Mac optometry

04/12/2025

Braidwood

04/12/2025

Mac Optometry Braidwood

04/12/2025

04/12/2025

Braidwood

PBS and TGA have issued November updates affecting ophthalmic medicines.

Highlights:
👉 PBS brand deletions for Timoptol-LA, Timolol (Brown & Burk) and ALPHAGAN P 1.5, with alternatives available.
👉 Ongoing/anticipated shortages for BIMATOPROST SANDOZ, BIMPROZT, APO-LATANOPROST and Pred Forte into 2026.
👉 ALPHAGAN P 1.5 and LATANOPROST-WGR to be discontinued from the Australian market.

Read the latest Snapshot e-newsletter for full details and stay updated.

For live changes, visit our PBS and TGA Updates page:
https://www.optometry.org.au/practice-professional-support/patient-practice-management/prescribing-medicines-pbs/

If you have any queries, please contact us at OAhelpdesk@optometry.org.au.

03/12/2025

02/12/2025

Braidwood

02/12/2025

Braidwood

Macular Disease Foundation Australia participated in the Federal Government’s targeted consultation regarding the planned 1 July 2026 change to the MBS items for eye injections.

If the proposed change goes through, it will mean that more than 12,200 people who currently use their private health insurance to cover the cost of their eye injections as a private patient in day surgery facilities or private eye hospitals, will no longer be able to do so.

Public hospital eye injection treatment is very limited across the nation, and already at capacity.

Macular Disease Foundation has urged the government to address the wider affordability issues faced by the more than 109,000 people currently having sight-saving injections for a macular disease in the private system.

No one should be forced to stop treatment because of the cost.

If you would like to have your say and share your personal story with the Health Minister to ask the government to further delay this change until affordable eye injection treatment is available, please visit our website: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/government-considering-changes-to-private-health-insurance-claiming-for-eye-injections/

Vision 2020 Australia
Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha)
Consumers Health Forum of Australia

02/12/2025

Can I or can't I? Should I or shouldn't I? 🤔

Ophthalmologists are often asked about the effects of exercise on glaucoma. Particularly when it comes to yoga and weight lifting.

As research in the field progresses, many questions remain unanswered. But a combination of evidence-based recommendations and common sense can go a long way.

In our final Live Q&A for the year, ophthalmologist Dr Bernardo Soares will discuss how exercise can impact glaucoma.

Topic: Exercise and glaucoma
Date: Wednesday 10th December
Time: 07:00 PM AEDT

To watch this event Live and join the Q&A, register now at https://go.glaucoma.org.au/exercise

✨ About the speaker ✨

Dr Bernardo Soares is a Melbourne-based Ophthalmologist and experienced eye surgeon, specialising in cataract and glaucoma surgery.

After completing his medical degree in both Brazil and Portugal, Dr Soares underwent extensive ophthalmic training across Brazil and Australia. He completed fellowships in Glaucoma in Brazil, followed by fellowships in Glaucoma and Advanced Cataract Surgery at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne.

Dr Soares holds public positions at the Glaucoma Unit at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and serves as the Glaucoma Lead at Monash Health. He is passionate about complex glaucoma and cataract surgery, ophthalmic education, and the surgical training of future colleagues, as well as advancing glaucoma collaborative care.

He has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and regularly presents his work at both local and international conferences. Dr Soares also sits on the RANZCO Council and is a member of the European Glaucoma Society as well as the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Society.

27/11/2025

Braidwood

Join Australian icon Ita Buttrose AC OBE and Professor Henry Brodaty AO for a rare and intimate online conversation celebrating the release of Ita’s new book...

27/11/2025

Braidwood

Life is just so difficult now for Pam, forced to be a carer of her husband Colin, legally blind with age-related macular disease (AMD).

Now when one of his family members enters the room, Colin doesn’t even know they’re there. He hasn’t seen their faces in years. Imagine not being able to see your family this Christmas.

MDFA is the only organisation in Australia whose sole purpose is to support people living with macular disease and fund research that will hopefully one day find a cure.

This Christmas, please make an urgent donation today to help stop the loss and restore sight to people like Colin.

Click here to donate and hear Colin and Pam’s story: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/donate-to-our-appeal-today/

26/11/2025

Mac Optometry Braidwood

“Staying on top of regular check-ups, leaning on the people around you, and taking things one day at a time has made all the difference for me.”

Jo, a member of our community, lives with diabetic macular oedema – a serious eye condition that can cause progressive damage to your macula before you even notice any changes in your vision. That’s exactly what happened to Jo.

Tomorrow is World Diabetes Day, and to mark the occasion, Jo has kindly shared her diagnosis story to help raise awareness and encourage others to prioritise their eye health.

Read Jo’s full story here: https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/facing-the-unknown/

If you or someone you love is living with diabetic macular oedema or diabetic retinopathy, Eye Connect is here to help. It’s our free support program offering information, guidance, and connection to others who understand - https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/eye-health-support-when-you-need-it/

26/11/2025

Join Australian icon Ita Buttrose AC OBE and Professor Henry Brodaty AO for a rare and intimate online conversation celebrating the release of Ita’s new book...