Innovation is an important theme for this issue.
We’ve kicked off with a story about bioptic telescopes (BTs), written by Associate Professor Meri Vukicevic and her colleagues. They’ve looked at the potential for these devices to keep people with low visual acuity on the roads for longer. While permitted in most states of the United States, in Australia it’s up to a patient’s ophthalmologist or optometrist to recommend the use of a BT to the relevant Australian driver licensing authority for consideration… but would you? This article may influence your approach.
Maintaining the focus, we spoke to Dr Peter Macken, about his invention – the Torix single-use toric intraocular lens (IOL) marking and alignment system, which despite being a manual system within our high-tech world, remains a vital component of modern cataract surgery. And Associate Professor Smita Agarwal has written about the eureka moment that led her to design and develop Smita’s Epithelial Cell Curette, another manual tool now used in operating rooms worldwide during refractive surgery.
Getting more high-tech, we spoke to surgeons Dr Graham Furness and Dr Dan Brettell about Rayner’s RayPro – a free platform that analyses anonymised patient feedback on visual outcomes post-intraocular lens implants – regardless of IOL brand. As Dr Brettell told mivision, before using RayPro a surgeon needs to get their ego ready for a “slightly bumpy landing” – this is feedback about their professional performance warts and all, but it does provide an evidence-base that can be used to inform future procedures.
On a lighter note, with summer just around the corner, we have turned our attention to eyewear most suited to sports and adventure – what a perfect category to promote for your Christmas sales. We’ve also interviewed Rip Curl’s Head of International Licensing, Neil Ridgway: did you know this iconic Aussie surf brand sells 250,000 frames per year into France alone?! And it has just launched a new all-polarised collection at a very affordable price point…ideal stocking stuffers?
Enjoy this issue – and don’t forget to take advantage of our four accredited CPD articles to meet your end of November CPD deadline.
