2025 ASO Eye Surgery Showcase
Focussing on Australian surgical techniques and innovation in ophthalmic surgery
The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) is returning to Australian Parliament House on Wednesday, 3 September 2025 for the second ASO Eye Surgery Showcase.
The Showcase is the perfect platform for our elected representatives and health policy decision makers to see and experience medical technologies and innovative treatments used in the management and prevention of eye disease in Australia.
Under examination will be surgical innovations in cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and geographic atrophy.
The Showcase will include a series of mini lectures on these eye diseases and be delivered by event sponsors Alcon, Apellis, Astellas, Device Technologies, Glaukos, Lumibird Medical, Rayner, and ZEISS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY & KEYNOTE ADDRESS
First Nations Doctors leading the way to Health Equity
Delivered by A/Prof Kris Rallah-Baker, Australia's first Indigenous ophthalmologist
WELCOME ADDRESS
Delivered by Libby Coker MP, Member for Corangamite, and Senator Jane Hume, Senator for Victoria, Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Eye Health and Vision Care Group.
MINI LECTURE SERIES
Everything you Need to Know about Eye Disease in 5 minutes
Delivered by Dr Peter Sumich, ASO President
Addressing Need and Meeting Patient Demand in Regional Surgical Care
Delivered by Prof Ashish Agar, ASO Vice President & RANZCO NSW Branch Chair
EYE ON INNOVATION
Access to Innovative Eye Surgery Technologies to Improve the Quality of Lives of all Australians
Delivered by Penny Stewart, ANZ Country Manager, Alcon
Geographic Atrophy — We Can't Wait and See
Delivered by Dr Amanda Ruth, Director of Corporate Affairs, Access and Policy, Apellis
Astellas' Long-term Commitment to Ophthalmology
Delivered by Tom Huang, Head of Therapeutic Area Ophthalmology and Haematology, Astellas
Combining FLAC Technology with Premium Refractive IOL for Best Outcomes
Delivered by Justine Ong, Product Specialist Ophthalmic Surgical, Device Technologies
Ellex by Lumibird Medical: Celebrating 40 years of excellence in Ophthalmology
Delivered by Nigel Goldsworthy, National Sales Manager ANZ, Lumibird Medical
Galaxy: AI Spiral IOL Technology
Delivered by Lisa Farquhar, ANZ Country Manager, Rayner
10 Years of iStent in Australia
Delivered by Glenn Fawcett, Vice President Asia Pacific, Glaukos
Data Management Advances in Ophthalmology
Delivered by Dane Moloney, Head of Medical Technology, ZEISS ANZ
Event Sponsors
Did you know?
The ratio of eye surgeons to Australians is 1 for approximately every 24,180 sets of eyes!
Prevention is the foundation…
Despite being a first-world nation and a global leader in healthcare and eye surgery, an estimated 90% of all cases of blindness and vision impairment are preventable with early intervention and treatment.
Over 13 million Australians (55%) reported having at least one long-term vision disorder in 2017–18. The same year, there were 957,933 Medicare claims for all surgical operations by an ophthalmologist.
What does an ‘eye surgeon’ do?
An ophthalmologist is an eye surgeon and doctor who specialises in diagnosing and managing disorders of the eye and visual system — they save the gift of sight!
It requires a minimum of 12 years of tertiary study to become one and some conditions only their specialist-trained eye can see. In Australia, only an ophthalmologist is certified to perform eye surgery.
When was the last time you had a sight-saving annual eye test?
Help the ASO share this important reminder with communities across Australia.
Eye Disease under the 'slit lamp'
Continue the conversation and share these tiles wherever you engage online:
Eye Disease | Cataract
Cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that can lead to vision problems.
Download this social media tile to learn more and share with others.
Eye Disease | Diabetic Retinopathy
Anyone who has diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy.
It occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
Download this social media tile to learn more and share with others.
Eye Disease | Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve, which is crucial for good vision, and is often associated with increased pressure in the eye.
Download this social media tile to learn more and share with others.
Eye Disease | Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration — often referred to as age-related macular degeneration or AMD — is a chronic eye disease mainly diagnosed in older adults that causes central vision loss due to macular damage, the part of the retina responsible for ‘sharp’ vision.
Download this social media tile to learn more and share with others.
Eye Disease | Geographic Atrophy
Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of dry AMD. It leads to cell death in the retina and results in blind spots in central vision, causing irreversible vision loss.
Download this social media tile to learn more and share with others.
Additional Resources
ASO colouring sheets can be used to help explain the work of eye surgeons to some of our smallest patients:
