Insight News

23/12/2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we’d like to thank eyecare professionals, practices and industry partners for your continued support of Insight throughout the year.

Your expertise, innovation and commitment to patient care help drive the conversations shaping the future of eyecare, and we’re proud to share your insights with our readers. We also thank our business partners for their ongoing collaboration and trust.

From all of us at Insight, we wish you and your teams a safe, restful break and a very Merry Christmas. We look forward to continuing the conversation in 2026.

21/12/2025

Vision Eye Institute says its SHARED VISION education program continued to strengthen clinical links with its referrer network in 2025, delivering a year of professional development activities focused on collaborative eyecare.

Vision Eye Institute (VEI) says its SHARED VISION education program continued to strengthen clinical links with its referrer network in 2025.

19/12/2025

Training of optical dispensers in Victoria is under threat after the state government informed 58 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that support for their courses would be scrapped in 2026.

In a letter to the 58 RTOs, Ryan Collins, the executive director of Training Operations and Assurance for the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, said those RTOs could not offer supported places to students in 2026 and their First Skills contracts would be ended.

The RTOs included ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing, which runs courses in the state.
Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia

Training of optical dispensers in Victoria is under threat after the state government informed 58 Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that support for their courses would be scrapped in 2026.

18/12/2025

Insight magazine is 50 years old in 2025.

We talk to several well-known players in the ophthalmic and publishing sectors about the impact of the publication in their own lives and careers, and others about the influence it continues to have in a fast-changing industry.
RANZCO Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Australian College of Optometry Orthoptics Australia ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing Specsavers Australia EssilorLuxottica

Insight magazine is 50 years old in 2025. We talk to several well-known players in the ophthalmic and publishing sectors about the impact of the publication.

17/12/2025

The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (A*O) is urging Australians to have their say on what it calls “a controversial plan to let optometrists prescribe powerful oral medications”, with the public consultation window closing in just days.

The A*O launched a campaign against the Optometry Board of Australia’s (OBA) proposal last month, which proposed allowing optometrists to independently prescribe systemic medications, including antibiotics, antivirals and anti-inflammatory drugs.

A*O vice chair Kerry Gallagher said the risks would be higher than the benefits should the OBA’s proposal go through.
Australian Society of Ophthalmologists RANZCO Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Australian College of Optometry ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing Orthoptics Australia

The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (A*O) is urging Australians to have their say on what it calls “a controversial plan to let optometrists prescribe powerful oral medications", with the public consultation window closing in just days.

16/12/2025

Optometry has performed the best of all health disciplines in a national snapshot of consumer satisfaction with healthcare in Australia.

It performed well in a number of other areas as well, including access, affordability, communication and use of easy-to-understand language, and the quality of the practice environment.

That meant that clients were less likely to switch optometrists, with just 4% of those surveyed saying they had done that in the past few years.
Optometry Australia Australian College of Optometry Optical Dispensers Australia ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing RANZCO

Optometry has performed the best of all health disciplines in a national snapshot of consumer satisfaction with healthcare in Australia.

16/12/2025

The University of Technology Sydney’s Master of Orthoptics program has celebrated its 10th year.

A media release said that close to 500 graduates had completed the degree, with many going on to work across metropolitan, regional, and remote settings.

It said UTS alumni could be found in clinics and hospitals from Perth to Adelaide and Brisbane, as well as in communities such as Broome, Townsville, Alice Springs and Darwin.
Orthoptics Australia

The University of Technology Sydney’s Master of Orthoptics program has celebrated its 10th year.

16/12/2025

'Anna' has been your patient for several years. During a recent routine check-up, she mentioned her plans to become a student pilot and she may need to request a medical certificate for her aviation medical examination.

She also casually notes she had eyelid surgery overseas several years ago, which resulted in mild lid malposition and chronic dryness, although she reports no lasting problems. The next day, she returns visibly anxious. After discovering her history might affect her ability to obtain a student pilot licence, she asks you to remove all mention of the surgery from her medical record.

What would you do? What should you do?
RANZCO Optometry Australia Optical Dispensers Australia Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Australian College of Optometry Orthoptics Australia ACOD - Australasian College of Optical Dispensing

Patients may have understandable reasons to want medical records altered, but the rules for practitioners are pretty clear, and are in place for good reasons.

15/12/2025

A large New Zealand study has found that while most frail older adults report adequate or only minimally impaired vision, access to regular eye examinations and visual aids drops markedly for those living in aged residential care, with persistent inequities across ethnic groups.

Published in the Australasian Journal on Ageing, the research analysed more than 48,000 assessments conducted nationwide between January 2019 and December 2020. The cohort comprised older adults receiving publicly funded home support or living in aged residential care facilities, with a mean age of 82 years and 65% female.
Optometry Australia RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Australian College of Optometry

A large New Zealand study has found that while most frail older adults report adequate or only minimally impaired vision, access to regular eye examinations and visual aids drops markedly for those living in aged residential care.

14/12/2025

When running a busy surgical or clinical practice, every small detail that improves precision, workflow and patient comfort counts. For many ophthalmologists, Bausch + Lomb's Minims range of single-use, preservative-free eye drops has become one of those quiet yet indispensable tools – a simple innovation that streamlines daily procedures while helping protect delicate eyes.

At the Lions Eye Institute in Western Australia, consultant ophthalmologist and medical director Dr Chandra Balaratnasingam has been using Bausch + Lomb products for more than 20 years. Over that time, he’s seen the Minims range play an increasingly central role in both diagnostic and surgical care.
RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists

Ophthalmologist Dr Chandra Balaratnasingam talks about why he uses Bausch + Lomb’s Minims range and how it helps him achieve better outcomes with his patients.

14/12/2025

Silverstone RGB is Optos’ first ultra-widefield system combining red, green and blue laser channels with swept source OCT, giving clinicians 4-in-1 colour depth imaging and providing vital clinical data from the retinal surface through the choroid.

Insight talks to an American specialist who was one of the first clinicians to use the device.
Optos RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Orthoptics Australia

Silverstone RGB is Optos’ first ultra-widefield system combining red, green and blue laser channels with swept source OCT, giving clinicians 4-in-1 colour depth imaging and providing vital clinical data from the retinal surface through the choroid.

14/12/2025

People who alert regulators to concerns about health practitioners will now have greater protection under changes to the National Law.

The changes guard against any attempted reprisals, and make it an offence to threaten, intimidate, dismiss, refuse to employ or otherwise discriminate against someone involved in a complaint to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Ahpra and the National Boards.

The maximum penalty is $60,000 for an individual or $120,000 for a body corporate. Disciplinary action can also be taken against practitioners.
RANZCO Australian Society of Ophthalmologists Orthoptics Australia Optometry Australia Australian College of Optometry @

People who alert regulators to concerns about health practitioners will now have greater protection under changes to the National Law.