Insight News

01/07/2025

Rhian Evans' father is an optometrist, and she used to help in his practices during school holidays.

She was particularly fascinated by the dispensing side of the business. "It was amazing to watch the dispenser select the perfect pair of glasses, follow their journey through the lab, and finally see them ready for collection. One of the most rewarding parts was seeing patients so happy and excited after finding their ideal pair of glasses."

So when she considered a career, a move into the optical sector was a natural one.
Specsavers Australia Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Australian College of Optometry Orthoptics Australia

Rhian Evans is the dispensing advancement manager at Specsavers.

30/06/2025

ZEISS Vision Care is giving independent eyecare practices the chance to elevate patient care and set themselves apart from the competition.

It has announced a competition for eyecare professionals, with a chance to win $100,000 worth of state-of-the-art ZEISS equipment.

The company says participation is simple – practices just need to order any pair of ZEISS SmartLife lenses in a 1.6 index or above from 1 July to 31 October 2025 to enter the draw.
Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Orthoptics Australia RANZCO

ZEISS Vision Care is giving independent eyecare practices the chance to elevate patient care and set themselves apart from the competition.

30/06/2025

We've compiled a report with all you need to know about ODMAFair25 attendance numbers – along with highlights and plenty of images from Australia's biggest event in independent optics.

After sitting down with ODMA CEO Amanda Trotman to dissect all the key stats from the three-day fair at the International Convention Centre Sydney - ICC Sydney, she said numbers well exceeded expectations.

“We saw many practices sending multiple staff, and we’re thrilled with that. Having the owner, the optometrist, and both practice and dispensing staff all together is extremely valuable,” she said.

“About 50% of attendees were owner optometrists, around 25% practice managers, and 25% dispensing staff.”

The return of ODMAFair25 has exceeded expectations, with organisers confirming more than 3,100 visitors employed in optical practices across Australia, New Zealand and some international locations.

30/06/2025

ForSight Robotics, an Israeli company developing ophthalmic robotic surgery platforms, has secured US$125 million (AU$191m) in funding to continue its work.

The company said the investment would accelerate the next growth phase for the ORYOM Platform, what it claims is the world’s first robotic surgery platform for cataract and other eye diseases designed to enhance surgical precision, increase patient access to high-quality treatment, and decrease the physical burden on surgeons.

The company is preparing to launch its first-in-human clinical trials this year.
RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Orthoptics Australia Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Vision Eye Institute

ForSight Robotics has secured US$125 million (AU$191m) in funding to continue its work developing a ophthalmic robotic surgery platform.

29/06/2025

New intraocular lenses (IOLs) are being released regularly, including extended depth of focus (EDOFs) implants that are consistently removing previous compromises and challenging monofocals’ traditional status as the standard of care in the sector.

In considering the impact of these various changes, among many more, Insight magazine approached a number of Vision Eye Institute surgeons and asked them various questions about future opportunities and challenges for the sector.

Included were Professor Gerard Sutton, NSW; Dr Christolyn Raj, Victoria; Dr Alex Ioannidis, Victoria; and Dr Rushmia Karim, NSW.
RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Orthoptics Australia Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia

Several Vision Eye Institute surgeons offer their insight about some of the changes coming and how they might impact the sector.

29/06/2025

The annual AUSCRS conference is a must-do on the calendars of the world’s leading ophthalmologists, and this year’s event in Australia’s Top End will be no exception, say organisers.

If you are visiting Darwin in July, it’s possible you will stumble on something rather unusual. You might witness a man dressed as a T-Rex grilling another posing as a medieval knight or maybe a woman in a superhero costume in friendly discourse with a pirate.

Don’t worry. Do not adjust your set. You haven’t stumbled into Comic-Con; it’s more likely you have happened upon some of the globe’s most esteemed ophthalmologists discussing their sector at the annual Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS) conference, being held July 16-19 2025.
RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Optometry Australia Vision Eye Institute

The annual AUSCRS conference is a must-do on the calendars of the world’s leading ophthalmologists, and this year’s event in Australia’s Top End will be no exception, say organisers. If you are visiting Darwin in July, it’s possible you will stumble on something rather unusual. You might wit...

29/06/2025

With recent workforce surveys showing dissatisfaction among Australian optometrists, one of the country’s fast-growing networks is setting new standards when it comes to career fulfilment and progression.

One of the second-order effects of the George & Matilda Eyecare (G&M) model is the wealth of clinical expertise embedded within the network, ripe for leverage. But until now, much of that expertise has largely remained confined to the individual practitioner’s local area, or sometimes within the four walls of their consulting room.

These are the everyday practitioners who can impart wisdom across the group – even if they’re located as far west as Kalgoorlie, in regional Victoria’s Daylesford, or Burnie, on the northern Tasmanian coastline.
Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Australian College of Optometry Orthoptics Australia @

With recent workforce surveys showing dissatisfaction among Australian optometrists, one of the country’s fast-growing networks is setting new standards when it comes to career fulfilment and progression. One of the second-order effects of the George & Matilda Eyecare (G&M) model is the wealth of ...

29/06/2025

🍎 Three days deep into ODMAFair and here are some of the cool things we’ve learned:

- Smart glasses are the future, if EssilorLuxottica’s new Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses are anything to go by. Looking at a sheet of Italian text, upon the request, the glasses translated it into English through little speakers discreetly hidden in the frames just above my ear. Amazing to think where this tech will be in the next five years.

- That Jayson Stone is one savvy operator. His practice Seekers Optical is doing amazing things in Melbourne, but one awesome thing he revealed is a "signature scent" he's developed. Not only can patients smell it throughout his store, it's also sprayed into glasses cases. So when people open them at home, it triggers a memory of the experience.

- There's huge appetite for the Women in Optics movement in Australia – watch this space.

- How AI is going to revolutionise this industry, from helping optometrists better understand complex cases and keep on top of their clinical notes, to developing marketing plans and providing fresh insights into patient trends within their databases.

- Carli Phillips, in partnership with ProVision, is going to do some amazing things to improve the mental health of independent optometrists in this industry.

28/06/2025

The best talent, products and businesses in Australian independent optics have been announced in ODMA's new-look 2025 awards program.

Congrats to 🎉 :
👓 Independent Practice of the Year – Northam Optical, Allyson Caffell

👓 Instrument of the Year – ICare Tonometer, ParagonCare | Vision (Designs For Vision).

👓 Window Dressing – Basecurve Optical, owned by Lucija Valentic🌟, and Kenmore Plaza Optometrist (joint winners)

👓 Sales Representative of the Year – Kristy Gierisch, Eyes Right Optical, and Mr Vineet Chauhan, EssilorLuxottica (joint winners)

👓 Supplier of the Year – HOYA Lens Australia

👓 Top Customer Service Teams – HOYA Lens Australia

👓 Versatile Frame of the Year – Face à Face Didot 1, Eyes Right Optical.

Australian optical’s top independent practice, supplier and salesperson, plus more, have been recognised as part of the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA)’s new-look awards program. Revealed on the first evening of ODMAFair25 on Friday 27 June at International Convention &...

27/06/2025

One Australian woman’s story about her rise through optometry and the pursuit of a long-held passion is almost more compelling than the one she’s set to splash across the big screen.

“Former optometrist.”

So says the LinkedIn profile of Tsu Shan Chambers.

She acknowledges that one probably stings a little with her parents, as they assess the wind-down of their daughter’s respectable 20-year career in eyecare and an unpredictable, riskier journey into the TV and movie industry.
Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Orthoptics Australia

One Australian woman’s story about her rise through optometry and the pursuit of a long-held passion is almost more compelling than the one she’s set to splash across the big screen.

27/06/2025

Moving beyond platitudes and putting green processes into practice often requires thoughtful investment and innovation, particularly in manufacturing. But as one Australian ophthalmic supplier has found, the effort is worth it, and not just for the environment.

Adam Fletcher, CEO at CR Labs, happily credits his daughter.

He credits her for part of the motivation behind the Australian lens manufacturer’s move into more sustainable practices at its Melbourne factory and, latterly, its Green Looks Good on You campaign.
Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia

Moving beyond platitudes and putting green processes into practice often requires thoughtful investment and innovation, particularly in manufacturing. But as one Australian ophthalmic supplier has found, the effort is worth it, and not just for the environment. Mr Adam Fletcher, CEO at CR Labs, happ...