This week – May 22-28 2016 – is Macular Degeneration Awareness week, and here at Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists, we encourage each and every one of you to get your eyes checked regularly. If you’re over 50 years of age, then you’re at risk of macular degeneration. Have your eyes checked with your optometrist or ophthalmologist […]
It normally takes 20 to 30 minutes for dilating eyedrops to be effective. Individuals with light coloured eyes (blue or green) will dilate faster than people with darker coloured eyes. Dilated pupils cause light sensitivity and difficulty focusing on near objects. These effects can last for several hours, depending on the strength of the drop used and on […]
Wear sunglasses when outdoors – particularly UV protection sunglasses. This can help delay the formation of cataract and pterygium, prevent retinal damage and also protect the delicate skin around the eyes. Don’t smoke. Smoking is linked to the development of macular degeneration and cataracts. Eat right. Enjoying a healthy diet rich in fresh fruit […]
One question we are frequently asked by our young patients with vision impairment is “Will I be able to drive a car”? All too often unfortunately our answer to this all important question is “No”. That may be all a thing of the past fairly soon! The legal vision requirements for driving a car with […]
This week 8-15 May 2016 is world retinoblastoma awareness week. This is a great opportunity for us to spread the word in Australia about watching out for the “white glow” in children’s eyes. Did you know that 50% of adults in the UK have never heard of retinoblastoma? Here are a few quick facts about […]
We are so proud to share with you that one of our young patients is the cover boy of the latest issue of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) magazine! We have known Lachlan from the age of 2 months when he first came to see our paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Michael Jones […]
SOS Education: What Have our Doctors been up to? Each of our doctors at Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists are passionate about education within their specialised field of ophthalmology. They are each involved in numerous councils, committees and associations outside of the SOS clinic. Our doctors often travel between states & indeed countries to participate in sharing the latest information & technological advances in […]
Have you seen our latest newsletter? It is jam packed with information about our practice, and a farewell to our wonderful practice manager Susie Owen. In this edition, you will also find information about Chatswood Private Hospital – the state of the art new hospital where Dr Michael Jones and Dr Caroline Catt perform cataract surgery […]
A British study due to be published this June in the journal Ophthalmology, has found that a diet rich in Vitamin C can help ward off the development of cataracts. Researchers from the Kings’ College London examined data of 324 sets of female twins, and followed up with these subjects 10 years later. The researchers […]
The very clever people at The Children’s Eye Cancer Foundation of Germany (KinderAugenKrebsStiftung or KAKS) have developed an App to help families and individuals with Retinoblastoma connect across the globe. The Children’s Eye Cancer Foundation of Germany are a great not-for-profit charity that works worldwide, connecting and providing support for patients, survivors, parents, doctors, clinics, […]
Eye patching in a child can be a really difficult thing to do day in, day out. If you are having difficulty patching your child, please contact one of our paediatric orthoptists for some hints and tips. Our orthoptists have years of patching experience, and will be happy to help you. You can contact our […]
Have you heard about the latest craze of eye-ball tattooing? It has been in the news recently as it has just passed legislation in NSW and is now a legal procedure. This is unbelievable considering the potential dangers involved. Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists’ ophthalmologist Dr Caroline Catt worries about the dangers involved in eye-ball tattooing “eye-ball tattooing […]
We have known for some time about the benefits of eating a healthy balanced diet for not only eye health, but general heath and wellbeing. Research over the last 10 years has taught us that certain foods can have a protective effect on structures of the eye that are prone to diseases such as macular […]
In a move that some would say is a little late, Lego has just released it’s first ever mini-figure with a disability, after relentless campaigning by equal-rights group Toy Like Me. The Toy Like Me campaign gained traction last year with over 20,000 signatures – you can read about it in our earlier blog post […]
Two children with vision impairments due to albinism living in Tanzania have recently received iPads to use at school thanks to two Australian charities. Sebastian and Selemani attend the school of St Jude, a school in Tanzania which aims to educate disadvantaged children who show academic potential. The school operates much like a boarding school, […]
We often get asked about developments in the bionic eye project. Here is some of the latest research and development on the bionic eye project in Australia: Researchers and scientists from Australia’s Monash University are preparing to implant a new version of the bionic eye in 2016. The thing that is a little different about […]
Happy New Year from the team at Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists! A great way to start a healthy new year is to book in a comprehensive eye check with your eye doctor or optometrist. Many eye problems do not have any symptoms in the initial disease stages, so it is important to have regular eye checks […]
An article published in the journal of Paediatrics in November 2015 has found that breastfeeding may play a strong role in protecting premature newborn babies from developing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). The large scale retrospective Meta-analysis study showed that breastfeeding can significantly lower the incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity in preterm infants. The data from […]
At Sydney Ophthalmic Specialists, we love hearing positive stories about people with eye conditions. Next year we hope to bring you the stories of some of our own patients with visual impairment who have gone on to achieve great things. In the meantime, here is an inspiring story about a 43 year old woman who had […]
On the 14th December 2015, a very exciting thing happened for people with a visual impairment. Australia signed the Marrakesh Treaty (formally the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities). The treaty focusses on changing copyright to allow large print and accessible versions of published […]
