2024 ASO Eye Surgery Showcase
The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) hosted the first ASO Eye Surgery Showcase at Australian Parliament House Canberra on Wednesday, 14 August 2024.
Coinciding with National Science Week, the event provided the perfect platform to showcase medical technologies and innovative treatments used in the management and prevention of eye disease in Australia.
This includes providing education on the prevalence, prevention, and treatment of the leading causes of blindness amongst Australians that includes cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Members of Parliament, Senators, ophthalmologists, patient advocates, industry, and media were invited to participate in a series of mini lectures on eye health disease affecting Australian patients as part of the Showcase:
• Everything you need to know about Eye Disease in 5 minutes with Dr Peter Sumich, ASO President
• Closing the Gap in Eye Health with A/Prof Ashish Agar, ASO Vice President
• Digital health efficiencies for the patient journey with Penny Stewart, ANZ Country Manager, Alcon
• Sustainable practices in Cataract surgery with Glenn Whittaker, General Manager, Device Technologies
• Innovations in Glaucoma treatment with Glenn Fawcett, Vice President Asia Pacific, Glaukos
• Innovations in Cataract treatment with Blake Thomas, ANZ Country Manager, Johnson & Johnson
• The benefit of using OCT in Retinal Disease and Glaucoma diagnosis with Prem Gunasekaran, Business Development Manager, ZEISS
Attendees were also invited to participate in an interactive display of technologies from industry partners, guided by ophthalmologists, who provided demonstrations.
Key Outcomes
Through the inaugural Eye Surgery Showcase in Canberra, the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists aims to achieve the following outcomes:
Increased understanding of the prevalence of surgical treatment of eye disease in Australia.
Increased awareness of the critical role of ophthalmologists (eye surgeons) and the ASO in access to world-class eye health technology and surgical treatment in Australia.
Strategies and principles for eye services to rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Greater understanding and appreciation of innovative surgical technologies in the prevention of blindness in Australia.
Strategies for improved access within the public sector to ophthalmology services.