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Category Archives: In the News

Dr Rick Wolfe attends RANZCO Scientific Congress 2022

Dr Rick Wolfe recently attended the RANZCO (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists) Scientific Congress 2022 in Brisbane, with over 1,700 in-person delegates from Australia and overseas.

As Chair of the Visual Standards Committee, Dr Wolfe was involved in an important meeting advising the National Transport Commission (NTC) on visual standards for driving and driver licencing matters.

Dr Wolfe is also on the Military Ophthalmology Committee, which met to provide advice to the Services on the visual needs of our military and other ophthalmic matters.

As well as attending several scientific lectures, “I was particularly excited to attend a session given by a friend and peer from Arizona, US, Prof Michael Belin. He is responsible for the way ophthalmologists interpret corneal maps to avoid operating on weak corneas and shared some interesting insights.”

“All in all, it was wonderful to see many of my friends and colleagues face-to-face after the last 2 years.” said Dr Wolfe.

You can learn more about the event here: https://www.ranzco2022.com/

AUSCRS Conference 2022

After 2 years of virtual meetings, it was wonderful to be back in person at the annual AUSCRS conference – this time in beautiful Noosa!

Dr Rick Wolfe co-founded the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS), together with Prof Graham Barrett in 1995 – and this year, AUSCRS celebrated its 25th year!

Attended by almost 500 delegates, including surgeons and support staff from Australia, New Zealand, US, Europe, Asia etc, the theme this year was “The Circle of Life”.

Our team again took part in this important event, held 3-7 August, expanding our knowledge and expertise in the ever-evolving field of cataract and refractive surgery.

At Peninsula Eye Centre and VISTAeyes Laser Eye Clinic, we are proud to be at the forefront of new technology and advances in eye surgery, both internationally and in Australia, to provide our patients with the highest standards available.

The AUSCRS 2022 Gold Medal Lecture was presented by Dr Kerry Solomon on the topic of “The evolution of smart software for cataract surgery”.

Dr Rick Wolfe hosts the FOCUS Symposium in Brisbane

 

Dr Rick Wolfe was recently invited to host and lead discussions at the Alcon FOCUS Symposium in Brisbane.  FOCUS is an annual event, where cataract surgeons are brought together to have a robust, clinical discussion on achieving best outcomes for patients.  Attended by over 60 ophthalmologists and industry representatives from Australia and New Zealand, Dr Wolfe hosted sessions, introduced speakers and led panel discussions.  This important educational event explored a number of topics, including implanting AcrySof IQ PanOptix (trifocal lens) and AcrySof IQ Vivity (extended range of vision lens) IOLs and achieving best possible patient outcomes.  

At Peninsula Eye Centre (Mornington) and VISTAeyes Laser Eye Clinic (Elsternwick), we are proud to be at the forefront of new technology and latest advances in Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) in cataract surgery, to provide our patients with the highest standards available.

June is Cataract Awareness Month

About half of all Australians aged over 50 have some form of cataract, and by the age of 80, almost everyone develops cataracts.  Globally, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness.  Whilst, genetics, sunlight exposure, smoking, diabetes and other factors may influence the development of cataracts, ageing is the most common cause.

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract is when your eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. Proteins in your lens break down and cause images to look blurry, hazy or less colourful.  This cloudiness prevents light from reaching the retina and distorts the formation of clear images.  Cataracts are a condition which is usually associated with ageing.

Cataract Symptoms

Symptoms of cataracts include:

  • Cloudy, foggy or fuzzy vision in the distance or when reading
  • Distortion of colours (e.g. bright colours become dull)
  • Difficultly driving, especially at night
  • Sensitivity to bright sunlight or glare
  • Frequent changes in glasses prescription (e.g. becoming more short-sighted)

Usually those who have developed cataracts find that their glasses start to become less useful and don’t provide the clear vision that they once did.  Changes to the prescription of the glasses doesn’t seem to help much or at all.

Cataract Causes

Ageing is the most common cause. This is due to normal eye changes that begin to happen after age 40. That is when normal proteins in the lens start to break down and what causes the lens to get cloudy.

Other reasons you may get cataracts include:

  • genetics
  • sunlight exposure
  • smoking
  • some medical conditions, such as diabetes
  • eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatments
  • some medications, such as corticosteroids

Most age-related cataracts develop gradually. Other cataracts can develop more quickly, such as those in younger people or those in people with diabetes. Doctors cannot predict how quickly a person’s cataract will develop.

Cataract Treatments

If your cataract symptoms are not bothering you very much, you don’t have to remove a cataract. You might just need a new eyeglass prescription to help you see better. You should consider surgery when cataracts keep you from doing things you want or need to do.

Cataracts can only be removed with surgery.

During cataract surgery, your eye surgeon will remove your eye’s cloudy natural lens and will replace it with an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (or IOL). When you decide to have cataract surgery, your surgeon will talk with you about IOLs and how they work.

Cataract surgery is one of the oldest and most common procedures performed worldwide. Alongside advancements in cataract surgical techniques, there have been significant improvements in IOL replacement technology.  Modern cataract surgery offered at Peninsula Eye Centre and VISTAeyes Laser Eye Clinic can reduce your dependence on glasses and can, in many ways, significantly improve your quality of life.

As with any surgery, eye surgery carries risks of possible complications and side-effects.

Please note, you will need a current referral from your optometrist or GP for cataract assessment at Peninsula Eye Centre or VISTAeyes Laser Eye Clinic.

 

Sources:

www.aao.org
www.healthdirect.gov.au

Peninsula Eye Centre and Beleura Private Hospital host GP Education Evening “Eye Liner – GP Ophthalmology”

Peninsula Eye Centre and Beleura Private Hospital recently hosted an educational evening for local GPs titled “Eye Liner”.  The CPD accredited event included presentations from ophthalmologists Dr Rick Wolfe, Dr Zelda Pick and Dr Justin Sherwin.

Presentations and discussions covered the following topics:

  • Irritated Eyes – blepharitis and dry eye – Dr Rick Wolfe, Ophthalmologist, Cataract and Refractive Surgeon
  • Oculoplastics case studies – eyelid, lacrimal and orbital disease – Dr Zelda Pick, Ophthalmologist and Sub-Speciality Oculoplastic Surgeon
  • Drugs and the eye – Dr Justin Sherwin, Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Specialist

Thank you to all our guest GPs for participating in this valuable evening of interactive learning and discussion.