Kady Brandon

Our 3rd and final Optometry Educational dinner has been approved for OA Institute of Excellence Quality Assurance by Optometry Australia for 2.5Ti CPD hours. Chris will be discussing Optometric diagnosis and management in the era of the LiGHT trial. A little bit about the topic: By most definitions now, glaucoma is a surgical disease with a wide range of options providing good control at various stages of the disease. Selective laser trabeculoplasty was cemented as the preferred first line therapy in the LiGHT trial published in the lancet, and initially problematic minimally invasive filtering devices have become safer in their 2nd and 3rd generations. Minimally invasive surgical options for glaucoma now include a range of laser treatments, trabecular meshwork bypass prostheses such as the iStent and hydrus stents, canaloplasty procedures such as the Ab Interno canaloplasty (ABiC) which have the added advantage of dilating the collector channels, and angle bypass procedures creating drainage in the subconjunctival (Xen) or suprachoroidal space (the temporarily recalled cypass graft). Future options could include intracameral excimer laser drainage and suprachoroidal biotissue implants. Spots are filling up. To secure your seat book your ticket now https://lnkd.in/gWhYbksd

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Optometry Australia members this week received the latest edition of Optometry Connection. In this edition, CFEH's Clinic Operations Manager, Pauline Xu wrote a fascinating article that looks at retinal microvascular and ischaemic signs associated with cardiovascular disease. As Optometrists, we can identify these signs using imaging equipment such as fundus photography, OCT and OCT angiography, meaning as a profession, we are well placed to contribute to integrative health and the early detection of cardiovascular disease in the future. Congratulations Pauline on a great evidence-based and future-focused article! And many thanks to A/Prof Hessom Razavi from the Lions Institute for reviewing the article.

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The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists call to establish a Private Health Commission The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) has launched an e-petition through the Parliament of Australia website — stating a commission is required to regulate the private health insurance and private hospital landscape to ensure the survival of Australia's world-class egalitarian health system. The ASO is calling on the community for its support to campaign the Federal Government to establish a private health commission.  You can add to the growing chorus of voices and sign ASO's e-petition — EN6877 — on the Parliament of Australia website now. The ePetition closes on 25 December 2024.  Background A strong private health system is essential for the sustainability of Australia’s overall healthcare landscape. Private hospitals not only provide critical services and reduce pressure on the public system, but they also offer ‘competition’ to public health services and patients more choices and access to high levels of specialised care. In recent years Australia has experienced ongoing and unresolved disputes between health insurers and the private hospital sector, and the closure of private hospitals. Last month, Healthscope — Australia’s second-largest private hospital provider — announced it would terminate its hospital contracts with Bupa and the Australian Health Services Alliance. Without appropriate funding, private hospitals may face significant challenges that threaten the safety and quality of care they provide.  To ensure that private hospitals, which includes day surgeries, can continue to meet the needs of Australians, it is crucial to address the current and ongoing funding gaps — which are forcing private hospital doors to close forever. This can be achieved not only through public-private partnerships, government incentives, and policies that support both private health insurance and direct funding for private healthcare providers, but also through the fail-safe of an Independent Private Health Commission. With a well-supported, stable, and fair private hospital system, Australia’s healthcare landscape can continue to deliver comprehensive safe, efficient, and high-quality care for all citizens through this unique balance. The Commonwealth Ombudsman already has the responsibility to oversight and resolve issues within private health, but it is clear that this process is not working. Private health is critically important in Australia. It needs its own Commission and presiding Commissioner.  You can access and sign the ePetition here https://lnkd.in/gQMq6QcS

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Slit lamp examination is the foundation of all eye consultations – but mastering this complex skill remains a challenge. Learn how the Eyesi Slit Lamp high-end VR simulator helps to shorten the learning curve. #haagstreit #eyesislitlamp #ophthalmology #medicalsimulation #medicaltraining #eyesi #vrmagic

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NEW ARTICLE – MYOPIA PROFILE    Corneal topography is an incredibly useful tool in myopia management in guiding our direction not only when it comes to selecting a treatment option, but also diagnostically with regard to the ocular surface.     In this article, optometrists Dominique Côté-Assaf and Nick Lee based in Perth, Australia, talk about how they use corneal topography in their practice.    Read the full article here – https://lnkd.in/gf52xSN7     #myopia #myopiamanagement #cornea #topography #topconmyah 

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NEW ARTICLE – MYOPIA PROFILE Corneal topography is an incredibly useful tool in myopia management in guiding our direction not only when it comes to selecting a treatment option, but also diagnostically with regard to the ocular surface. In this article, optometrists Dominique Cote-Assaf and Nick Lee based in Perth, Australia, talk about how they use corneal topography in their practice. Read the full article here – https://shorturl.at/moEJ6 #myopia #myopiamanagement #cornea #topography#hbl #hblmedicalequipment

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CERA Senior Clinical Research Coordinator and optometrist Lisa Lombardi has been awarded a competitive LOOK travel scholarship from Optometry Australia! 👀 As part of the CERA Bionic Eye team, Lisa has been integral to developing a new multisensory functional assessment tool that can assess functional vision in people with low vision. The tool can also potentially be used in clinical trials, such as bionic eye trials, to assess how well potential new therapies work in people with very low vision. 👁️ Supported by the LOOK scholarship, Lisa travelled to the USA where she presented at an orientation and mobility conference and visited leading low vision centres to study the latest low vision rehabilitation research and share information about the new tool. “An estimated 575,000 Australians are blind or vision impaired and with our aging population these figures are set to rise. The everyday impacts on people living with a vision impairment are profound, affecting independence, confidence, mental health, social engagement and wellbeing," Lisa says. "Low vision service provision is central to improving patient quality of life and an aspect of optometry practice, which sets us apart from other eyecare professionals.”

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Leader or manager? An industry leader I greatly admire, Alessandro Baronti, has been speaking about leadership. Two weeks ago he put out a well written article here on LinkedIn. I urge you to read it. At 14:30 in Dr. Darryl Glover’s Defocus Media | Optometry's #1 Podcast, he asked a simple question - do people follow me simply because of the paycheck I sign, or is it because we’ve crafted a vision that they buy into? Alessandro then goes on to speak of command and control cultures vs collaborative cultures. Are you a manager? KPIs, observe and report? Or are you a leader? Building a vision others can believe in? #leadership #changinglives #dothething

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Two Australian optometrists in two very different markets share one important thing in common: the support of a global company that helps them succeed as independents. For Derek Posniak Optometrist and Central Coast Eyecare, that’s exactly what they’ve got in their primary contact lens supplier, CooperVision. That and a great deal more. Because sometimes, it’s the little things that are important as well.  #contacts #optometry #vision

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[Good Vision for Life] Good vision for life is an Optometry Australia initiative to drive awareness of eye health and the role optometrists play in general health. We regularly create or generate media content for consumers and we encourage you to share this via your own channels as you wish. Myopia Awareness Week 2024 (13th – 19th May) kicked off yesterday! A Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) and a Review of Myopia Management initiative, #MAW2024 is a timely reminder that understanding myopia and its implications is crucial for parents to safeguard their children's eye health. Myopia, commonly known as short-sightedness, is a prevalent vision condition that affects 6.3 million Australians and experts predict that more than half of us will be myopic by 2050. Now, with almost five percent of children diagnosed with the condition by the age of 14, research also shows that myopia is occurring earlier in life. So, to support Myopia Awareness Week, we've delved into what myopia is, its causes, potential risks and, most importantly, how parents can support their children in preventing and managing this condition.

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Insightful. However, in Australia I think you need need to be referring to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Optical Dispensers since the profession that was once known here as the “Dispensing Optician” has now been reduced, limited and controlled by the other two professions by abandoning clinical functions and redefining it by a retail model largely influenced by big corporates. The Optical Dispenser is defined by both that retail model and the Optometry Act itself. Opticians of this kind, (let alone technical manufacturing or mechanical opticians), are no more in Australia since deregulation more than a decade ago. I would be interested to know how this will be able now to influence the collaboration described and aspiring to in many other overseas markets (some States in the US come to mind) when this collaboration, skills, and professionalism is exactly what we have actually lost in Australia. This very unwise deregulation and move to industry self regulation has largely failed to achieve the necessary collaboration that is critical to the whole eyecare sector. Unless the retail functions are truly separated and independent as they once were clinical synergies will continue to be led by the focus on retail profit margins.

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The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) is “strongly opposed to the emerging indications” that the Federal Government may remove the power of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and other medical colleges when vetting and approving overseas-trained specialists to practise in Australia. The call comes as the government considered 28 recommendations from the ‘Independent review of Australia’s regulatory settings relating to overseas health practitioners’ – conducted by Ms Robyn Kruk – aiming to remove “unnecessary regulatory barriers” faced by internationally qualified health professionals. It’s hoped cutting red tape will make Australia a more attractive destination for foreign health professionals and alleviate workforce pressures, leading to better healthcare for the population.  https://lnkd.in/gfp7mMby

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How Is Your Optometry Practice Performing Relative To Similar Size Practices In Australia? In today's modern technological world, one of the most important assets is data. The problem is many businesses don't know how to make use of their data. Optometry practices accumulate huge amounts of data in the form of patient records as well as financial information. The solution to making this data useful and to give you the power to make data-driven decisions when it comes to running your practice is to use a software platform designed for optometrists such as ProIntel. From a single portal you can access detailed dashboards for sales, inventory and appointments, all visualised and generated in real time. The feature I love the most is the ability to benchmark my practice against similar size practices all over Australia and track my performance using up to the day data. This game changing capability, combined with future predictive modelling and machine learning features, will let independent optometrists understand their strengths and growth opportunities like never before. Imagine being able to measure your booking volumes against seasonal averages, or compare your revenue and category sales to industry benchmarks. The possibilities are endless, and this is just the beginning. Having recently used the benchmarking module I discovered that my practice is outperforming amongst 29 other similar sized practices all over Australia in lens sales, frame sales and average selling price (ASP). There are also many other metrics available for comparison to help you understand your strengths and growth opportunities. For more information visit... https://lnkd.in/g8KKVvx8 If you're interested in owning an independent practice that is outperforming amongst 29 similar size practices Australia wide, give me a call on 0458 090 066 (Rob)

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Is Time Running Out To Buy An Independent Optometry Practice? The current market conditions are creating a sense of urgency for purchasing an independent optometry practice in Australia for a number of reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many practice owners to re-evaluate their priorities and accelerate their retirement or exit plans. This has lead to a temporary increase in available practices for sale. Simultaneously, increasing numbers of optometry graduates are reducing opportunities for those ready to invest in independent optometry. In addition, there are increasing numbers of practice aggregators looking for practices to add to their collection. This unique situation offers a small window of opportunity for aspiring practice owners to acquire established businesses with immediate cash flow, proven financial histories, and existing patient bases, however this situation may not last much longer. I'm already being approached by parents with sons and daughters currently doing optometry degrees who are wanting to buy an existing independent practice to ensure employment when they graduate. I've also had multiple approaches from national group practices wanting to expand. The urgency stems from the likelihood that these favorable market conditions won't last indefinitely. As economic conditions improve, more buyers may enter the market, driving up prices and reducing available opportunities. Additionally, the aging population ensures a growing demand for eye care services, further increasing the value of established practices. The health component of optometry ensures long-term stability, making it a sound investment even during economic downturns. Acting now could allow buyers to capitalize on current market conditions, securing their ideal practice before competition intensifies and prices potentially rise. This presents a time-sensitive opportunity for those looking to transition into independent practice ownership. Call Rob on 0458 090 066 if you're interested in owning your own practice.

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🤔🤔🤔Which would you choose? Unparalleled patient care or increased practice growth?! With the right technology in your practice, you can have BOTH! At the heart of any practice is a commitment to providing exceptional clinical care and superior customer service. Neurolens technology aligns perfectly with these objectives. Through precise binocular misalignment correction, Neurolenses offer immediate relief and unparalleled visual comfort. The result? Satisfied patients return for additional services and refer others to the practice, bolstering the practice reputation and patient base. More than ever, independent ODs need to offer customized solutions to differentiate themselves in the patients’ minds, and Neurolens does just that! Click below to read more about why you don't have to choose between unparalleled patient care AND increased practice growth! https://lnkd.in/gBTNABhs

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RACS has raised strong concerns in response to a proposal to change the protected title for podiatric surgery to ‘surgical podiatrist’. In its submission to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, co-signed by the Australian Orthopaedic Association, RACS says the change poses risks to public safety, patient understanding, and professional standards. It also contradicts Section 115A of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, which restricts the use of the title ‘surgeon’ to those who have completed extensive surgical training. RACS President Kerin Fielding says the legislation makes it clear that terms like ‘surgical’ or ‘surgeon’ should be reserved for those who have undergone comprehensive, medically recognised specialist surgical training. "These terms are protected by law and describe specialists who have completed rigorous, lengthy surgical education and training. Allowing non-surgical professionals to use these terms risks misleading patients about the qualifications and expertise of the person providing their care”. Read further: https://bit.ly/3CxrGZ4

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AOA has provided a formal response disagreeing with a proposed change of title for podiatrists who perform surgical procedures to 'surgical podiatrist'. The term 'surgical’ creates confusion in the community and the impression that the podiatric proceduralists are competent in undertaking surgical procedures requiring accreditation under Australian Medical Council (AMC) standards. This is not the case and should not be supported. AOA supports RACS's concerns and response to the proposed changes, as detailed below. Read the AOA statement on the website: https://lnkd.in/gUth7VxH

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