Mac optometry

06/11/2025

We’re on the cusp of a breakthrough in glaucoma treatment — and we need your help to get there. 🙏💙

“Current glaucoma treatments don’t work for 1 in 5 patients. That’s simply not good enough,” says Associate Professor Andrew White from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research.

Thanks to funding from Glaucoma Australia’s Quinlivan Research Grant, his team is testing an innovative new treatment using an anti-inflammatory drug called irbesartan. Their goal? To develop a safe and effective eyedrop that can prevent nerve damage and stop vision loss caused by glaucoma.

This world-first trial could change the future of glaucoma care — but research like this relies on your support.

✨ Donate today to help researchers turn bold ideas into lifechanging treatments and cures.
🔗 https://glaucoma.org.au/appeal2025
📞 1800 500 880

04/11/2025

Contact lenses are an alternative to glasses. If you are thinking about getting contact lenses, learn the facts first and visit your eye doctor for an eye exam.

04/11/2025

02/11/2025

01/11/2025

The retina at the back of the eye houses millions of light-detecting photoreceptors cells. 👁️ For people living with retinal degeneration – a group of diseases including age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt’s disease – the death of these cells means a progressive loss of vision.

At CERA, Head of Cellular Reprogramming, Associate Professor Raymond Wong, is taking major steps towards restoring vision by using cell reprogramming to help the photoreceptors grow back. 🧬🔬

“We are working on a treatment to stimulate the stem cells in the eye to develop into new photoreceptors by injecting safe engineered viruses into the eye to deliver reprogramming genes,” says Associate Professor Wong.

Thanks to the support of CERA’s donors and the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia – Associate Professor Wong’s team are scaling up towards developing treatments for retinal degeneration.

“With research at this stage, it’s difficult to find financial support as it doesn’t yet have a clear path to the clinic, but it’s absolutely necessary for the discovery of treatments,” he says.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without our generous CERA donors who gave to us and continue to do so.”

In the research’s discovery phase, Associate Professor Wong received support from government and philanthropic organisations, including the National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia, CERA Foundation and Retina Australia.

After completing this phase, CERA established startup Mirugen to secure commercial partners to further support the research.

Last year, Mirugen received a $1.92m grant from biotech incubator CUREator+ – a national program funded by the Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund and delivered by Brandon BioCatalyst and AndHealth.

This year, Mirugen secured $4.5m in seed funding from a consortium of investors through The University of Melbourne Genesis Pre-Seed Fund, Tin Alley Ventures and Brandon Capital.

Associate Professor Wong says it's a huge moment for moving the research closer to the clinic. 🏥

“With this support, it shows there is hope from many people to make this treatment available to patients as soon as possible.”

31/10/2025

Too many people in underserved communities face barriers to accessing optometry.

🧸The evidence is clear: Children and young people underutilise optometry services, despite rising rates of myopia.
Our "Off screens. Outside. Optometrist." campaign and advocacy to advance universal pre-school vision screening are designed to change this.

Together, we can do more. It’s not about increasing graduate numbers — it’s about addressing barriers, including ensuring optometrists can access sustainable funding to provide this care, and increasing community demand so that children access optometry services regularly, in line with evidence and best practice guidelines.

📢 Join our upcoming drop-in session to help shape solutions that make a difference.

📆 When? Tuesday 11 November, 7–8pm AEST

Where? Online. Register here
https://oa.optometry.org.au/EventRegistrationMember.aspx?id=295aa6b46a2b466cae8c5d77be0a0b60

31/10/2025

31/10/2025

We are open 🤗. Thanks for the wonderful, thoughtful warm welcome from all.

30/10/2025

Join Australian media icon and Patron of Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) Ita Buttrose AC OBE, alongside renowned dementia expert Professor Henry Brodaty AO, for an exclusive and free online conversation celebrating Ita’s powerful new memoir, Unapologetically Ita.

Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm AEDT

Hosted by UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), this intimate conversation will explore:
- Ita’s reflections on her father’s dementia diagnosis
- Her candid views on ageing, ageism and resilience
- The importance of brain health and dementia research

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from two passionate advocates for healthy ageing.

Register now to secure your spot:
https://unsw.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oTmOGV2iSs6slLhsFs6qCw #/registration

30/10/2025

Last weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Weekend Magazine shone a spotlight on the remarkable life and career of Australian media icon and Macular Disease Foundation Patron, Ita Buttrose AC OBE. In this fantastic profile, Ita reflects on the milestones, challenges and causes close to her heart – including her work with MDFA.

Read it here:https://cdn.mdfoundation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/27150816/Itas-story-The-survivor.pdf

30/10/2025

Exciting news: MAC Optometry is opening on Friday, the 31st, at 9:30 am at 110 Wallace Street, Braidwood.