Australian eye health consortium to save sight throughout the Asia Pacific

In an historic first, CERA has united with eight Australian eye health organisations to form the Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium

Formed as part of the Australian Government’s $45 million dollar commitment to the prevention of avoidable blindness in the Asia Pacific region, the Consortium aims to eliminate avoidable blindness and reduce the impact of vision loss throughout the region over the next 10 years.

Head of CERA’s Population Health Unit Professor Jill Keeffe said she looks forward to contributing to the partnership.

“CERA will investigate the epidemiology of vision loss and blindness, monitor and evaluate the success of each project, and conduct education and training in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands,” Professor Keeffe said. 

Senator Bob McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, will launch the Global Consortium today at Parliament House. The launch will mark the beginning of what is hoped will be a long term partnership working with AusAID to implement the Government’s Avoidable Blindness Initiative.  

Blindness is both a cause and consequence of poverty. Improving eye care and reducing preventable blindness is a simple and cost effective way to reduce poverty.

Vision 2020 Australia will coordinate the group which includes: CBM Australia, CERA, Foresight, International Centre for Eyecare Education, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and Vision Australia.

 

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Revolutionary new treatment ‘could halt’ AMD progression

In a world first, CERA researchers will trial a novel laser therapy aimed at stopping the progression of the sight threatening disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Head of CERA’s Macular Research Unit, Professor Robyn Guymer said the trial is particularly exciting because unlike existing AMD treatments, the laser therapy targets the disease in its early stages, before sight is lost.

“Currently, when a patient is diagnosed with early AMD, they’re told that nothing can be done until the disease reaches its late stages, by which time some patients have suffered irreversible vision loss,” Professor Guymer said.

“In applying the laser therapy we hope to halt, or partially reverse, the progression of AMD before it threatens a patient’s sight”.

Former opera singer June Sloane is one of the first patients to receive the laser treatment. June discovered she had the early stages of the disease 18 months ago after visiting her optometrist for a routine check up. 

“When I was diagnosed I was already well aware of the devastating impact AMD can have on a person’s vision,” Mrs Sloane said.

“My older sister was diagnosed with dry AMD, which very rapidly developed into the wet form of the disease. Her vision deteriorated quickly. She is now almost blind and living in a residential care facility”.  

While her vision has not been affected by the disease, June is considered at high risk of developing late AMD due to a family history of the disease and the presence of ‘drusen’ in her retinal tissue.

Encouraged by preliminary results of the trial, June is hopeful the treatment she received will halt the progression of the disease and her sight will remain intact.

“My sight is just so valuable. I don’t know how I’d cope if I couldn’t see. If this procedure stops the disease from progressing I shall be eternally grateful”.

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New investigator awarded glaucoma research grant

CERA was awarded six of the 13 available grants from the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia (ORIA) in October.

More than $250,000 will be distributed across four research units to help fund studies into conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and myopia.

Fleur O’Hare of the Glaucoma Research Unit received a New Investigator grant of $45,000, jointly funded by Glaucoma Australia, to investigate the auditory function in individuals with glaucoma.

“Preliminary research suggests that some glaucoma patients experience auditory hearing processing impairments, a potential sign of generalised sensory nerve problems,” Ms O’Hare said.

“The results of the study will provide us with new ways of detecting glaucoma and a better understanding of the impact of glaucoma on the central nervous system.”

For the study, researchers will recruit individuals with open-angle glaucoma between the ages of 40 and 65, who have reportedly ‘normal’ hearing.

For more information please contact Fleur O’Hare on 03 9929 8791.

 

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Restored vision helps grandfather pursue lifelong dream  

At 73, Sid Powley is not a typical university student but the Visual Arts undergraduate at Victoria University says he’s embracing campus life and the opportunity to hone his artistic skills.

“Whenever I see a white surface I just want to draw on it, to put my mark on it somehow. Art allows me to express myself,” Sid said.

Two years ago however Sid was forced to abandon his art after blurry and distorted vision made it difficult to focus. After consulting an ophthalmologist, Sid was diagnosed him with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a severe form of the disease characterised by rapid central vision loss.

Sid was treated with regular injections into the eye of Lucentis, a drug shown to stop the progression of wet AMD, and in some cases improve a patients vision. The treatment improved his sight dramatically.

Professor Robyn Guymer, head of Macular Research at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), and an ophthalmologist at the Eye and Ear Hospital, said Sid is fortunate he was diagnosed early.

“While there’s no cure for wet AMD, the good news is that there are several treatments that are very effective when applied early. That’s why early diagnosis is so important,” Professor Guymer said.

For Sid, the improvement to his vision has been life changing, allowing him to fulfil his lifelong dream of studying art.

“If you or someone you love is experiencing changes in vision, don’t ignore the signs. Book an eye test, it could save your sight,” he said.

To read the full story click here: Restored vision helps grandfather pursue lifelong dream

View Sid’s story on Channel 7 news