Every year Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation funds a number of honorary positions within the Sydney Eye Hospital. The Foundation pays the salary on the fellows for a period of 12 months while they work at the Sydney Eye Hospital. This is made possible thanks to the generous donations of our many supporters.
If you are interested in becoming a Sydney Eye Hospital Fellow you can read about the available positions and application process on our Fellowships page.
Dr Steven Schendel – Glaucoma Fellow
Dr. Steven Schendel completed his ophthalmology residency training in Vancouver, Canada in June of 2013.
He relocated to Sydney in late July to begin his glaucoma fellowship training. He hopes to conduct research into minimally invasive glaucoma surgery while at the Sydney Eye Hospital, and gain further experience in the management of clinical and surgical glaucoma.
He looks forward to exploring Sydney and Australia in the coming year.
Dr Abhishek Kumar – Dr Eddie Donaldson Vitreoretinal Fellow
Dr Abhishek Kumar joined the vitreoretinal team in July 2013.
He completed his residency in India and did 2 years vitreoretinal fellowship at Aravind Eye Hospital & PG Institute, Coimbatore.
His goal is to become a proficient vitreoretinal surgeon and he believes that Sydney Eye Hospital will provide him with excellent opportunities to learn the most advanced management protocols for different eye conditions.
After this fellowship he aspires to provide vitreoretinal services to the rural population of India.
Dr U-Teng Chan – Corneal Fellow
Dr U-Teng Chan is from Malaysia and she hopes to learn and enhance her clinical and surgical skills in Cornea at Sydney Eye Hospital and will return to Malaysia in June 2014 to continue working in the Corneal Unit.
Dr Farhan Qureshi – Oculoplastic Fellow
Dr Farhan Qureshi started as the Oculoplastic Fellow in the Sydney Eye Hospital in July 2013.
He is from the UK and did his ophthalmology training in Liverpool after which he went on to an Oculoplastic Fellowship in Manchester.
He is keen to experience healthcare in Australia and further his skills particularly in endonasal surgery whilst here.
He will be returning to the UK to begin as Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon in Wigan after his time here.
Dr Emil Sjahreza – Graham Lovett Vitreoretinal Fellow
Coming from Indonesia, Dr Emil Sjahreza started his Vitreoretinal Fellowship at Sydney Eye Hospital in January 2013.
His goal in this fellowship program is to gain as much skills and knowledge as possible from various consultants in the hospital.
He will go back to his country to work as vitreoretina surgeon in Klinik Mata Nusantara, Jakarta.
Dr Gustavo Reis – Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation Fellow
Dr Gustavo Reis completed his specialist registrar training in Brazil at the Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital. He has also done a round year as a Glaucoma and Cataract Fellow with Prof. Felicio Silva, a recognised Glaucoma specialist in Brazil.
Dr Reis expects to enhance his studies from the qualifi ed staff attached to the Glaucoma Unit of the Sydney Eye Hospital, improve his clinical and surgical skills and carry out some useful research and development. When not in surgery, Dr Reis supervises in the Outpatients Department providing patient care that has helped him to achieve a better knowledge of eye disease diagnoses and patient management.
Over the years, the Foundation has managed to provide more than $9 million for the benefit of Sydney Eye Hospital, which in turn benefits many thousands of public patients attending the hospital every year.
With the help of our loyal supporters, we have assisted with the building of the new Eye Hospital in Macquarie Street, purchased state-of-the-art equipment and funded numerous research projects into the prevention of blindness.
Today, more than ever, with demand increasing and government funding always under pressure, your generous support is vital to ensuring that the Sydney Eye Hospital can continue to provide the excellent eye care that it has done for some 130 years.
https://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svg00SEHFhttps://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svgSEHF2013-10-01 23:13:102018-11-14 16:56:41How the money was spent in 2012
The Keratoconus Research Group, which is based at the Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, is made up of scientists and clinicians whose focus is on unlocking the cause of keratoconus. Keratoconus is a very common eye condition that results in a distortion of the window of the eye and is a major cause of visual impairment in Australia. In fact, it is the most common reason that people undergo corneal transplantation in Australia.
The Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation has been the major financial supporter of our research for the last 3 years. During this time we have identified a number of problems in patients with keratoconus at a molecular level. These scientific discoveries are world first and have opened up a whole new area of research into the causes of this disease.
Apart from 5 major publications in highly regarded journals, we have presented our research at 10 major national and international meetings. Our most recent paper was published in “Plos” in August 2013. We are zeroing in on the superficial area of the cornea (the window of the eye) as the primary problem area in keratoconus. Our current hypothesis is that the problem lies in the cell communication and protein excretion within this layer. We are now undertaking further work to confirm this hypothesis. If proved correct, it will point to
therapeutic options for the treatment of this disease.
Dr JingJing Yu is a PhD scientist who works fulltime thanks to the support of the Foundation. She is ably supported in the lab by MS Li Wena dn Associate Professor Michele Madigan. Professor John McAvoy provides valuable scientific advice on the Wnt pathway and Chris Hodge and I provide
the clinical input. Chris is currently completing his PhD in Keratoconus.
Without the support of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and its generous donors this work would
not be possible. We as a team are determined to uncover the secrets of this disease and we are very
grateful for the Foundation’s support in this endeveour. I look forward to updating you on our continued progress.
Professor Gerard Sutton
Professor Sutton has co-authored a book on keratoconus which has proven useful for many sufferers.
Books are available from kati.kenny@visioneyeinstitute.com.au or the Foundation office. Small profits from these sales are put back into ongoing keratoconus research.
The Keratoconus Research Group, which is based at the Sydney Eye Hospital, is fortunate enough to receive funding from the Foundation. Without the funding and support of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, the Keratoconus Research Group would not be able to continue its exploration into the causes of keratoconus.
Keratoconus is a common condition which causes significant visual disability and loss of sight of Australians. It is the most common indication for a corneal transplantation. Recent studies are suggesting that keratoconus is much more
common than previously thought and often runs in families.
Our research team includes Dr Jing Jing You, Dr Li Wen, Associate Professor Michele Madigan, Professor John McAvoy, Mr Chris Hodge and Professor Gerard Sutton (team leader). Our work has resulted in a number of new fi ndings in the
underlying cellular problems of keratoconus. We have published our fi ndings in prestigious journals such as Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology and Experimental Eye Research. We have two further publications that we expect to be in press early in 2013.
In addition to the publications, the research has been presented at meetings around the world, including the Australasian Ophthalmic and Visual Sciences meeting in Melbourne, the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Korea, the World Cornea Congress in Boston, the Keratoconus Research Meeting in France and the most esteemed ophthalmic research meeting in the world Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in the United States of America.
Our papers and lectures have sparked further research in the area, with our publications forming the basis of other scientists’ work around the world. Our team has also established the fi rst-ever Australian registry for patients with
keratoconus, which will form part of an Ethics Committee-approved ongoing review of patients with keratoconus. Without the support of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and donors in the community, this work would not be possible.
Our research is receiving international recognition and a new collaboration with Professor Charles McGhee at Auckland University has been established for further international research projects.
We are pleased to say that a book co-authored by Professor Gerard Sutton on keratoconus has been very useful for many sufferers of keratoconus. The small profits from the sale of books are put back into ongoing research in keratoconus.
Books available from kati.kenny@visioneyeinstitute.com.au or the Foundation office.
https://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svg00SEHFhttps://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svgSEHF2013-03-26 04:23:372018-11-13 15:36:57Update on the Keratoconus Project
Every now and then we come across patients with complicated eye health problems which are particularly difficult to treat. Thankfully, as new technology develops, we are given the opportunity to meet these challenges more effectively.
We have just purchased the Intraocular Endoscopy Equipment for the Eye Hospital Theatres. Pictured, right, are doctors using this equipment, which now makes it possible for us to handle cases that would traditionally be considered inoperable.
Endoscopic vitreo retinal surgery is a rarely indicated procedure. Some cases involve eyes that have multiple problems and a poor prognosis. On other occasions, endoscopy makes it possible to salvage vision where other techniques cannot. It can lead to a simple solution for what otherwise would be a complicated problem.
Clearly the team were keen to acquire the equipment but the biggest challenge was fi nding the funds to add it to their arsenal. Thanks to your support, we have been able to provide $43,000 to purchase the actual equipment that was used in the trial for Sydney Eye Hospital (at considerable discount). We believe the system, which includes numerous state of the art components, is the only one of its kind in Australia, once again placing Sydney Eye Hospital at the absolute forefront of eye surgery.
https://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svg00SEHFhttps://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svgSEHF2013-03-25 02:14:182018-11-13 15:37:42New Intraocular Endoscopy Equipment Puts us at the Forefront
Macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects the macula and it is known to destroy the central vision system. It develops when part of the retina is dented causing progressive vision loss. This type of eye disease is known to be the leading cause of total blindness in Australia. It is classified into two major categories, and they are dry and wet Macular degeneration. This eye disorder occurs due to various factors such as aging, prolonged exposure to ultra violet rays, smoking, obesity, myopia, sleep apnea and certain medications such as drugs for osteoporosis.
Macular degeneration is categorised into two forms i.e. the dry and wet forms. The dry type is also known as the atrophic form, it occurs after the macula cells breakdown. During eye examination the condition is identified when yellow white spots known as dursens are seen around the retina. This condition is the most common and if it advances there will be changes in the nerves and sensory parts of the retina. The wet type is also referred to as exudative or neuro-vascular form.
Development of this condition leads to leaking of the blood vessels which scars the retina hence damaging the eyes central vision. This eye problem is more rapid than the dry type therefore vision loss may occur more rapidly.
Patients with Macular degeneration present themselves with the following symptoms. Blurred vision, objects appearing to be small, viewing straight lines as irregular lines, decreased central vision and blind spots. In order to avoid total blindness patients are advised to consult eye doctors for regular check-ups and if the above symptoms arise he or she should seek medical treatment. Macular degeneration can be treated via use of antioxidants that prevent unstable oxygen that damages the retina. Laser treatment reduces vision loss during the early stages of the condition. Photodynamic therapy; that involves the use of the drug verteporfin; the drug is administered intravenously to close the leaking blood vessels.
What causes blindness is an important topic to discuss as far as Australians are concerned. Many people in Australia tend to ignore various factors that may lead to complete loss of vision. Some of the leading causes of blindness include: diabetes, traumatic injuries, herpes simplex virus, and eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts and macular degeneration. Blindness may affect one eye or both eyes and may not cause total darkness since some people who are blind can see shadows and some beams of light.
What causes blindness in most people begins with an eye disease that advances into complete vision loss. Cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that makes an individual’s vision to be blurred and it develops a problem of seeing through glare. It is known to be the leading cause of blindness all over the world if left untreated. Individuals who have the following symptoms (bury vision, glare, and double vision) are unable to see well at night as well as perceive faded colours; ideally, such people are advised to seek treatment. Glaucoma is an eye problem that deteriorates the optic nerve, this causes fluid build up and increased eye pressure. It leads to gradual loss of the peripheral vision. It is also a leading cause of blindness and immediate treatment after diagnoses is important.
What causes blindness in many adults is an eye condition known as macula degeneration. This eye disorder is mainly associated with aging and it damages the macula. Macula deterioration leads to loss of the central vision system and blurred vision arises. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is caused by diabetes. It mainly affects blood vessels that nourish the retina and it causes leaking hence vision loss. Retinitis pigmentosa is an eye problem that begins during childhood and the infected person becomes blind at adulthood. Individuals with this eye disease have a problem of perceiving objects at night.
What is macula? The macula is located near the central portion of the human eye retina that is described as a yellowish oval shaped spot that is highly pigmented. The macula enables the eye to view detailed central vision that is sharp, to perceive colours and to carry out tasks like reading that is tasks that require central vision.
The macula consists of two ganglion cell layers and at the centre it comprises of the fovea. The fovea is a pit made up of cone cells and has no rods; the fovea’s function is to ensure that the eye provides a central vision of a high resolution. The fovea is also responsible for individuals colour perception ability. The macula is also made up of the peri-fovea and para-fovea.
What is macula and how is it adopted to its functions? The macula comprises of light sensitive photoreceptors that are densely packed together. This enables the macula to be in control of the central vision and the ability to do tasks like reading, distinguishing faces or details and driving. Having numerous cones in the macula enables the eye to have a sharp vision especially in bright light. It is yellow in colour since it is made up of lutein and zeaxanthin. Due to this it is able to absorb excess ultraviolet light and it also blocks entry of excess sun light.
What is macula and its clinical significance? If the macula is tampered with various eye diseases can develop. Macular degeneration can occur if the macula breaks down. This condition leads to the decreased ability of the eye to see clearly due to either partial or complete vision loss. Macula degeneration can also develop due to aging hence the elderly are at a higher risk. Destruction of the macula can also lead to formation of macula holes which are caused by trauma and if severe the entire macula can be damaged.
https://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svg00SEHFhttps://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svgSEHF2013-01-16 10:00:002018-11-13 15:38:33What is macula, its Functions and Clinical Significance?
What is Amblyopia? Amblyopia is an eye disorder of the visual system also referred to as the lazy eye. Amblyopia is described as vision deficiency that leads to loss of the eyes’ ability to see details in objects. The affected eye will look physically normal but it does not function normally since the brain is coordinating with the other eye.
This condition develops when the nerve pathway to the brain of one eye does not fully develop during childhood. The affected or abnormal eye tends to send blurred or incorrect images to the brain. When this occurs the brain becomes confused hence it learns how to ignore images from the abnormal eye. The lazy eye may also develop when one eye has a better focus than the other that is one eye might have a lot of astigmatism or it may also be too near-sighted or farsighted.
What is Amblyopia most common cause? Strabismus is the common cause of the lazy eye. It is mainly an imbalance in the positioning of both eyes. It is characterized as an ocular misalignment that leads to one eye either turning inward that is esotropia or turning outwards that is exotropia. This deteriorates the eyes ability to focus on an image which may lead to development of double vision. Other causes of Amblyopia are certain conditions such as cataracts, blood or material at the back of the eye which block entry of light.
Its symptoms and forms of treatment include: Signs and symptoms presented by patients with this vision problem are such as poor vision in one eye, inability to perceive depth, eyes turning in or out and lastly both eyes working together. It can be treated by making the individual’s brain to use the weaker eye. This is achieved via correcting eye problems that cause Amblyopia such as removal of a cataract and then placing a patch on the normal eye and also use of atropine drops.
https://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svg00SEHFhttps://sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SEHF-logo-shim.svgSEHF2013-01-14 10:00:002018-11-14 16:33:13What is Amblyopia? Its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Eye exercises are part of vision therapies that are meant to improve vision skills such as eye focusing, moving and coordination. Exercising the eyes will enable them to be healthy in order for the visual system to work normally. Working out the eyes will improve the functionality of the eye muscles hence a good vision is obtained. These exercises are of different techniques and they have been proven to improve vision hence patients negating corrective lenses. If you wish to perform these techniques you can consult with an eye doctor or do some research in the internet.
Here are some of the best Eye exercises that you can opt to engage. Blinking is a simple technique that will help you keep your eyes fresh and able to focus on objects for long durations. By doing this exercise your eyes are able to discharge previous info and get ready to perceive new info. Moreover, you will be reducing eye strain and your eyes will be relaxed. Blinking is also a sign of good communication skills.
Individuals who blink after every three seconds are termed to be friendly unlike those who stare.
Zooming is a technique that requires you to follow the following steps. First sit in a comfortable position, stretch your arms and ensure that the thumb is in a hitchhike position. Focus on the thumb and bring it closer to your eyes. Focus until the thumb is about four inches away from your face. Move the thumb away until your arm is outstretched fully. Do this exercise for a few minutes each and every day. Palming is also a simple eye exercise that helps to relieve stress around the eye region and to relax them instead. This is done by leaning on a desk and resting your elbows on your knees then placing your hands over your eyes to cover them. This is useful during computer breaks.
In conclusion, Eye exercises will definitely make you feel relaxed.
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation Fellows 2013
NewsEvery year Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation funds a number of honorary positions within the Sydney Eye Hospital. The Foundation pays the salary on the fellows for a period of 12 months while they work at the Sydney Eye Hospital. This is made possible thanks to the generous donations of our many supporters.
If you are interested in becoming a Sydney Eye Hospital Fellow you can read about the available positions and application process on our Fellowships page.
Dr Steven Schendel – Glaucoma Fellow
Dr. Steven Schendel completed his ophthalmology residency training in Vancouver, Canada in June of 2013.
He relocated to Sydney in late July to begin his glaucoma fellowship training. He hopes to conduct research into minimally invasive glaucoma surgery while at the Sydney Eye Hospital, and gain further experience in the management of clinical and surgical glaucoma.
He looks forward to exploring Sydney and Australia in the coming year.
Dr Abhishek Kumar – Dr Eddie Donaldson Vitreoretinal Fellow
Dr Abhishek Kumar joined the vitreoretinal team in July 2013.
He completed his residency in India and did 2 years vitreoretinal fellowship at Aravind Eye Hospital & PG Institute, Coimbatore.
His goal is to become a proficient vitreoretinal surgeon and he believes that Sydney Eye Hospital will provide him with excellent opportunities to learn the most advanced management protocols for different eye conditions.
After this fellowship he aspires to provide vitreoretinal services to the rural population of India.
Dr U-Teng Chan – Corneal Fellow
Dr U-Teng Chan is from Malaysia and she hopes to learn and enhance her clinical and surgical skills in Cornea at Sydney Eye Hospital and will return to Malaysia in June 2014 to continue working in the Corneal Unit.
Dr Farhan Qureshi – Oculoplastic Fellow
Dr Farhan Qureshi started as the Oculoplastic Fellow in the Sydney Eye Hospital in July 2013.
He is from the UK and did his ophthalmology training in Liverpool after which he went on to an Oculoplastic Fellowship in Manchester.
He is keen to experience healthcare in Australia and further his skills particularly in endonasal surgery whilst here.
He will be returning to the UK to begin as Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon in Wigan after his time here.
Dr Emil Sjahreza – Graham Lovett Vitreoretinal Fellow
Coming from Indonesia, Dr Emil Sjahreza started his Vitreoretinal Fellowship at Sydney Eye Hospital in January 2013.
His goal in this fellowship program is to gain as much skills and knowledge as possible from various consultants in the hospital.
He will go back to his country to work as vitreoretina surgeon in Klinik Mata Nusantara, Jakarta.
Dr Gustavo Reis – Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation Fellow
Dr Gustavo Reis completed his specialist registrar training in Brazil at the Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital. He has also done a round year as a Glaucoma and Cataract Fellow with Prof. Felicio Silva, a recognised Glaucoma specialist in Brazil.
Dr Reis expects to enhance his studies from the qualifi ed staff attached to the Glaucoma Unit of the Sydney Eye Hospital, improve his clinical and surgical skills and carry out some useful research and development. When not in surgery, Dr Reis supervises in the Outpatients Department providing patient care that has helped him to achieve a better knowledge of eye disease diagnoses and patient management.
How the money was spent in 2012
NewsOver the years, the Foundation has managed to provide more than $9 million for the benefit of Sydney Eye Hospital, which in turn benefits many thousands of public patients attending the hospital every year.
With the help of our loyal supporters, we have assisted with the building of the new Eye Hospital in Macquarie Street, purchased state-of-the-art equipment and funded numerous research projects into the prevention of blindness.
Today, more than ever, with demand increasing and government funding always under pressure, your generous support is vital to ensuring that the Sydney Eye Hospital can continue to provide the excellent eye care that it has done for some 130 years.
To read a detailed breakdown of how the money was spent in 2012, see the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation’s September 2013 Newsletter.
Keratoconus Project Update
NewsThe Keratoconus Research Group, which is based at the Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, is made up of scientists and clinicians whose focus is on unlocking the cause of keratoconus. Keratoconus is a very common eye condition that results in a distortion of the window of the eye and is a major cause of visual impairment in Australia. In fact, it is the most common reason that people undergo corneal transplantation in Australia.
The Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation has been the major financial supporter of our research for the last 3 years. During this time we have identified a number of problems in patients with keratoconus at a molecular level. These scientific discoveries are world first and have opened up a whole new area of research into the causes of this disease.
Apart from 5 major publications in highly regarded journals, we have presented our research at 10 major national and international meetings. Our most recent paper was published in “Plos” in August 2013. We are zeroing in on the superficial area of the cornea (the window of the eye) as the primary problem area in keratoconus. Our current hypothesis is that the problem lies in the cell communication and protein excretion within this layer. We are now undertaking further work to confirm this hypothesis. If proved correct, it will point to
therapeutic options for the treatment of this disease.
Dr JingJing Yu is a PhD scientist who works fulltime thanks to the support of the Foundation. She is ably supported in the lab by MS Li Wena dn Associate Professor Michele Madigan. Professor John McAvoy provides valuable scientific advice on the Wnt pathway and Chris Hodge and I provide
the clinical input. Chris is currently completing his PhD in Keratoconus.
Without the support of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and its generous donors this work would
not be possible. We as a team are determined to uncover the secrets of this disease and we are very
grateful for the Foundation’s support in this endeveour. I look forward to updating you on our continued progress.
Professor Gerard Sutton
Professor Sutton has co-authored a book on keratoconus which has proven useful for many sufferers.
Books are available from kati.kenny@visioneyeinstitute.com.au or the Foundation office. Small profits from these sales are put back into ongoing keratoconus research.
Update on the Keratoconus Project
NewsThe Keratoconus Research Group, which is based at the Sydney Eye Hospital, is fortunate enough to receive funding from the Foundation. Without the funding and support of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation, the Keratoconus Research Group would not be able to continue its exploration into the causes of keratoconus.
Keratoconus is a common condition which causes significant visual disability and loss of sight of Australians. It is the most common indication for a corneal transplantation. Recent studies are suggesting that keratoconus is much more
common than previously thought and often runs in families.
Our research team includes Dr Jing Jing You, Dr Li Wen, Associate Professor Michele Madigan, Professor John McAvoy, Mr Chris Hodge and Professor Gerard Sutton (team leader). Our work has resulted in a number of new fi ndings in the
underlying cellular problems of keratoconus. We have published our fi ndings in prestigious journals such as Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology and Experimental Eye Research. We have two further publications that we expect to be in press early in 2013.
In addition to the publications, the research has been presented at meetings around the world, including the Australasian Ophthalmic and Visual Sciences meeting in Melbourne, the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Korea, the World Cornea Congress in Boston, the Keratoconus Research Meeting in France and the most esteemed ophthalmic research meeting in the world Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in the United States of America.
Our papers and lectures have sparked further research in the area, with our publications forming the basis of other scientists’ work around the world. Our team has also established the fi rst-ever Australian registry for patients with
keratoconus, which will form part of an Ethics Committee-approved ongoing review of patients with keratoconus. Without the support of the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation and donors in the community, this work would not be possible.
Our research is receiving international recognition and a new collaboration with Professor Charles McGhee at Auckland University has been established for further international research projects.
We are pleased to say that a book co-authored by Professor Gerard Sutton on keratoconus has been very useful for many sufferers of keratoconus. The small profits from the sale of books are put back into ongoing research in keratoconus.
Books available from kati.kenny@visioneyeinstitute.com.au or the Foundation office.
New Intraocular Endoscopy Equipment Puts us at the Forefront
NewsEvery now and then we come across patients with complicated eye health problems which are particularly difficult to treat. Thankfully, as new technology develops, we are given the opportunity to meet these challenges more effectively.
We have just purchased the Intraocular Endoscopy Equipment for the Eye Hospital Theatres. Pictured, right, are doctors using this equipment, which now makes it possible for us to handle cases that would traditionally be considered inoperable.
Endoscopic vitreo retinal surgery is a rarely indicated procedure. Some cases involve eyes that have multiple problems and a poor prognosis. On other occasions, endoscopy makes it possible to salvage vision where other techniques cannot. It can lead to a simple solution for what otherwise would be a complicated problem.
Clearly the team were keen to acquire the equipment but the biggest challenge was fi nding the funds to add it to their arsenal. Thanks to your support, we have been able to provide $43,000 to purchase the actual equipment that was used in the trial for Sydney Eye Hospital (at considerable discount). We believe the system, which includes numerous state of the art components, is the only one of its kind in Australia, once again placing Sydney Eye Hospital at the absolute forefront of eye surgery.
Eye Disease-Macular Degeneration
NewsMacular degeneration is an eye disease that affects the macula and it is known to destroy the central vision system. It develops when part of the retina is dented causing progressive vision loss. This type of eye disease is known to be the leading cause of total blindness in Australia. It is classified into two major categories, and they are dry and wet Macular degeneration. This eye disorder occurs due to various factors such as aging, prolonged exposure to ultra violet rays, smoking, obesity, myopia, sleep apnea and certain medications such as drugs for osteoporosis.
Macular degeneration is categorised into two forms i.e. the dry and wet forms. The dry type is also known as the atrophic form, it occurs after the macula cells breakdown. During eye examination the condition is identified when yellow white spots known as dursens are seen around the retina. This condition is the most common and if it advances there will be changes in the nerves and sensory parts of the retina. The wet type is also referred to as exudative or neuro-vascular form.
Development of this condition leads to leaking of the blood vessels which scars the retina hence damaging the eyes central vision. This eye problem is more rapid than the dry type therefore vision loss may occur more rapidly.
Patients with Macular degeneration present themselves with the following symptoms. Blurred vision, objects appearing to be small, viewing straight lines as irregular lines, decreased central vision and blind spots. In order to avoid total blindness patients are advised to consult eye doctors for regular check-ups and if the above symptoms arise he or she should seek medical treatment. Macular degeneration can be treated via use of antioxidants that prevent unstable oxygen that damages the retina. Laser treatment reduces vision loss during the early stages of the condition. Photodynamic therapy; that involves the use of the drug verteporfin; the drug is administered intravenously to close the leaking blood vessels.
Blindness-What causes Blindness?
NewsWhat causes blindness is an important topic to discuss as far as Australians are concerned. Many people in Australia tend to ignore various factors that may lead to complete loss of vision. Some of the leading causes of blindness include: diabetes, traumatic injuries, herpes simplex virus, and eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts and macular degeneration. Blindness may affect one eye or both eyes and may not cause total darkness since some people who are blind can see shadows and some beams of light.
What causes blindness in most people begins with an eye disease that advances into complete vision loss. Cataract is a clouding of the eye lens that makes an individual’s vision to be blurred and it develops a problem of seeing through glare. It is known to be the leading cause of blindness all over the world if left untreated. Individuals who have the following symptoms (bury vision, glare, and double vision) are unable to see well at night as well as perceive faded colours; ideally, such people are advised to seek treatment. Glaucoma is an eye problem that deteriorates the optic nerve, this causes fluid build up and increased eye pressure. It leads to gradual loss of the peripheral vision. It is also a leading cause of blindness and immediate treatment after diagnoses is important.
What causes blindness in many adults is an eye condition known as macula degeneration. This eye disorder is mainly associated with aging and it damages the macula. Macula deterioration leads to loss of the central vision system and blurred vision arises. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is caused by diabetes. It mainly affects blood vessels that nourish the retina and it causes leaking hence vision loss. Retinitis pigmentosa is an eye problem that begins during childhood and the infected person becomes blind at adulthood. Individuals with this eye disease have a problem of perceiving objects at night.
What is macula, its Functions and Clinical Significance?
NewsWhat is macula? The macula is located near the central portion of the human eye retina that is described as a yellowish oval shaped spot that is highly pigmented. The macula enables the eye to view detailed central vision that is sharp, to perceive colours and to carry out tasks like reading that is tasks that require central vision.
The macula consists of two ganglion cell layers and at the centre it comprises of the fovea. The fovea is a pit made up of cone cells and has no rods; the fovea’s function is to ensure that the eye provides a central vision of a high resolution. The fovea is also responsible for individuals colour perception ability. The macula is also made up of the peri-fovea and para-fovea.
What is macula and how is it adopted to its functions? The macula comprises of light sensitive photoreceptors that are densely packed together. This enables the macula to be in control of the central vision and the ability to do tasks like reading, distinguishing faces or details and driving. Having numerous cones in the macula enables the eye to have a sharp vision especially in bright light. It is yellow in colour since it is made up of lutein and zeaxanthin. Due to this it is able to absorb excess ultraviolet light and it also blocks entry of excess sun light.
What is macula and its clinical significance? If the macula is tampered with various eye diseases can develop. Macular degeneration can occur if the macula breaks down. This condition leads to the decreased ability of the eye to see clearly due to either partial or complete vision loss. Macula degeneration can also develop due to aging hence the elderly are at a higher risk. Destruction of the macula can also lead to formation of macula holes which are caused by trauma and if severe the entire macula can be damaged.
What is Amblyopia? Its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
NewsWhat is Amblyopia? Amblyopia is an eye disorder of the visual system also referred to as the lazy eye. Amblyopia is described as vision deficiency that leads to loss of the eyes’ ability to see details in objects. The affected eye will look physically normal but it does not function normally since the brain is coordinating with the other eye.
This condition develops when the nerve pathway to the brain of one eye does not fully develop during childhood. The affected or abnormal eye tends to send blurred or incorrect images to the brain. When this occurs the brain becomes confused hence it learns how to ignore images from the abnormal eye. The lazy eye may also develop when one eye has a better focus than the other that is one eye might have a lot of astigmatism or it may also be too near-sighted or farsighted.
What is Amblyopia most common cause? Strabismus is the common cause of the lazy eye. It is mainly an imbalance in the positioning of both eyes. It is characterized as an ocular misalignment that leads to one eye either turning inward that is esotropia or turning outwards that is exotropia. This deteriorates the eyes ability to focus on an image which may lead to development of double vision. Other causes of Amblyopia are certain conditions such as cataracts, blood or material at the back of the eye which block entry of light.
Its symptoms and forms of treatment include: Signs and symptoms presented by patients with this vision problem are such as poor vision in one eye, inability to perceive depth, eyes turning in or out and lastly both eyes working together. It can be treated by making the individual’s brain to use the weaker eye. This is achieved via correcting eye problems that cause Amblyopia such as removal of a cataract and then placing a patch on the normal eye and also use of atropine drops.
Various Types of Eye Exercises
NewsEye exercises are part of vision therapies that are meant to improve vision skills such as eye focusing, moving and coordination. Exercising the eyes will enable them to be healthy in order for the visual system to work normally. Working out the eyes will improve the functionality of the eye muscles hence a good vision is obtained. These exercises are of different techniques and they have been proven to improve vision hence patients negating corrective lenses. If you wish to perform these techniques you can consult with an eye doctor or do some research in the internet.
Here are some of the best Eye exercises that you can opt to engage. Blinking is a simple technique that will help you keep your eyes fresh and able to focus on objects for long durations. By doing this exercise your eyes are able to discharge previous info and get ready to perceive new info. Moreover, you will be reducing eye strain and your eyes will be relaxed. Blinking is also a sign of good communication skills.
Individuals who blink after every three seconds are termed to be friendly unlike those who stare.
Zooming is a technique that requires you to follow the following steps. First sit in a comfortable position, stretch your arms and ensure that the thumb is in a hitchhike position. Focus on the thumb and bring it closer to your eyes. Focus until the thumb is about four inches away from your face. Move the thumb away until your arm is outstretched fully. Do this exercise for a few minutes each and every day. Palming is also a simple eye exercise that helps to relieve stress around the eye region and to relax them instead. This is done by leaning on a desk and resting your elbows on your knees then placing your hands over your eyes to cover them. This is useful during computer breaks.
In conclusion, Eye exercises will definitely make you feel relaxed.