This free webinar will discuss how advances in macular disease research are reshaping how we understand disease progression, risk, and treatment response — paving the way for more personalised approaches to care.
In this webinar, hosted by Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Professor Erica Fletcher, a leading researcher in retinal disease and age‑related macular degeneration (AMD), will explore emerging concepts in macular disease research and their potential relevance to clinical practice.
Drawing on her extensive research experience and MDFA‑funded work, Prof Fletcher will discuss how variations in retinal biology, immune cell function, and waste clearance may help explain why AMD progresses differently between individuals.
The session will focus on bridging the gap between laboratory research and future clinical application, highlighting how personalised medicine aims to move beyond one‑size‑fits‑all models of care. Participants will gain insight into how this evolving research may inform earlier risk identification, refine prognostic conversations, and ultimately support more tailored, person‑centred care for people living with macular disease.
This webinar is designed to support clinicians and health professionals to better understand the concepts underlying personalised medicine and consider how research developments today may shape macular disease management in the future.
Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 6.30-7.30PM (AEST)
Where: Online
Optometry Australia accreditation has been approved for: 1T Institute of Excellence Quality Assured CPD hour and, 1G for Optometrists by ODOB in New Zealand.
About the Speaker
Prof Erica Fletcher is a Professor of the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the University of Melbourne and has over 15 years’ experience in ophthalmological research. She is a clinically trained optometrist who holds both MSc and PhD degrees.
Prof Fletcher has been a tenured academic at The University of Melbourne since 2000. A central focus of her work has been the translation of her work to address clinically significant questions and to aid in the development of better treatments for retinal disease.
With support from an MDFA research grant, she and her team are now focusing on reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) – a specific type of waste deposit that forms within the retina and is strongly associated with rapid progression to late-stage AMD.
Learning Objectives
On completion of this CPD activity, participants should be able to have an understanding of:
- Reticular pseudodrusen, how to detect them, and their impact on disease progression,
- Early AMD pathogenesis and the role of immune cells called microglia in development and how they may be targeted for new therapies,
- The implications of personalised macular disease research for future care, including prognosis, treatment development, and more person-centred planning.
