When Elizabeth* developed worrying symptoms on a weekend, she called her ophthalmologist, Dr Stephen Ong. He returned her calls, stayed in contact through the evening, and followed up the next day. That support prompted her to nominate him for the inaugural Eye Connect Healthcare Award – which he has now won.
“I have never met any professional healthcare worker that was so amazing to offer me support and reassurance,” Elizabeth said.
The award, launched by Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) in partnership with mivision, recognises eye care professionals whose impact extends beyond clinical treatment. MDFA CEO Dr Kathy Chapman said more than 100 nominations were received from community members.
In nominating Dr Ong, Elizabeth said she first met the Sydney ophthalmologist when he “made a point of driving to my local day clinic to meet me for my first eye injection the same day as I experienced the bleed in my eye”.
“So, from then on, I’ve been his biggest fan I think.”
Since then, his manner, humour, and willingness to explain what is happening to her sight have helped her manage the uncertainty of macular disease. “He doesn’t hedge around the problem,” she said. “So I know exactly where I stand with my eyesight, which I like.”
Elizabeth nominated Dr Ong for the Eye Connect award.
Easing Patient Fears
Dr Ong said patients often arrive at his clinic frightened, both by the prospect of losing vision and by the thought of an injection. Taking time to explain the treatment, what to expect afterwards, and how to seek help can ease those fears.
Patients undergoing injections or other ophthalmic procedures receive his mobile number and instructions on when to call, he said. Few do, but access matters when someone is unsure whether a symptom needs attention.
“If there are any complications, I think that the sooner you get onto those complications, the better,” he said. A prompt call can allow a review to be organised without the patient waiting days for advice.
For Elizabeth, knowing she can reach him – as she did when she experienced concerning symptoms after hours – has changed how she lives with her condition. “I’m so confident in him that I don’t worry about it anymore,” she said. “I just think, right, I go along and have my injections.”
Dr Ong said seeing patients every month or so over many years creates an opportunity to know them beyond their treatment. Conversation builds trust and can help them feel more comfortable during a procedure.
He said he was surprised by Elizabeth’s nomination and overwhelmed to be the winner among what he described as “many worthy candidates”.
Dr Chapman said the large number of nominations for the Eye Connect Healthcare Award highlighted the extraordinary impact that eye care professionals have on the lives of people living with macular disease.
Finalists for the award were orthoptist Emily Luu from the Save Sight Institute in Sydney, optometrist David Shanahan from Fremantle in Western Australia, and the clinic team at Bundaberg Eye Clinic in Queensland.
The result was announced on World Sight Day in October.
*Full patient’s name withheld for privacy.
