Sometimes you make an assumption and say they can’t afford that… Oftentimes parents will go without things to give the best to their children.”

The presentation also addressed UV protection, citing findings from the World Health Organization that sunburns in childhood lead to a higher risk of skin cancer in later life, and a larger amount of UV radiation can reach and damage a child’s retina.⁵ This makes sun protection a crucial consideration for all children, especially as outdoor activity is increasingly recommended for myopia control.

Ms Anderson concluded with practical aftercare advice, including having parents photograph their child’s properly fitted spectacles as a reference point and encouraging regular adjustments to accommodate growth spurts.

“Be proud of what you do,” she urged delegates, suggesting that excellence in paediatric dispensing can differentiate practices from competitors while providing immense professional satisfaction. “When you get them a pair of specs that fit, they see well in, and mum says, ‘they’re doing really well in school now’ – that’s all the reward you need.”

Infant Ocular Development

Grant Hannaford, optical dispenser and lens designer from NSW, presented some of the outcomes from his doctoral research on ‘Biometry, position of wear and fitting for paediatric patients’. He explained the core mechanisms driving the growth of the visual system in infants and how this can be interrupted.

Refractive errors occur when there is a mismatch between the axial length of the eye and its optical power, resulting in blurred vision.

Typically, refractive error is ≈+2.50D at birth and through the emmetropisation process this refractive error will change with age: as age increases, refractive error becomes more ‘minus’.

Along with age, many other variables can influence the eye’s development, including the environment (dioptric demand), light quality, outdoor exposure, and domicile, as well as lens selection and spectacle position of wear.

Mr Hannaford said optical dispensers play an important role in helping a child optimise their vision by ensuring they dispense the most suitable spectacles and fit their patients’ frames correctly. As an infant’s facial anatomy changes, spectacles must also be adjusted and replaced for optimal position of wear.

Training in the use of fitting towers and apps is critical to ensure accuracy of prescribed powers, compensated powers, correct frame fitting, and centre of rotation.

As digital natives who have spent their adult lives using multiple screens, millennials are experiencing vision changes that differ from previous generations

Meeting Millennials’ Changing Vision Needs

For the first time in Australia, HOYA’s Professional Development Manager Ulli Hentschel revealed VisuPro All Day and VisuPro Flex – two new lenses designed for emerging presbyopes.

Establishing the context for these lenses, he explained the oldest millennials are now entering their mid-40s, presenting the optical industry with both challenges and opportunities.

Born between 1980 and 1994, this demographic – now aged 30 to 44 – represents the largest consumer group in Australia and New Zealand, comprising 22% of Australia’s population and 33% of its workforce. The statistics are mirrored in New Zealand.

Research conducted by HOYA Global in 2023, surveying over 7,000 spectacle wearers and non-wearers aged 18–44, revealed significant insights into this generation’s visual requirements. As digital natives who have spent their adult lives using multiple screens, millennials are experiencing vision changes that differ from previous generations.

The survey found that 53% of existing spectacle wearers and 60% of non-spectacle wearers noticed increasing problems with close vision, particularly when using digital devices. Common complaints included eye fatigue (reported by more than half of respondents), headaches, and blurred vision when switching focus distances.

Despite these functional needs, millennials showed strong resistance to traditional progressive lenses due to their association with ageing. Many expressed anxieties about adaptation and potential impact on digital device usage, with concerns about appearing older during video meetings. Price also remained a significant barrier, with progressive lenses costing substantially more than single vision options.

Many create workarounds – adjusting screen brightness, increasing font sizes, or continuing to wear inadequate single vision lenses, rather than seeking appropriate visual solutions.

HOYA’s new product category called ‘advanced focus lenses’ has been developed in response to this need. Specifically designed for the millennial demographic, the VisuPro range aims to bridge the gap between single vision and progressive lenses and is priced accordingly.

The range includes VisuPro All Day for existing spectacle wearers experiencing early presbyopia, and VisuPro Flex for non-wearers, contact lens users, or post-refractive surgery patients now noticing early presbyopia symptoms.

Neurological Science Meets Optical Innovation

Fresh from Germany, Rodenstock’s neurologist Dr Alex Sipatchin introduced B.I.G. Exact Sensitive, the result of five years of research and complex trials.

Building on Rodenstock’s existing B.I.G. Exact portfolio, which already uses biometric measurements to create personalised lenses, the new B.I.G. Exact Sensitive also considers how the brain processes visual information.

The innovation stems from exploring the concept of “visual sensitivity” – an individual’s reaction to optical blur.

“Visual sensitivity is the decrease in visual acuity caused by optical blur naturally present in the lens,” Dr Sipatchin explained. “People react very differently to these aberrations.”

Using artificial intelligence technology, Rodenstock can now determine a patient’s unique visual sensitivity based on parameters such as visual acuity, pupil size, and higher-order aberrations. This data allows lens designs to be adjusted according to individual sensitivity profiles.

For highly sensitive wearers, the design alters the blur patterns in the periphery to provide clear central vision zones. For less sensitive individuals, the blur is distributed differently to create a wider perceived field of vision.

Clinical research presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in 2024, demonstrated impressive results, with significantly reduced fixation duration during complex visual tasks. Patient questionnaires revealed improvements in visual performance and reduced mental demand.⁶

“Eighty-three per cent preferred B.I.G. Exact Sensitive compared to their old lenses,” noted Dr Sipatchin. “There was a 24% improvement in transitions between near and far vision, 28% better reading performance, and a 35% improvement in orientation tasks.”

Dr Sipatchin said the new lenses are suitable for everyone, “because everyone perceives the world outside very differently”.

Lens Hope for Migraine Sufferers

Dr Fiona Om, Professional Development Manager at CR Labs, introduced innovative lenses produced by CR Labs, including Avulux, a groundbreaking optical solution for the one in five Australians who are affected by migraine.

Dr Om explained the intricate relationship between specific light wavelengths and migraine symptoms, referencing key studies that demonstrate how white, amber, blue, and red light can intensify headache pain, while green wavelengths produce a soothing effect.

She described Avulux as “the world’s first and only clinically proven lens for patients with migraine and light sensitivity”. Unlike conventional options such as sunglasses, blue filter lenses or FL-41 tints, Avulux selectively filters up to 97% of harmful blue, amber, and red wavelengths while allowing beneficial green light to pass through.

Dr Om said the unique manufacturing process for Avulux embeds multiple filtration layers within the polycarbonate lens rather than using surface treatments. The product is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia and is marketed pursuant to the United States Food and Drug Administration’s policy for general wellness tools. Importantly, it is backed by recent double-randomised controlled studies.⁷

For practitioners, she recommended dispensing Avulux in full-rim acetate frames with maximum coverage, noting that patients should trial the lenses before purchase as migraine triggers and symptoms vary significantly between individuals.

The Evidence Behind Essilor Stellest

Amy Pillay, Professional Affairs Manager at EssilorLuxottica, presented on Essilor’s latest advancements in myopia management, focussing on the five-year clinical results of Essilor Stellest lenses. She explained how this lens has demonstrated its efficacy in slowing myopia progression in children, including the impact of the lens on axial length elongation and refractive error progression over five years.

Additionally, Ms Pillay spoke about cutting-edge technologies now enhancing patient outcomes and elevating their experiences in practice. These include EssilorLuxottica’s Transitions Gen S lenses, which are fully clear indoors and darken in seconds, and Essilor instruments, which provide precise diagnostic tools and streamline workflows.

… customer interactions in optical practices can be guided using behavioural profiling from the DOPE

Profiling Your Optical Customers: The DOPE Approach

In a fun and interactive presentation from the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing (ACOD), educator Virgilia Readett explored how customer interactions in optical practices can be guided using behavioural profiling from the DOPE (Dove, Owl, Peacock, Eagle) evaluation concept developed by RichardStep (richardstep.com).

Originally inspired by Dr William Marston’s work – who developed the Wonder Woman superhero character and the DISC personality assessment – DOPE profiling categorises customers into distinct behavioural types with recognisable traits.

Doves are quiet, diplomatic customers who seek belonging and comfort. They’ll often slip in unnoticed and may leave without purchasing if they feel uncomfortable. These customers require a warm, welcoming approach without overcrowding, as they’re most likely to “vote with their feet” if dissatisfied. Pre-emptive discussions about potential adaptations can create a comfortable pathway for their return if needed.

Owls arrive thoroughly prepared with research, quotes, and specific questions. They seek detailed information and technical explanations. When serving owls, dispensers should offer comprehensive product information using multiple explanatory methods, including technical terminology where appropriate. These analytical customers appreciate being included in troubleshooting processes and respond well to checklists and adaptation reports.

Peacocks make their presence known immediately, involving everyone in their frame selection process. These outgoing customers thrive on interaction and require a hands-on, engaging approach. For peacocks, the experience matters as much as the outcome. When troubleshooting, they need empathy rather than technical details and will become powerful advocates when properly served.

Eagles value efficiency above all, making quick, decisive choices. They expect prompt service and concise explanations. When adapting for eagles, dispensers should demonstrate efficient systems and offer expert guidance without overwhelming them with options. Clear expectations and follow through on promises are crucial when troubleshooting for these results-focussed customers.

Ms Readett said understanding your own primary and secondary ‘bird’ tendencies creates self-awareness that further enhances customer interactions. When dispensers recognise which behaviours demand more energy to adopt, they can better manage their workday and avoid burnout.

Decoding Frames

Complementing Ms Readett’s session was one on ‘Decoding frames’ by Safilo Australia’s Senior Commercial Manager Shiva Taghvaei. She explored how data, psychology, and branding drive eyewear sales, breaking down key factors influencing consumer decisions; how eyewear trends emerge, why certain brands sell better, and how professionals can leverage insights to grow sales.

Ms Taghvaei said consumers today see eyewear as an extension of their personal style, and brands that tap into shifting fashion trends, influencer culture, and social movements, gain an edge.

Customers connect with brands that align with their identity, and optical dispensers who match customers to the right brand narrative build trust and drive sales.

Social media has become a powerhouse in advertising, reshaping how consumers engage with brands; the influencer marketing industry alone is projected to reach US$32.55 billion by 2025.⁸ A prime example is David Beckham’s Netflix documentary, which in its first week, attracted 3.8 million viewers in the UK alone.^9,10 For Netflix, the documentary generated an enormous 44% of the streaming platform’s total weekly engagement on social media – 12.8 million of 29.3 million actions,9,10  altogether, generating massive engagement and elevating the visibility of his eyewear collection.

Carrera’s collaboration with Pat Cummins was also explored as an example of how sports influencers can connect eyewear brands with a broader audience, reinforcing brand identity and market reach.

Ms Taghvaei reminded attendees that when a patient hesitates over the purchase of a frame, they’re often weighing function against fashion. Optical dispensers who recognise these decision-making patterns can guide them with confidence.

In conclusion, Ms Taghvaei said optical dispensers play a pivotal role in bridging fashion, function, and clinical care. Success lies in combining market trends, in-store data, and a strong handover process to create a seamless patient journey and drive sustainable sales.

… optical dispensers play a pivotal role in bridging fashion, function, and clinical care

A Panel Discussion

With ex-cyclone Alfred causing havoc from the northern coast of New South Wales to the top of Queensland, a few delegates were unable to make the annual ODA conference, including Justin Chiang from Tokai Optical who was scheduled to present. To fill the gap, the organisers swiftly planned an open mic ‘Ask an expert’ session with a panel of nine industry experts: Patricia Rogers (ZEISS), Nicole Hibbert (Shamir), Ulli Hentschel (HOYA), Fiona Anderson (Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers), Dr Fiona Om (CR Labs), George Nasser (Opticare), Alex Rigby (Rodenstock), Craig Johnston (Younger Optics), and Amy Pillay (EssilorLuxottica).

Ms Petrusma said the impromptu session “was a huge highlight and we believe it was likely an Australian first – if not potentially a world first as we had a representative on stage from every major lab, all at the same time”.

The biennial ODA Conference will return to Sydney in 2027.

References

1. Fricke TR, Sankaridurg P, Frick KD et al. Establishing a method to estimate the effect of antimyopia management options on lifetime cost of myopia. Br J Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug;107(8):1043-1050. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-320318.
2. Mei Z, Zhang Y, Luo S, et al. Efficacy of outdoor interventions for myopia in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Public Health. 2024 Aug 13;12:1452567. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1452567.
3. Lee SH, Tseng BY, Wang JH, Chiu CJ. Efficacy and safety of low-dose atropine on myopia prevention in premyopic children: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Med. 2024 Mar 5;13(5):1506. doi: 10.3390/jcm13051506.
4. Berntsen DA, Ticak A, Walline JJ, et al. Bifocal Lenses in Nearsighted Kids (BLINK) Study Group. Axial growth and myopia progression after discontinuing soft multifocal contact lens wear. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2025 Feb 1;143(2):155-162. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.5885.
5. Ultraviolet Radiation, World Health Organization. Available at who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ultraviolet-radiation [accessed March 2025].
6. External wearer trial: Test of old, currently used lenses vs. B.I.G. EXACT Sensitive. Source: External wearer trial (n= 47) conducted with the University of Applied Sciences in Munich in June 2024.
7. Posternack C, Kupchak P, Capriolo AI, Katz BJ. Targeting the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell to reduce headache pain and light sensitivity in migraine: A randomized double-blind trial. J Clin Neurosci. 2023 Jul;113:22-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.04.015.
8. Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report 2025. Influencer Marketing Hub. 30 January 2025. Available at influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-benchmark-report. [Accessed March 2025].
9. Lester, J. For the Ages: Netflix number crunchers reveal viewers watched 21m years worth of content last year – and Brit icon’s doc was in top 10. The Sun. 24 March 2024. Available at thesun.co.uk/tv/28121771/netflix-viewing-figures-beckhams-documentary. [Accessed March 2025]
10. Azkuna M. The ‘Beckham’ series effect on social media. Comscore. 8 November 2023. Available at comscore.com/Insights/Blog/The-Beckham-series-effect-on-social-media [Accessed March 2025].