May 2017

THE MAGAZINE FOR NEW ZEALAND’S OPHTHALMIC COMMUNITY 

PO BOX 106 954, AUCKLAND CITY 1143 

Email: info@nzoptics.co.nz Website: www.nzoptics.co.nz 

MAY 2017 

When you experience 

snow without limits. 

ZEISS Snow Goggles 

// INSPIRATION 

MADE BY ZEISS 

www.zeiss.com

THE PASSION 

REMAINS. 

TEN YEARS ON… 

In early 2007, our original Port Melbourne lens laboratory and fledgling support office 

opened for business, igniting the first sparks of the Specsavers optical revolution. 

One year later, we unveiled our very first stores, heralding the opening of an 

incredible 150 Australian stores in just nine months and our first six New Zealand 

stores. Consumers in both countries were quick to embrace our simple offer of 

high quality eye care and affordable, stylish eyewear – allowing our stores not just 

to grow but to thrive. 

Fast forward to 2017 and we now have 370 Specsavers stores operating across the 

two countries with annual sales approaching $800 million in Australia and over 

$100 million in New Zealand. Our customer database has grown to over six million 

individuals and we dispensed more than 4 million pairs of glasses over the past 12 

months alone, at an average of 80,000 pairs every week. 

Partnership – underpinning our success 

At the very beginning, we set out our stall to optometrists and dispensers 

under the banner ‘A Passion for Partnership’. We presented a new, inclusive 

business model that was open to all those with ambition and a passion for 

service excellence. 

Ten years on our passion for partnership remains undimmed. The Partnership 

model that pairs an optometrist and an optical dispenser as partners in their own 

store has propelled hundreds of optical professionals into business ownership, 

creating hundreds of successful, profitable, community practices and thousands 

of current jobs. And the Partnership between the Store Partners and Specsavers 

grows ever-stronger, underpinned by an unrivalled business support structure. 

Back in 2007, we talked to optometrists and dispensers the length and breadth 

of Australia and New Zealand about the Specsavers Partnership – and we are still 

doing so today. To gain an insight into our plans for the years ahead and to find out 

if you are ready for Partnership in a store of your own, talk to us now in confidence 

– and spark your very own optical revolution. 

To get the conversation started, contact Sinead Convery on 

+61 427 754 076 or sinead.convery@specsavers.com 

Millward Brown 

Research 

No.1 for eye tests 

2016 

Excellence in 

Marketing 

Award 

2016 

Retail 

Store Design 

Award 

2016 

Retail 

Employer 

of the Year 

2015 

Overall 

National 

Supreme Winner 

2015 

Franchise 

Innovation 

Award 

2015 

NZ Franchise 

System of 

the Year 

2014 

Retail 

Innovator 

of the Year 

2014 

Roy Morgan 

Research 

No. 1 for eye tests 

2014 

FCA Social 

Responsibility 

Award 

2014 

2 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS May 2017

OrCam now in NZ 

Rob Drummond from Quantum RLV demonstrating how OrCam works 

In the leafy Auckland suburb of Meadowbank, 

tucked into a small room behind the 

Community House last month, OrCam, the 

latest technology to help the blind “see” was 

being introduced to a small audience of 

visually-impaired guests. 

The New Zealand launch event, 

hosted by Low Vision Services 

optometrist Naomi Meltzer, has 

been eagerly anticipated, she says, 

as OrCam’s ability to allow blind or 

visually-impaired people to read books, 

menus and signs and even recognise 

faces and products has garnered a 

great deal of attention since its official 

US launch in 2015. 

Developed in Israel by OrCam 

Technologies, a start-up founded in 

2010 by Professor Amnon Shashua, 

Sachs Chair in computer science at the 

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and 

businessman Ziv Aviram, OrCam uses 

sophisticated computer technology 

and a miniature video camera to help 

the visually-impaired interact with 

their surroundings. The system consists 

of a discreet, portable computer that 

fits in a pocket and connects by a thin 

cable to a piece clipped onto the user’s 

eyeglasses. The wearer can then “read” 

or “recognise” any object or text by 

simply pointing to it, triggering the 

technology to relay the information 

to the wearer though a tiny speaker, 

using bone conduction, to the inner ear. 

The reading is stopped by the wearer 

holding their hand up in front of the 

camera on their temple. 

Demonstrating the device and 

explaining how it works to the audience 

at Meadowbank was Rob Drummond, 

national sales manager and director of 

Australasian distributor Quantum RLV 

(reading, learning and vision). 

Roni Bruell, blind and with a cochlear 

implant, has been following the 

progress of OrCam since its inception. 

After the demonstration, he was 

enthusiastic about OrCam’s ability to 

give him greater independence than either his 

partner or dog can. “This is a meeting that I 

really learnt something from. This technology is 

a real step forward.” 

Using OrCam to “read” the menu 

A lucky few in New Zealand are already using 

the device, says Drummond, complementing 

the “dozens” of new users in Australia and 

the estimated 2,500 plus users worldwide. 

The system comes in two versions: the 

OrCam MyReader, which focuses on text 

recognition; and the OrCam MyEye, which as 

well as reading text can also recognise a host of 

objects previously identified to it. Retailing at 

approximately $7,000 in New Zealand, however, 

the sophisticated technology does not come 

cheap. 

In an interview with the New York Times back 

in 2013, when the first prototype was launched, 

Professor Shashua said the company estimated 

there were about 342 million adults worldwide 

with significant visual impairment and that 

roughly 52 million of them had middle class 

incomes. 

OrCam closed a US$41 million funding round 

in April this year, taking the total raised to 

US$63 million, and valuing the company at 

roughly US$600 million. The founders are now 

preparing to list the company on the Nasdaq 

or New York Stock Exchange, announcing their 

intentions through Reuters soon after finalising 

the US$15.3 billion sale of their car accident 

avoidance technology firm, Mobileye to Intel in 

March, the biggest recorded exit for any Israeli 

company to date. 

OrCam is now available in New Zealand 

through Low Vision Services in Auckland or 

Adaptive Technology Solutions in Wellington. ▀ 

The OrCam device 

It’s about people… 

EDITORIAL 

Business is all about people, about relationships, 

about helping people find solutions to their 

problems and about letting others in to help you 

solve yours. People can make you smile or make you cry, 

so it’s particularly rewarding to attend such a collegial 

event as the annual CCLS conference and be included so 

warmly by so many of you, both at the conference and 

outside in lovely Nelson. 

Fortunately, my trainee photographer skills didn’t let 

me down this year, so we’ve got all the coverage of the 

event, including a wonderfully written round-up of the 

key, often amusingly told, presentations by Roberta 

McIlraith and Eleisha Dudson, a.k.a. Ms Robin Hood and 

Ab Fab’s Edina – thanks so much guys! 

We’ve got highlights from Eye Doctors’ first Grand 

Round, Auckland Eye’s first Insight evening and NZAO’s 

equally warm annual awards night. This issue is also 

packed full of news; and our wonderful Chalkeyes this 

month tackles the problem of recommendations or lack 

thereof; a theme echoed in our feature about online 

reviews, which you can’t escape, whatever business 

you’re in. 

We’ve got some news 

too: Jai Breitnauer 

has returned to the 

freelance world to 

spend more time with 

her family; and 2007 

optometry graduate 

Ella Ewens has joined 

us as a new writer. 

She’s back in NZ, after 

spending too long in 

the UK, with British 

husband Darren and 

their two children, 

Ella Ewens, on the team 

toddler Pip and 

baby Hugo, just two months at time of writing and a 

fabulously distracting addition to our monthly editorial 

meetings! Welcome Ella. 

Enjoy. 

Lesley Springall, publisher, NZ Optics 

MSO: Keeping it in the 

family 

Mike Sladen Optical is now 

MSO Limited following the 

purchase of the business 

in April by Mike Sladen’s son, Gethin 

Sladen. 

Gethin admits he’s not formally 

been involved in the optical business 

before, but has always had a keen 

interest in it as he’s had hyperopia 

since childhood – a condition his 

two children also have – and given 

the natural osmosis you have from 

growing up around a close, longterm, 

family business. 

“I’ve worn glasses since I was five 

and I’ve always had a passion for 

them. Dad was getting older, and 

is reaching that age when he’d like to retire and I 

would like to continue the family business into the 

future. 

“We’re all about family; our suppliers are all 

family-owned businesses, like Eyes Right Optical 

and European Eyewear, they are all very strong in 

that field.” 

Gethin is also experienced in running a longestablished 

family business, having owned and run 

Terry Apparel, a major supplier of sewing machine 

needles and threads, for a number of years. Both 

companies are now based at the same Auckland 

address with Gethin at the helm, ably assisted by 

great teams on both sides, he says, including, on 

the MSO side, his father, Mike and long-term sales 

representative Rae Long. 

“Dad is working for me as an agent 

for the next 12 months after which 

he’ll look at retiring… After week one, 

we’re still talking, which is good,” he 

laughs. 

Gethin says he’s excited about MSO’s 

potential. “I just want to push it into 

the future. We’ve got a great brand and 

with the assistance of Dad and Rae and 

The new MSO team, Mike and Gethin Sladen and Rae Long (centre), on Eyes Right Optical’s 

stand at Silmo Sydney 

our loyal customers I believe we can grow, which is 

why I bought the business.” 

Top of the list for the new MSO is a website, he 

says, which, together with social media such as 

Facebook, should make it easier for MSO to stay in 

touch with current and new customers and help 

grow MSO’s and its suppliers’ brands. “I will be 

active in the trade. I am a passionate owner and 

hope to visit my customers and get to know them, 

because for me it’s all about relationships. We are 

a New Zealand-owned and run family business and 

that’s also something that’s important to me and, I 

think, to our customers.” 

Mike Sladen established the business in 1991. 

It’s the New Zealand agent for Australian family 

eyewear businesses, Eyes Right Optical, with 

brands such as Face à Face, Prodesign, 

Koali, Oga and Zac Posen; and European 

Eyewear with Eschenbach – Titanflex, 

Brendel and Humphrey’s; and the sole 

distributor for Minima and Coppe-Sid 

from France and Italy, respectively. 

“MSO will continue to be dynamic in 

responding to changing fashion trends 

in the optical industry,” said Gethin. ▀ 

www.dilem.fr 

dilem.lunettes 

May 2017 

www.dynamiceyewear.com 

NEW ZEALAND OPTICS 

3

News 

in brief 

FUNDING FOR MS AND VISION RESEARCH 

Dr Peter van Wijngaarden, CERA deputy 

director and principal investigator, 

has won an A$18,000 Incubator Grant 

from MS Research Australia to further 

his research on the eye as a monitor of 

disease activity and repair in multiple 

sclerosis (MS). The grant will help develop 

a laboratory model of MS based on 

damage to the optic nerve so researchers 

can test therapies to repair damaged 

myelin and determine effectiveness. 

ANTI-VEGF INJECTIONS LINKED TO GLAUCOMA 

Researchers have found patients receiving seven or more 

intravitreous injections of the anti-VEGF drug, bevacizumab, were 

at higher risk of needing glaucoma surgery. Published in JAMA 

Ophthalmology, the study analysed more than 800 patients who 

received injections in British Columbia between 2009 and 2013. 

DE RIGO EXTENDS CHOPARD PARTNERSHIP 

After 10 years, De Rigo and Swiss 

jewellery house Chopard 

announced their continued 

collaboration in the design, 

production and distribution of 

Chopard eyewear worldwide. In a joint 

statement, the two family-owned companies 

said they shared the same fundamental values: a constant quest for 

perfection and excellence and a passion for elegance and innovation. 

HUBBLE RAISES US$16.5MILLION 

US company Hubble, the first direct-to-consumer subscription-based 

contact lens brand announced it had secured US$23.7million in 

investment in two tranches, which it will use to boost marketing 

and advertising. The company also plans to purchase additional 

inventory, including toric lenses, and to roll out new product 

extensions, such as eye drops. Hubble claims its contact lenses cost 

less than half the price of competitors. 

CALL TO SHARE ‘DISRUPTIVE’ IDEAS 

Clinicians are being asked 

to share their ideas on how 

technology can transform 

and improve patient care 

for this year’s Clinicians’ 

Challenge. The challenge 

has two categories: a 

disruptive innovation yet 

to be developed; and an 

innovative system or solution 

being developed that’s having a positive impact on patient care. 

Ophthalmology registrar Dr Hong Sheng Chiong won the 2015 

challenge with his smart phone-based retinal camera (pictured). 

For more or to submit an entry, visit www.hinz.org.nz. 

NEW AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY 

The University of Canberra is set to open a school of optometry in 

2018 and is recruiting for a professor of optometry. Talking to The 

Canberra Times, local optometrist Mark Feltham said he hopes the 

new school will help solve the current optometry skills shortage in 

the region. Governing body Optometry Australia, however, voiced 

concerns about an oversupply of optometry students. 

AMÉLIE MOREL – SILMO PRESIDENT 

Morel communications director Amélie 

Morel has been named as the new Silmo 

Paris president. Amélie Morel is the fourth 

generation to manage the well-known 

French family eyewear design business 

alongside her brothers Jérôme and Francis. 

The Silmo board said Amélie received a 

unanimous vote to continue the work 

started by her predecessor, Philippe Lafont, 

who passed away suddenly in March. 

GENETIC LINK FOUND FOR CORNEAL DISEASE 

A consortium of US-based researchers, headed by Professors Natalie 

Afshari and Stuart Brown from the Shiley Eye Institute in San Diego, 

have identified three novel genomic loci linked to Fuchs endothelial 

corneal dystrophy (FECD), a slowly-progressing degeneration of the 

corneal endothelium. The discovery, which takes the known FECD 

loci from one to four, should lead to better therapies for treating or 

preventing the disease, they wrote in Nature Communications. 

STEM CELL ‘THERAPY’ LEFT PATIENTS BLIND 

Three women with macular degeneration went blind within a week 

after undergoing non-approved stem cell treatment in what they 

thought was an official clinical trial in 2015, in Florida. Professor 

Jeffrey Goldberg, chair of ophthalmology at Stanford University, 

co-authored a paper on the cases, published in The New England 

Journal of Medicine, to raise awareness of “the risks of this kind of 

minimally-regulated, patient-funded research.” An estimated 600 

clinics in the US are reported as using stem cells to treat a wide 

variety of disorders. 

EyeSpace: From NZ and back again 

Corneal Lens Corporation (CLC) has taken over 

the distribution and support for the EyeSpace 

technology platform and speciality lenses from 

Australian company Innovative Technology. 

Given that CLC has always made Innovative Technology’s 

lenses, this means in some ways the lenses and the 

technology have simply cut out the middle man, explains 

Innovative Technology co-founder Lachlan Scott-Hoy. 

Scott-Hoy was in New Zealand as both a delegate at the 

2017 Cornea and Contact Lens Society (CCLS) conference 

(see pages 8-12) and to support CLC’s new position as the 

go-to-company for all Kiwi optometrists who use or wish 

to use the EyeSpace platform. 

“Over the past four years the adoption from New 

Zealand optometrists has got to the point where we 

needed someone locally to take over the support for 

EyeSpace and so that’s what CLC are doing,” explained 

Scott-Hoy at the conference. 

Graeme Curtis, CLC general manager, said the move 

reflects the rapid changes taking place in the speciality 

contact lens market. “It’s going from old school to new 

school. The EyeSpace platform is very exciting because it’s 

taking the traditional method of fitting contact lenses into 

the future.” 

EyeSpace is a software tool that integrates with the optometrist’s 

desktop computer and their corneal topographer to generate 

computerised fluorescein simulations of gas permeable contact 

lenses from real corneal data so the optometrist can then calculate 

and order better-fitting contact lens designs for their patients, said 

Scott-Hoy. 

There’s no more trial and error, said Curtis. “The EyeSpace data 

shows you where all the complex curvatures need to be and by 

matching that to our high-tech laser technology the end result is we 

can quickly make very complex lenses that work very well. So the 

patients are happier and we’re happier because we’re changing more 

Little4eyes launched 

Behavioural optometrist Nicky Kiparissis 

and husband Andrew Markakis have 

launched Little4Eyes, rolling all their kids’ 

frame brands together under one umbrella for 

distribution to the Australasian market. 

Passionate about kids, Kiparissis got into the kids’ 

frame distribution world after becoming frustrated with the lack of 

frames for her Kiddies Eye Care patients in Melbourne. This led to her 

and Markakis taking on the agency for Tomato Glasses in Australia. 

Based in Korea, Tomato Glasses are specially-designed, fullyadjustable, 

non-slip frames. They are especially good for those 

with Down syndrome, children who are very active or who have to 

wear their glasses properly and need them to stay on without any 

discomfort, says Kiparissis. 

Looking for something “prettier” for slightly older children, the 

couple then added kid’s fashion label Catimini, “the Coco Song of 

kids’ glasses,” to their portfolio, catering for younger fashionistas (see 

NZ Optics’ July 2016 issue). This was also when they starting making 

more in-roads into New Zealand. 

Given the early success of their first two frames ranges, Kiparissis 

and Markakis have now added US-based ro.sham.bo baby and other 

brands from Catimini’s French parent company, Karavan, to their 

portfolio, including Karavan Kids and Jacadi Paris, all now marketed 

from the newly branded, Little4Eyes. 

• US-based ro.sham.bo baby are sunglasses for littler people, 

specially-designed to be safe, durable, flexible and even chewable 

• Karavan Kids is known for the its character and colourful designs 

and its technical solutions for frames which “sometimes have to 

www.nzoptics.co.nz | PO Box 106954, Auckland 1143 | New Zealand 

CLC’s Graeme Curtis and Whitney Parsons with Innovative Technology’s Lachlan Scott-Hoy 

lives today than we ever used to, by allowing a lot more people to 

comfortably wear contact lenses for the first time.” 

CLC officially took over the running of the EyeSpace platform in 

New Zealand in April. The EyeSpace platform is now also free to use, 

with Innovative Technology cancelling the annual subscription from 

the beginning of this year. “So any practice with a topographer can 

now utilise EyeSpace for the design and manufacture of their lenses,” 

said Scott-Hoy. 

Innovative Technology, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this 

year, now supplies the EyeSpace system – with CLC manufacturing all 

the EyeSpace ortho-k, scleral and custom-fit lenses – to New Zealand, 

Australia, South Africa and the USA. ▀ 

Rijksmusem-inspired CLs 

The Dutch Rijksmuseum’s annual US$10,000 Rijksstudio Award invites anyone to 

create an outstanding design for a practical, everyday item inspired by works from 

its world famous collection. This year’s 10 finalists, whittled down from a total of 

2,500 entries, are particularly quirky and technologically-innovative. They range from 

17th century drawings of Adam & Eve condom wrappers, designed by Spanish artists 

Esther Pi and Timo Waag with the safe sex campaign slogan “No glove, no love”, and a 

“Night Watch” nightshirt to cosmetic contact lenses. 

The contact lenses’ “visionary” design, by US-based couple Francine LeClercq and Ali 

Soltani, was inspired by Holland’s famous Delftware or Delft Blue, the blue and white 

pottery made in and around Delft from the 16th century. 

LeClercq and Soltani said their design entry is “a nod to Marcel Duchamps’s comments 

on retinal art.” To complete the look, they have also designed matching nail decals. ▀ 

Karavan Kids “Bili” winner 

of the children’s category 

at Silmo Paris 2016 

withstand rough 

treatment”. 

• Jacadi Paris is 

inspired by the French 

heritage of children’s 

fashion, according 

to parent company 

Karavan. “An authentic 

and timeless brand fed 

by history in order to 

reinvent the present 

and re-enchant the 

best time of one’s 

Nicky Kiparissis, optometrist and co-owner of Little4Eyes 

childhood.” 

Talking at Silmo Sydney, which marked the official launch of 

Little4Eyes, Kiparissis, says the business has just grown and grown 

because there’s a real need for more children’s ranges, which is why 

they decided to introduce more of Karavan’s brands to the market 

this year. “They are for fashion conscious parents who want their 

kids to love their glasses so they wear them. There’s no use spending 

money, if they don’t wear them.” ▀ 

For general enquiries or classifieds please email info@nzoptics.co.nz 

For editorial, please contact Lesley Springall at lesley@nzoptics.co.nz or +64 27 445 3543 

For all advertising/marketing enquiries, please contact Susanne Bradley at susanne@nzoptics.co.nz or +64 27 545 4357 in the first instance, or Lesley Springall at lesley@nzoptics.co.nz 

To submit artwork, or to query a graphic, please email susanne@nzoptics.co.nz 

NZ Optics magazine is the industry publication for New Zealand’s ophthalmic community. It is published monthly, 11 times a year, by New Zealand Optics 2015 Ltd. Copyright is held by 

NZ Optics 2015 Ltd. As well as the magazine and the website, NZ Optics publishes the annual New Zealand Optical Information Guide (OIG), a comprehensive listing guide that profiles the 

products and services of the industry. NZ Optics is an independent publication and has no affiliation with any organisations. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily 

those of NZ Optics 2015 Ltd or the editorial team. 


Look Sharp with 

Dilem and Oxibis 

Look Sharp Eyewear, 

a division of 

Dynamic Eyewear, 

is relaunching French 

brands Dilem and Oxibis 

in the New Zealand 

market. 

Dilem frames, 

designed and 

manufactured in France, Dilem 

are fully customisable 

with simple temple changes to 

achieve several different looks using 

the many patterns and colours 

available, says Dynamic Eyewear’s 

Paul Beswick. 

“The collection offers styles 

that are totally on trend, using 

innovative printing techniques. 

The company takes very special 

care over the design of its temples 

as they are a genuine fashion 

accessory. Dilem is a great addition 

to our portfolio as its design offers 

numerous styles for men, women 

and smaller fitting options.” 

Look Sharp is also very pleased to 

have added Oxibis, says Beswick, 

as it’s a great quality, French-made 

Oxibis 

product, which is offered at a very 

competitive price point for both 

men and women in a range of sizes. 

“The collection incorporates bold, 

loud colours to make the eyewear 

really stand out.” 

Look Sharp is relaunching the two 

brands with new models for both 

collections not seen in New Zealand 

before. Paula Hollobon, Look Sharp’s 

sales executive, will be presenting 

both ranges to optical practices 

nationwide from this month. 

All existing stock has been 

purchased from former distributor, 

Little Peach, with Look Sharp being 

responsible for all orders, servicing 

and warranty work from now on. ▀ 

US$18m for Australian bionic eye 

Australian-based Bionic Vision Technologies (BVT) has 

raised US$18 million (NZ$25.8m) from China Huarong 

International Holdings and State Path Capital to 

develop its products and begin human clinical trials of its 

‘bionic eye’ implant in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. 

BVT is the commercial spinoff company from the 2010 

to 2016 Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) research consortium, 

comprising the Universities of Melbourne, New South Wales 

and Western Sydney, the Bionics Institute, the Centre for 

Eye Research Australia, CSIRO’s Data 61, The Royal Victorian 

Eye & Ear Hospital and the Australian College of Optometry, 

all of which are now shareholders in the new company as it 

transitions to becoming a fully-fledged commercial enterprise. 

This latest investment resulted from BVT’s work in 

developing bionic vision technologies, including a successful 

clinical trial of its prototype device in three patients. “BVT’s 

bionic eye has a number of significant advantages over 

competitors, including a superior surgical approach, stability 

of the device and unique vision processing software that 

potentially improves the patient’s experience,” said BVT 

executive chair Robert Klupacs. 

“This investment is an important milestone… The funding 

will propel this Australian technology into clinical trials in 

coming months as we work towards securing regulatory 

approval and a commercial launch in key markets where loss 

of vision is a significant medical burden.” 

The US National Eye Institute estimates one in 4,000 people 

have retinitis pigmentosa worldwide, with a higher number 

of cases in China and India compared to other countries in 

the developed world. To date, the development of Australia’s 

‘bionic eye’ has been funded through a five-year A$50 

million Special Research Initiative grant administered by the 

Australian Research Council. ▀ 

Novartis pays for dry eye potential 

Alcon’s wavering parent company Novartis has in-licensed 

potential dry eye drug candidate ECF843 from US biotech 

Lubris Biopharma following a small but successful phase 

II trial in 40 patients showing it was significantly more effective 

than sodium hyaluronate eye drops. 

ECF843 demonstrated the potential to provide immediate 

improvement of symptoms by increasing lubrication across 

eye and tear surfaces and an overall improvement in dry eye 

signs within 28 days, without adverse effects, said Dr Vasant 

Narasimhan, Novartis’ head of drug development and chief 

medical officer. “Exercising our option to in-license ECF843, along 

with our recent acquisition of Encore Medical for the treatment of 

presbyopia, underscores our commitment to treating diseases of 

the front of the eye which impact millions of people worldwide” 

ECF843 is a recombinant form of 

human lubricin, an endogenous 

glycoprotein expressed in areas of high 

shear stress and friction, including 

the tear film where it binds to and 

protects tissues of the ocular surface. 

Business commentators said 

upfront and milestone payments 

from Novartis to Lubris for ECF843 

could total more than US$1 billion, 

demonstrating Novartis’ commitment 

Novartis’ CMO, Dr Vasant 

Narasimhan 

to building its dry eye portfolio - which includes artificial tear 

products Systane, Tears Naturale and Genteal - if not its contact 

lens business, which is still under discussion for possible sale. ▀ 

It’s easy to see why 

we love our new 

rooms in the heart 

of Christchurch. 

Dr James Borthwick 

MB ChB, FRANZCO 

Disease and surgery of the retina and macula, cataract 

Dr Sean Every 

MB ChB, MMedSci (Distinction), FRANZCO 

Disease and surgery of the retina and macula, cataract 

Dr Jo-Anne Pon 


Oculoplastics, cataract, neuro-ophthalmology, strabismus, 

general ophthalmology 

Dr John Rawstron 

MB ChB, MPH, GDipM (Refract Surg), FRANZCO 

Cataract, LASIK, corneal transplant 

For the specialist treatment of all eye conditions the new space provides an increase 

in consulting and treatment rooms, state of the art technology, an innovative new layout 

to increase comfort and plenty of free and easily available parking. 

Most importantly, it also provides the home for a proudly local team. As the number one 

South Island provider of specialist ophthalmic care our surgeons are fellowship and New Zealand 

trained sub-specialists. They are the best in their respective fields. They are excited to be 

part of our new city, to be the care behind the change, the insight behind the vision. 

Dr Rebecca Stack 

MB ChB (Distinction), MMedSci, FRANZCO 

Cataract, oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon 

Dr Allan Simpson 


Cataract, glaucoma 

Dr Robert Weatherhead 

MB ChB, FRCS, FRACS, FRANZCO 

Oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon 

Dr Logan Robinson 

MB Chb, PG Dip Ophth BS (Distinction), FRANZCO 

Vitreoretinal surgery, diseases of the retina and macula, 

refractive cataract surgery 

128 Kilmore Street, Christchurch ı P: 03 355 6397 ı W: www.southerneye.co.nz 



5

Free vision surgery for tetraplegics 

The Buchanan Charitable Foundation is funding free laser 

vision correction for tetraplegic patients in New Zealand. 

Tetraplegic patients have lost function in all four limbs, 

usually after a severe neck injury, causing irreparable damage 

to their cervical spinal cord. This devastating injury leaves 

patients confined to their electric wheelchair or bed, with 

little or no ability to use their hands or legs. Thus tetraplegic 

patients who have to wear glasses are often functionally blind 

until a caregiver can put on or adjust their glasses for them. 

Founded by Drs Trevor and Caroline Gray in 2011, the 

Buchanan Charitable Foundation decided to address this 

need by designing a specially-equipped laser theatre for 

tetraplegic patients and providing funding for free laser 

vision correction. 

Dr Cynthia Bennet, clinical director of the Auckland 

Spinal Unit, says having the surgery is about maximising 

independence and decreasing the patients’ reliance on others. 

“Having to rely on someone to perform a simple task (like 

putting your glasses on) limits independence and quality of 

life. This surgery improves the quality of life for these people 

and that is what the hope is for others that come through.” 

The Auckland Spinal Unit is the main point of call, but 

the vision correction surgery and use of the special ceilingmounted 

hoist at Eye Institute in Auckland is available to 

tetraplegic patients throughout New Zealand. The foundation 

covers the costs of the operation, use of the operating 

theatre and staff. The surgery takes two to three times as 

much time as typical laser surgery due to the complexities of 

moving the patient, explains Frances Read, senior ophthalmic 

technician to Dr Gray. The hoist allows the patient to be lifted 

comfortably from their wheelchair into position for surgery. 

“Tetraplegic patients are often previously very active young 

adults whose lives have been tragically changed by a spinal 

injury,” says Dr Gray, an ophthalmologist based in Auckland. 

“They have already been dealt a tough deal in life, so what 

we are offering is a life-impacting positive event.” 

To date the Buchanan Charitable Foundation has 

gifted more than $3 million dollars for a variety of social, 

educational and medical philanthropic activities, including 

$2.4 million to found the Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit 

(BOTU) at the University of Auckland. BOTU has initiated and 

is involved in a number of ground-breaking ocular therapeutic 

research studies and hosts the annual Ocular Therapeutics 

conference, which this year will be held on 21 May. 

Nick Mathew, Taniwha’s caregiver Paul, Dr Trevor Gray and Ivy Sacdal helping Lee Taniwha into the hoist before surgery 

Changing lives 

Lee Taniwha was 13 when he dived into a 

pool and hit his head, paralysing him from 

the chest down. With limited function and 

sensation in his arms and hands and unable 

to walk, life was suddenly a battle for the 

young, previously-active teenager. To add to 

his problems, Taniwha has hyperopia with 

high astigmatism in both eyes and had been 

reliant on glasses since he was five years 

old. In June last year, at age 24, he received 

laser vision correction surgery, funded by the 

Buchanan Charitable Foundation. He now has 

6/6 unaided visual acuity in each eye and no 

further need for glasses. 

Before the surgery, Taniwha says he 

couldn’t even see the clock from his bed 

when he woke in the morning or even clean 

his glasses when they fogged up. “[The 

surgery] has helped a lot. It’s just one less 

struggle to deal with day-to-day.” 

James Forsyth, another tetraplegic patient, 

found out about the foundation’s project 

through his ACC case-worker. He had 

surgery in January 2017 and says he was 

overwhelmed by the results and loves his 

new vision. “[It’s] tremendous! I can see so 

many things.” 

Forsyth says he wants more of his 

wheelchair friends and others to know about 

the foundation’s project so they too can 

benefit from it and have their lives changed 

for the better. 

A happy Dr Trevor Gray and Lee Taniwha post surgery 

“This project is incredibly generous and kind,” 

says Dr Cynthia Bennet, clinical director of 

the Auckland Spinal Unit. “It’s really thinking 

of people and how to make their lives better. 

I wish we had more people that could take 

advantage of it.” 

Dr Trevor Gray, trustee of the Buchanan 

Charitable Foundation and ophthalmologist, 

says he’s keen to offer this opportunity to as 

many patients as possible. “The foundation 

is all set to fund up to one new tetraplegic 

vision correction patient per month as long 

as demand continues.” 

If you know of any patients that might be 

suitable, please contact Dr Gray at trevor@ 

tgray.co.nz or call him on 021 799 799. ▀ 

See the light: 

ICCLC 2017 

Registrations are now 

open for the 16th 

International Cornea 

& Contact Lens Congress 

(ICCLC) in Sydney from 8-10 

September 2017, which 

organisers from the Australian 

Cornea and Contact Lens Society say is an event not to be missed. 

The Congress is being held at the beautiful Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, 

just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Circular Quay. With an 

underlying theme of ‘See the Light’, it runs over two and a half days 

and includes several speciality workshops and more than 30 speakers 

tackling subjects such as: ‘Is our myopia management short sighted?’; 

‘Eye tech is high tech’; ‘Surgery and the anterior segment’; ‘Therapeutic 

challenges of contact lens practice’; and ‘Things you can try at home…’. 

“We are very proud to announce this year’s speaker line-up who 

represent the very best of the industry,” say organisers. The following is 

just a selection of some of the keynotes: 

Phone 0800 750 750 or Fax 09 282 4148 

info@eyesurgeryassociates.co.nz or 

Dr Patel at: patel@glaucoma.co.nz 

www.eyesurgeryassociates.co.nz 

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth 

For more personalised eye care 

talk to Dr Hussain Patel 

Consultant Ophthalmologist 

MBChB, MD, FRANZCO 

Eye Surgery Associates are a Southern Cross Health Society Affiliated Provider 

SERVICES INCLUDE: 

Glaucoma Specialist / Refractive Cataract Surgery 

General Ophthalmology / Acute & Emergency Eye Care 

• Dr Laura Downie, senior lecturer at the Department of Optometry 

and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne, who will be 

discussing dry eye and DEWS II 

• Professor Helen Swarbrick, an optometrist and psychologist from 

Auckland, who’s now a professor 

with the University of NSW’s School 

of Optometry and Vision Science. 

Her primary research interest is 

the corneal response to ortho-k (or 

Clinics on the North Shore, Central 

and South Auckland 

corneal refractive therapy) for the 

correction of refractive errors and 

its role in myopia progression and 

control; a subject she will be covering 

in her talk 

• Paul Rose, CNZM, New Zealandbased 

optometrist and lecturer at 

Auckland University, and founder 

of the Rose K contact lens range 

(see story p14). Rose will be sharing 

his expertise in contact lens 

management of keratoconus, how to 

approach the patient and rationalise 

a treatment plan 

ICCLC 2017 also has a range of 

social events organised for delegates 

starting with Friday evening’s 

welcome reception, continuing 

over topic-focused breakfasts and 

culminating in the Congress’ annual 

social highlight, the masquerade 

dinner on the Saturday night. 

For more information or to register, 

visit www.icclc-2017.cclsa.org.au/ ▀ 

All change at 

Misty Optic 

Misty Optic Partnership 

has appointed Jamie 

Smith as its new 

territory manager. 

“It’s great to welcome Jamie 

back to the optical community 

after a break of three years,” 

said Chris Clark, director of 

Misty Optic, in an email to 

customers. “Jamie will be 

best known to you from his 

seven years with Bollé, where 

he managed three divisions 

including ‘premium sunglasses’ 

Jamie Smith back in the eye business 

with Misty Optic 

In other news, fellow Misty Optic territory manager Tom Frowde, 

has been appointed general manager of the Eyepro group, 

increasing his role in running the independent optometrists’ 

group with director, Misty Optic colleague, Chris Clark. 

“It’s an exciting year ahead for Eyepro with several new 

initiatives across all major product and service categories 

ready to launch,” said Clark. 

More on this in future NZ Optics’. ▀ 

and ‘safety eyewear’. Jamie’s combination of previous industry 

experience and his more recent work in the premium sporting 

goods industry will ensure a smooth transition along with an 

injection of fresh ideas for us all.” 

Smith will be replacing Brad Boult from CMI Optical, who 

used to represent Misty’s collections in the North Island, and 

partially replace Steve Saxton, who’s reducing his hours after 

nearly 40 years in the industry. 

“After five years of sterling service on the road for Misty 

Optic, Steve is finally putting down the bags in favour of a 

quieter life,” said Clark. “We’re pleased to still have Steve’s 

experience and skills available to us on a part-time basis so he 

still has to wait a bit longer for his gold watch.” 

Clark also wished Boult well, who he said will be spending 

more time concentrating on his own CMI ranges, which now 

includes Modstyle (see April’s NZ Optics), and his “rapidly 

growing brewing empire”. 

“Brad continues to be part of the family and we still look 

forward to running joint sale events and other projects 

together.” 

Smith’s portfolio consists of all the Charmant brands 

including Elle, Esprit, Adlib, Aristar, Awear, Line Art and US 

brand Spy+, all now depicted in a new Misty Optic website, 

created by Saxton. 

Eyepro update 


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7

SPECIAL FEATURE: CCLS 

A look back and thanks 

BY OUTGOING CCLS PRESIDENT ANNE MATHESON 

There’s a lot to worry about when you’re involved in 

organising a conference. Will there be fog at major airports 

or another earthquake at the top of the South Island? Will 

all the speakers turn up, and will any of them have laryngitis? 

Will the delegates like the speakers? 

I’m happy to say none of my worst fears eventuated. I was 

particularly pleased with the conference content. When it comes 

to the crunch, the education is what we attend conferences 

for and at the 2017 CCLS conference it was all high quality, 

educational and relevant, with a good mix of some very amusing 

Anne Matheson 

extroverts and some more understated speakers. Since I was the 

one who invited Dr Marc Bloomenstein, I was relieved he turned out to be as good a lecturer as 

I remembered. I hadn’t heard Professor Ken Nischal speak before and he was a pleasure to listen 

to. A local highlight for me, however, was Tracy Thompson’s report on her CCLS scholarship trip 

to Iowa. She said it changed her life and gave her a renewed passion for her job, which is a great 

endorsement. And yes, our own Professor Charles McGhee managed to deliver his lectures 

despite having laryngitis! 

On the organisational level, Karen McLean from Conference Makers ensured things ran as 

smoothly as usual. Sponsor support was good and the conference will make a modest profit, 

which always makes the council feel better. Nelson was a pleasant and novel venue and it was 

easy for delegates to get out and about. 

It’s been a great two years, but I’m pleased to hand over the presidency to Jagrut Lallu, 

who has been and continues to be a great supporter of CCLS and who is always looking for 

opportunities for self-improvement and to improve how things are done in any organisation 

he’s involved with. Together with the newly appointed vice president Roberta McIlraith, I 

know the CCLS is in good hands. 

I look forward to seeing you all again in Wellington next year. 

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CCLS 2017: Entertaining 

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This year’s Cornea and Contact 

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conference was held at the 

Rutherford Hotel in Nelson, timing 

nicely with the region’s MarchFest 

(regional craft beer) celebrations. As 

per usual, the conference was a great 

mix of entertaining education, handson 

informal workshops and relaxed 

and fun-filled social gatherings. 

We were treated to an array of 

interesting and diverse speakers 

from far and wide. For our keynotes, 

we enjoyed the return of Professor 

Fiona Stapleton, head of the School 

of Optometry and Vision Science at 

the University of New South Wales 

in Sydney; Dr. Ken Nischal, head of 

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paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and professor of ophthalmology 

at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Dr Marc Bloomenstein, director of optometric services at the 

Schwartz Laser Eye Centre in Scottsdale, Arizona; and our own Professor Charles McGhee, head of ophthalmology at 

the University of Auckland. 

Prof Stapleton spoke to us on a range of topics from contamination 

control in contact lens wearers, contact lens discomfort, dry eyes 

and meibomian gland dysfunction to managing red eye and 

acanthamoeba. Her presentations were, as always, very informative 

and clinically relevant, reminding us all to be completely vigilant 

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Prof Nischal, a pioneer in paediatric anterior segment disease, led us 

through some inspiring, and often amusing, talks on the treatment 

of paediatric blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (possibly the longest 

word in eye care!), penetrating keratoplasty, acute corneal melt and 

congenital corneal opacification. He also provided a healthy reminder 

that the management and treatment options for children with ocular 

disease or dysfunction has to take into consideration the wider 

context of their lives, including family dynamics and location. 

Dr Bloomenstein provided as much hilarity as he did education. 

Speaking on contact lens-related inflammatory processes, treatment 

options in adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis, comparing treatment with 

iodine vs. topical gangcyclovir, cross-linking in low ammetropes, lasik 

outcomes and #feminism. 

Prof McGhee continued the amusing banter, while providing us 

with up-to-the-minute education from the University of Auckland’s 

ophthalmology department on trends in corneal transplantation 

and management of keratoconus and the rise of acanthamoeba 

infection rates in New Zealand. He also delivered a fairly gruesome 

account of severe ocular chemical injuries and the treatment 

thereof. The take-home message there: “Irrigate. Irrigate. Irrigate… 

Irrigate, Irrigate, Irrigate…” 

Professor Trevor Sherwin spoke to us about his very promising 

research into stem cell repopulation of corneal tissue, which we’re 

sure we will be hearing a lot more about soon, including its possible 

applications for ocular surface reconstruction. While Dr Trevor Gray 

delivered a timely presentation of the safe protocols for TPA-endorsed 

optometrists in the developing scope of prescribing oral medications. 

In addition to the aforementioned speakers, a number of our 

optometrist friends also kindly shared their own clinical experiences. 

Alex Petty, having suffered two retinal detachments as a high 

myope himself, took us though the options available to minimise 

myopia progression in our younger patients. It is now widely thought 

that myopia progression control should be the standard of care 

provided to young myopic patients, particularly those with a genetic 

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9


predisposition or signs of progression. Alex also spoke to us about 

scleral lens fitting and maintaining adequate oxygen transmission 

to the cornea. 

Eleisha Dudson provided further education on how to 

approach complex lens fitting techniques, including scleral and 

orthokeratology. Emilie Langley focused on refitting a patient in 

a compromising scleral lens back into a RGP corneal lens design 

and the options now available to customise the lens fit. Peter 

Walker took us through his approach to managing keratoconus in 

corporate optometry, reminding us again of the discussion around 

genetics we must have with our patients, and developing a system 

of screening for young family members so corneal cross-linking 

can be delivered at the most beneficial time. While well-known 

educator and practitioner Grant Watters discussed the plethora 

of ocular surface disorders that may ultimately be caused by a 

dysfunctional microbiome and how we might better manage it. 

Workshops 

Interactive workshops were held on the Friday afternoon and 

Saturday morning. CCLS would very much like to thank workshop 

hosts for giving up their time and sharing their expertise, and 

the companies which assisted them by supplying equipment for 

these informative hands-on sessions. 

Workshops hosts included: Paul Rose for ‘Fitting the right 

Rose K design for the irregular cornea’; Ally Xue for her dry 

eye workshop; Chris Murphy and Richard Johnson for taking 

us through ‘OCT front to back’; and Eleisha Dudson and her 

“patient” Andrew Sangster for ‘Scleral lenses: case and example’. 

Conclusion 

In summary, at the CCLS 2017 conference we were treated to a range of 

wonderful and often amusing talks from a high calibre of speakers on 

science, surgery, clinical conditions and their management. The committee 

and society are hugely grateful to all the speakers who gave us their time to 

deliver excellent insight and education, and to bring us up to speed on the 

developments in their areas of expertise. 

And it wouldn’t have been a CCLS conference without the opportunity to play 

dress-ups. Friday night saw bus-loads of queens, cricketers, tea bags and other 

well-known British icons, make their way to the “Best of British” conference 

dinner complete with grand marquee, lawn games, Pimms, yorkshire pudding 

and toss the corgi balloons. What more could you want. 

Delegates from CCLS 2017 off to the ‘Best of British’ dinner, with Absolutely Fabulous’ Eleisha Dudson getting into the swing of things (centre) 

Richard Newson, Kevin O’Connor and Tim Eagle 

Phil Mathews, Mick Toll and Alastair Hand 

CCLS Board news 

With another two-year cycle done, we welcome new president, Jagrut Lallu 

to the helm and thank Anne Matheson for her devotion and dedication over 

the past two years. 

It is also with great thanks that we release past-presidents and long-serving 

CCLS council members Richard Johnson and Dr Sue Ormonde from their 

council roles. We are grateful for their significant contributions to the 

committee and the society. 

We welcome back to the committee optometrist and professional teaching 

fellow Adele Jefferies and welcome to the committee for the first time, 

Auckland-based ophthalmologist Dr Rasha Altaie. 

The committee are now looking forward to planning the programme for the 

1-day conference at Macs Brew Bar in Wellington on March 18th 2018. 

*Roberta McIlraith and Eleisha Dudson are both CCLS’ councilors. Roberta is a speciality CL 

practitioner with Curtis Vision in Christchurch and Eleisha also specialises in CL fitting at 

Stevenson, Sangster & Matthews in Wellington 

Sarah Lord, Francis Hassan and Roberta McIlraith 

Grant Watters, Aniell Esposito and OptiMed’s Craig Norman 

Bryre Arnott and Greg Nel 

From the exhibitor’s hall 

The 2017, two-day CCLS conference was well attended by 

exhibitors, with many such as the Ophthalmic Instrument 

Company (OIC) kindly donating equipment for use in the 

popular workshop sessions. Other key sponsors Alcon, Johnson 

& Johnson and Coopervision also came under the spotlight in 

concurrent sponsor presentations in the break-out room, all of 

which were well-attended by delegates. 

The exhibition floor was abuzz with chatter throughout all the 

breaks, with many attendees taking advantage of the opportunity 

to try the latest technology on show. Here’s the highlights from 

some of the exhibitors’ stands and presentations: 

Toomac Ophthalmic 

Dry eye and the importance of osmolarity testing in diagnosing 

dry eye was a key point made by two of the keynote speakers at 

this year’s conference, Professor Ken Nischal and, particularly, Dr 

Marc Bloomenstein. 

While completely dismissing the Schirmer’s test as a waste 

of time when it comes to dry eye testing, Dr Bloomenstein 

recommended instead a simple diagnostic tool called the i-Pen, 

produced by i-Med Pharma and now distributed in New Zealand 

by Toomac Ophthalmic. 

The i-Pen is a new, in vivo testing device that measures tear 

osmolarity in a few seconds directly from the surface of the eye. 

Ian MacFarlane, director of Toomac, says it’s great diagnostic tool 

because its portable, sterile and is very price competitive. “It’s 

safe because you can’t use the same probe twice and it’s very 

simple to use.” 

Device Technologies 

Keeping 

with the dry 

eye theme 

was Device 

Technologies, 

but it’s 

newest piece 

of dry eye 

diagnostic 

equipment, 

the LipiScan 

from 

TearScience, 

which can 

capture, 

Device Technologies’ Ryan Heggie demonstrates the only LipiScan 

currently in Australasia at the recent Silmo Sydney optical fair 

archive, manipulate and store digital images of the meibomian 

glands, was actually missing from action as the one Australasian 

copy was on display at the recent Silmo Sydney fair. It’s 

predecessor, LipiView ocular surface interferometer, which 

defines, measures and tracks lipid deficient evaporative dry 

eye, was on display as was the company’s treatment device, the 

LipiFlow, proven to help unblock meibomian glands. 

Talking at Silmo, Device’s Ryan Heggie, however, was happy to 

demonstrate the smaller, more portable, day-to-day diagnostic 

LipiScan, which is currently going through Therapeutic Goods 

Administration (TGA) clearance and should be available in 

Australia and New Zealand later this year. “It gives you a better 

understanding of the current condition of the glands, and that 

better understanding allows you to provide better treatment,” he 

explained. 

Also on display on Device’s stand at CCLS was the latest Topcon 

Maestro OCT package, designed especially for retinal screening 

in smaller practices, now available with wide scan trend analysis. 

Existing systems can be brought up to spec through acquisition 

of the latest viewing software, says Sonderegger. 

AMO, now J&J Vision 

Showing they are now one, former AMO, now Johnson & Johnson 

(J&J) product manager Damien Liuzzo and J&J’s professional 

affairs manager Emma Gillies, were manning their two stands 

side-by-side under the name Johnson & Johnson Vision. 

The two companies officially became one at the end of 

February, with AMO’s cataract surgery, laser refractive surgery 

and consumer eye health divisions being wrapped up with J&J’s 

Acuvue contact lens business under the name J&J Vision. 

Liuzzo says the main new thing at the conference from his side 

was the Blink Dry Eye Journey programme, which is a patient 

support kit, put together on the back of the latest findings 

from the Dry Eye Workshops (DEWS II), that optometrists and 

ophthalmologists can give to patients to take home. The kit 

contains Blink Intensive Tears Plus gel eye drops, Blink lid-clean 

cleansing eyelid wipes and a booklet about dry eye and dealing 

with dry eye, including diet and menopause, in a handy little 

pack. 

“It’s a little tool to help the optometrist or ophthalmologist 

engage with their patient about dry eye,” says Liuzzo. “It’s also 

for the patient to understand why they should be talking to their 

eye health professional and not just go to the pharmacy and buy 

drops that might not be suitable for dry eye. The progression of 

dry eye drops (artificial tears) has come a long way yet sadly that 

hasn’t translated into the pharmacies.” 

The kits are free, in return for a little bit of feedback on the 

patients’ progression, says Liuzzo. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 


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Elaine Barling, Ross Hardy, Brian Naylor, Tracy Thompson, Dr Rasha Altaie, Claire Martin and Kathryn 

Steeman all ready for the ‘Best of British’ dinner 

Sean Mahendran, Annie Wang and Bridget Field 

J&J’s Damien Liuzzo and Emma Gillies flank Jasha Morarji 

Nick Matthew and Elaine Barling 

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Kathryn Steeman from long-time, Christchurchbased 

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donning one of the best outfits, the Queen of 

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lenses, says Steeman. “We know that 

fitting these lenses can be a bit difficult for 

optometrists so we’re willing to make trial 

lenses to the design of that individual patient 

free of charge. It may take more than one trial 

pair of lenses, some people have had up to four 

or five pairs, but until we get it to exactly what 

you want, and your patient is happy with it, 

then we can transfer it into the material of your 

choice. 

“That’s been our motto right from the 

beginning. We’ve always gone out of our way to 

make it easy for New Zealand optometrists to 

be able to try things at no cost.” 

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OCT Angiography image taken with a Topcon OCT Triton 

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Feeder vessels in a CNV with GA 

Alcon 

Helen Gleave, optometrist and professional 

training manager for Alcon, introduced Alcon’s 

new Air Optix plus HydraGlyde contact lenses in 

Alcon’s sponsor presentation. The new lenses bring 

together Alcon’s Smartshield and HydraGlyde 

Moisture Matrix technologies, so are designed to 

give long-lasting moisture and deposit resistance, 

she explained. 

In a short, but detailed presentation, Gleave 

explained how the different technologies worked 

and shared the results of Alcon’s patient studies 

which favorably compared the new lenses to other 

silicone hydrogel lenses and demonstrated the 

effectiveness of the technologies in a number of 

different in vivo and in vitro studies. 

CooperVision 

Joe Tanner, proud Kiwi and Auckland-trained 

optometrist and professional services manager for 

CooperVision ANZ described the company’s new 

Digital Zone Optics (DZO) lens design for contact 

lenses in his sponsor presentation. 

Tanner says research both locally and 

internationally is showing what a problem digital 

eye fatigue is among those of us who use digital 

devices at least two hours a day, with 88% of 

millennials (aged 18 to 29) reporting symptoms 

and 70% of all adults. “While there are a variety 

of spectacle-based solutions, contact lens wearers 

have not had any dedicated designs to address the 

visual challenges of the ‘digital lifestyle’ so many 

lead.” Until now, he says. 

The Biofinity Energys range are aimed at all nonpresbyopes 

who use digital devices more than two 

hours a day. The lenses’ DZO design incorporates 

“multiple front-surface aspheric curves…[to] 

10/21/15 12:07 PM 

distribute power evenly to simulate more positive 

power in the centre of the lens, [which] helps 

ease accommodative burden without impacting 

distance vision.” 

In CooperVision studies, eight out of 10 wearers 

“agreed Biofinity Energys lenses…made their eyes 

feel less tired.” 

Designs for Vision 

Again, mirroring the thrust of the opening talks, 

dry eye was the main focus on Designs for Vision’s 

(DFV’s) stand, particularly the company’s dry 

eye treatment tools, including its Blephasteam 

googles, a moisture and heat therapy device that 

helps unclog blocked meibomian glands, and its 

Oculus Keratograph 5M to help assess the tear 

film more accurately. The keratograph also formed 

part of the equipment donated by DFV for use in 

the dry eye workshop conducted by Ally Xue, a 

third-year doctoral student at the University of 

Auckland who’s investigating the effectiveness of 

intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for the treatment 

of MGD. 

The company’s Oculus EasyGraphs, a portable 

combination corneal topographer and built in 

keratometer are also great for practices, says 

DFV’s Ralph Thompson, as they are very, very price 

competitive, high resolution, easy to mount on 

a slit lamp and simple to connect to your PC. “All 

those practices wanting to get into ortho-k, this is 

a great tool for them.” 

OIC 

Also tying in with the dry eye theme was Ophthalmic 

Instrument Company (OIC), which distributes TearLab’s 

Tear Osmolarity System. The system measures the 

osmolarity of human tears to aid in the objective 

diagnosis of dry eye disease. OIC’s Tim Way says 

increasing interest in osmolarity (driven by talks such 

as Dr Marc Bloomenstein’s) is helping to increase the 

understanding and use of the TearLab system in New 

Zealand, not only for dry eye disease but also as an 

important test prior to cataract and refractive surgery. 

The OCT market continues to rapidly grow in 

optometry and is now considered by many as the 

standard of care, he says, highlighting the Nidek RS- 

330 Retina Scan Duo which, with 3D auto-tracking 

and auto-shot functions, allows easy imaging and 

documentation of the fundus simultaneously. 

The Nidek RS-330 Duo OCT, Medmont E300 

Corneal Topographer and Tearlab system were 

generously provided by OIC for use in many of 

the workshops at the 2017 CCLS conference, 

giving attendees the opportunity for hands on 

experience. The Medmont E300 is the market 

leader in anterior corneal topography, says Way, 

offering superior accuracy and ease of use to 

assist in contact lens fitting, dry eye assessment, 

refractive surgery, ortho-k and general assessment 

and observation of the cornea. 

CLC 

The Corneal Lens Corporation (CLC) stand was joined 

by Australian optometrist, CCLS conference delegate 

and Innovative Technology co-founder Lachlan Scott- 

Hoy who was showing his support for CLC as it’s now 

the official Kiwi distributor and support provider 

for Innovative Technology’s EyeSpace platform and 

specialty lenses (see full story p4). 

As well as the EyeSpace technology, CLC was 

also demonstrating its sMap 3D precision 

surface mapping system and fluorescence-based 

structured light topographer, which pairs well 

with EyeSpace’s software to allow practitioners 

to accurately design and order specialty contact 

lenses, says CLC general manager Graeme Curtis. 

“It’s all about data capture - the more and better 

data you collect, the more accurate and better your 

contact lens fitting will be.” 

B+L 

Radiant’s Yvette Beattie was on hand to explain 

Sparkle, the company’s innovative new sales and 

ordering programme for patients using Bausch 

+ Lomb lenses, which allows optometrists to 

maintain their relationship with the customer and 

make a 25% margin on sales they would previously 

have lost, she says. “Optometrists are excited 

about having something new to offer to patients 

and to bring them back into their practices for 

regular eye checks….as it includes their prescription 

expiry date and reminders.” 

Patients can’t just Google Sparkle, Beattie 

explains, they have to be registered by their 

optometrist who puts in their prescription for them. 

“So it gives the control back to the optometrist.” 

Also on the stand were B+L’s new monthly Ultra 

contact lenses with its unique MoistureSeal 

technology, and the multifocal Biotrue disposable 

contact lens ranges. ▀

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© CooperVision May 2017 NEW 2017 ZEALAND OPTICS 

13

Papakura heroes need help 

Barry Thrupp 

from Lions 

Papakura 

runs the Lions Eye 

Glass Recycling 

Team with the 

support of his 

wife Pat and 

several local 

members. The 

team’s efforts 

help hundreds 

of people across 

the Pacific to see 

and read properly. 

This is no easy 

feat as the small 

Papakura team 

constantly faces 

the challenge of 

not having enough glasses to meet demand or 

having enough overseas field teams to distribute 

the glasses. 

The Lions Eye Glass Recycling story began in 

1996 when Lions’ member Trevor French saw the 

desperate need for glasses while in Fiji. French 

helped raise the capital needed to purchase the 

equipment required to recycle used glasses and 

organised for the Papakura Lions Club to run the 

project. 

“Unfortunately there were no retired members 

at the time [so] no one wanted to work for the 

project on the weekends,” says Thrupp. “We had 

to hand it over to the Papakura Pakeke Lions Club 

(Senior Lions Club) who had retired members that 

could run it. It operated successfully for 11 years 

until a lack of members forced it into recess in 

2007.” 

Thrupp joined the Pakeke glasses team in 2006, 

when it became obvious they were going to 

close, and learned how to run the operation. In 

July 2007, Thrupp and his wife Pat launched the 

new Lions Eye Glass Recycling Team and, with the 

kind help of several dedicated members, run the 

time-consuming operation of sorting and washing 

glasses one day and calibrating and packing them 

the next. 

“Our team in Papakura has glasses couriered 

to us from all over the North Island from Lions 

Sunglasses are popular but it’s difficult to determine who to give them to. The elderly who need to conserve whatever 

vision they have left or the young to protect their vision before it is damaged. 

Clubs and optometrists. We sort out the incoming 

glasses for missing or broken arms; missing, 

scratched or disfigured lenses; missing nose cones; 

and bi-focal and progressive lenses, which must be 

done [using the equipment].” 

When the initial sorting is done, says Thrupp, 

the glasses are put into an ultrasonic washer and 

dried. Next they are tested on a lens meter, which 

prints out their prescription on a slip that’s then 

placed with the glasses in a resalable plastic bag. 

“Thanks to the wonderful support of the field 

teams, the glasses are then safely distributed even 

to the most remote locations.” 

In 2014, Lions’ field teams ran 41 clinics in six 

countries, fitted more than 2100 glasses and gave 

away more than 500 pairs of sunglasses on behalf 

of the Recycle for Sight programme run by Lions 

Clubs Australia and the Papakura Lions Club in 

Auckland. “Without Thrupp and his team at Lions 

there would be more than 2000 people who in all 

probability would never been able to read again,” 

said one of the field team members. 

When fitting the glasses, field team members 

are often greeted with cries of “halleluiah” and 

“wow”. The oldest person fitted with glasses was 

102 years old! 

To support the Lions Eye Glass Recycling Team, 

visit www.lionsclubs.org.nz/What-Do-We-Do/ 

Projects/Eyeglass-spectacles-Recycling ▀ 

2.5 6 8 30+ 

DAYS 

INTENSIVE THEMES SPEAKERS 

WORKSHOPS 

GET IN TOUCH 

http://icclc-2017.cclsa.org.au/ 

facebook.com/CCLSAus/ 

twitter.com/cclsaaustralia 

Save Sight Society – save 

the date! 

Registration is now open 

for the annual Save Sight 

Society conference on the 15 

September 2017 at the Langham 

Hotel in Auckland. All eye health 

care professionals are invited to 

participate in this event, which 

is known for its collegiality, lively 

discussion and unique Aotearoa 

flavour. 

Convened by Dr Shuan Dai and 

Samantha Simkin, the theme of 

this year’s conference is ‘The Eye 

Through the Ages’. This year’s 

conference will have a range of 

stimulating speakers to take you 

on a journey from birth to old-age 

and everything in between. Topics 

such as myopia control, diabetic eye 

disease, glaucoma, and keratoconus 

will be tackled during the day, 

with something to suit everyone 

including scientific presentations, 

case scenarios and panel discussions, 

covering the latest research through 

to clinical pearls. All of this, while 

enjoying a day of networking with 

colleagues. 

The Save Sight Society conference is the 

Society’s main fundraising event of the year, 

allowing it to continue to promote research into 

the causes of eye diseases and their treatment by 

being one of the key, non-government funders in 

Soft, for irregular 

corneas? 

Soft lenses are not normally a preferred option for irregular 

corneas, but there are some cases where there is certainly no 

better alternative, says Paul Rose.* 

Paul Rose, now adding a soft lens to his Rose K range 

I 

always considered a soft lens for irregular 

corneas would have a very limited application. 

However, after developing the Rose K2 Soft lens 

over the last five years and then putting it out to 

an international trial with several expert rigid lens 

fitters, I must admit, I now believe there is a much 

wider application for these lenses than I had first 

envisaged. 

The driving motivating factor to choose a soft 

lens over a rigid one is of course comfort, which 

is why soft lenses have become so popular over 

the last few decades and have largely replaced 

rigid lenses for regular corneas. It certainly was 

never about superior vision! Soft lenses in many 

cases will provide patients with the comfort that 

unfortunately cannot be achieved with rigid lenses 

no matter how well they are fitted. 

Primary indications for Rose K2 soft include: 

intolerance to gas permeable (GP) lenses; new 

contact lens wearers with irregular corneas; 

early to moderate irregular corneas, where acuity 

with conventional soft lenses or spectacles 

is unsatisfactory; where the environment is 

unsuitable for GP wear; and where a GP lens may 

be unstable, for example in sport. 

The downside of using soft lenses for the irregular 

cornea, however, is they may not provide the same 

level of visual acuity (VA) that you obtain from a 

BY THE SAVE SIGHT SOCIETY BOARD* 

Dr Shuan Dai and Samantha Simkin, convenors of “The eye through the ages” 

2017 Save Sight Society conference 

this area. 

The Save Sight Society Conference 2017 is not 

to be missed! For more information visit www. 

savesightsociety.org.nz. ▀ 

*The Save Sight Society board is chaired by Associate Professor 

Dipika Patel 

rigid lens, as in some cases some aberrations are still 

not completely neutralised. Some patients though 

are happy to accept a slightly decreased level of VA 

because of the vastly improved comfort factor. This 

is something I had not given sufficient importance 

to as a fitter of irregular corneas, as my primary 

goal has always been to achieve the best possible 

vision for the patient, even if the comfort was not 

absolutely optimal. 

Developing Rose K2 Soft has reinforced to me 

that, for some patients, comfort is their driving 

criteria for successful lens wear. 

Rose K2 Soft follows the same simple, five-step 

fitting method common to all Rose K designs. 

It features an aspheric back optic zone, reverse 

geometry, front surface toricity and front surface 

aberration control for optimal VA. The peripheral 

fit (edge lift) can be independently adjusted to 

the base curve or central fit. Best acuity is the 

optimal driver for choosing the correct base curve 

and the peripheral fit is then adjusted to achieve 

the optimum fit. Because this lens behaves 

somewhere between a rigid and soft lens, it is 

imperative the fitting guide is closely followed. It 

cannot be fitted like a regular soft lens or it will 

not be successful! 

Parameters 

• BC range: 7.40 to 9.00 in 0.20 increments 

• Diameter range: 14.30 to 15.30mm in 0.10 

increments. Standard diameter: 14.80 mm 

• Centre thickness: 0.25mm to 0.60mm in 0.01 

steps. Standard centre thickness: 0.35mm 

• Edge lifts: 5 options 

• Materials- Lagado silicone hydrogel – 

recommended three-monthly replacement; 

Contaflex 75 – recommended six-month 

replacement lens 

The Rose K2 Soft lens is now available in New 

Zealand. It is fitted from an eight-lens trial set 

which can be loaned or purchased from CLC. Fitting 

guides are also available from CLC or online at 

www.roseklens.com. ▀ 

For more see ad on p7. 

*Paul Rose CNZM is a Hamilton-based optometrist and the 

inventor of the Rose K contact lens range. He was awarded 

the NZ Order of Merit in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list for 

services to optometry and ophthalmology. 

Untitled-1.indd 1 

14 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS May 2017 

30/3/17 2:18 pm

NZAO awards 

The annual New Zealand Association of 

Optometrists (NZAO) Student Awards in 

April was a well-attended friendly affair. 

Students, NZAO councillors and staff, together 

with University of Auckland representatives, 

enjoyed the opportunity to exchange experiences 

and views over drinks and nibbles at the Langham 

Renita Martis, Winnie Ye, Leila Zhuang, Bianca Davidson, Carla Sy with NZAO President Callum Milburn 

Hotel in Auckland. 

Dr Lesley Frederikson, NZAO national director, 

welcomed everyone and said the evening is as 

much a recognition of successful students as a true 

celebration of optometry and optometry success 

in New Zealand. For NZAO to be able to continue 

its crucial work impacting legislation and working 

with DHBs and 

universities 

to ensure 

optometrists’ 

skills are used 

in the best 

possible way, 

she strongly 

encouraged new 

optometrists 

to continue to 

support the 

association 

through 

ongoing 

membership. 

Guests also 

enjoyed hearing 

from Jason 

Dhana, an 

optometrist 

at Greenlane 

Clinical Centre 

and professional 

teaching fellow at the 

University, and Hans 

Vellera, an Aucklandbased 

optometrist 

and PhD student, 

who both gave 

entertaining insights 

on how important the 

awards and NZAO’s 

support has been for 

their careers. Vellera, 

described how it had 

opened many doors for 

him along the way and 

given him the confidence to get not just one, but 

several articles published this early on in his career. 

Renita Martis, an optometrist, fellow PhD student 

and this year’s HC Russel Scholar, also expressed 

her sincere thanks to NZAO and encouraged 

everyone to continue to support the vital work of 

the organisation. 

The awards, as follows, are the result of a 

collaboration between NZAO and the University of 

Auckland and this year were presented by NZAO 

councillor Rochelle van Eysden and President 

Callum Milburn. 

• Most improved student entering B. Optom part 

Celebrating student success at the Langham 

IV – Leila Zhuang 

• Most improved student entering B. Optom part 

V – Ernest Oh 

• Top student entering B. Optom part III – Winnie Ye 

• Top student entering B. Optom part IV – So Yon 

Shin 

• Top student (1st) entering B. Optom part V – 

Bianca Davidson 

• Top student (2nd) entering B. Optom part V – 

Carla Sy 

• Peg Wood Award (Top student in Optom 441: 

clinical optometry) – Bianca Davidson 

• HC Russel Scholar – Renita Martis ▀ 

ODMA vs Silmo 

The battle between the old and the new Australasian optical 

fairs continued this month with several press releases and 

emails from both camps. 

ODMA celebrates anniversary 

Held every second year since 1979, and owned by members of the 

Australian optical industry, this year’s ODMA Fair is celebrating 

its 20th anniversary, with organisers promising the “most 

comprehensive and dynamic conference” since its inception almost 

40 years ago. 

Taking place from 7-9 July at the International Convention Centre 

in Sydney, ODMA17 will host an array of new interactive features, 

networking events and strong educational content, including 

revamped masterclasses and spotlight seminars, they said. 

“Providing valuable constructive feedback via surveys, ODMA 

members have helped reshape and improve outcomes of 

participation in the industry fair. These gathered insights are why 

ODMA17 will be the best event to date,” said Robert Sparkes, ODMA 

chair and chief executive of OptiMed. 

On the education side, ODMA17’s Vision Summit on the Friday, 

features a number of international and Australian speakers 

including UK professor and inventor of the excimer laser, John 

Marshall; Dr Rolando Toyos (USA); Associate Professor Chew Tec Juan 

Paul (Singapore); and, from Australia, Professors Minas Coroneo, 

Fiona Stapleton, Peter McCluskey and Paul Mitchell. 

As well as the Vision Summit, ODMA17 will also be hosting 

a series of Masterclass sessions, covering a mix of practical 

dispensing and the latest industry insights to help practice owners 

improve their business strategies and functions. Masterclass 

speakers include Elaine Grisdale from the Association of British 

Dispensing Opticians, Steve Daras, optical dispensing course 

coordinator for TAFE NSW (OTEN), and Leigh Plowman, a clinical 

optometrist and online marketer. 

A new feature of ODMA17 is Design Junction, showcasing a range 

of premium international and Australian eyewear brands, including 

Tom Ford, Ermenegildo Zegna, Balenciaga and Roberto Cavalli. 

For more visit www.odma2017.com.au. 

Silmo confirms for 2018 

In an email to its 2017 exhibitors (swiftly followed by a press release 

to the media as word got out), Silmo Sydney organiser Expertise 

Events confirmed it would hold the event again in 2018 at the 

slightly later date of 20–22 July at the International Convention 

Centre in Sydney. 

Gary Fitz-Roy, Expertise Events’ managing director, said the new 

dates make sense as they separate Silmo Sydney from other major, 

international optical trade events. “Following the successful launch 

of Silmo Sydney and positive feedback from the industry, the fair 

is set to return to Sydney in 2018. We have listened to the industry 

to determine when to run next… the shift in dates allows a greater 

inclusion of exhibitors specifically in the sunglasses market.” 

According to figures from the post-show report, contained in the 

email to exhibitors, there were 2,264 visitors over the three days 

of the inaugural Sydney Silmo fair in March, about 1,000 less than 

pre-registered. Nearly two-thirds, however, said they’d purchased 

product at the show. Around 90% of visitors and 75% of exhibitors 

from the 2017 event said they would be likely to attend again in 

2018. ▀ 

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15

Focus 

on Business 

What is my practice worth? 

BY STU ALLAN* 

Orewa Optics reinvented 

Planning your business exit is a critical process. In a series of two columns NZ Optics has asked Stu 

Allan from OpticsNZ to revisit and expand on his advice of more than a year ago regarding valuing your 

business and preparing it for sale. 

Determining a fair market value for any 

business is not a precise science, but all 

paths lead back to the business’ ability 

to generate consistent profits, so the answer is 

always in your financials. That said, however, what 

your business is ultimately worth is what someone 

is prepared, willing and able to pay for it! How 

you can influence that is subject to how well the 

business proposition is shaped and prepared. It’s 

a process OpticsNZ believes requires imagination. 

As Mark Twain said, “You cannot depend on your 

eyes, if your imagination is out of focus.” 

Optometry practice owners have typically built 

the practice from nothing over a 30 to 40-year 

period. Commonly, there is a deep emotional 

attachment to the business, which is often an 

extension of self and a strong reflection of who 

the owner is. For this reason, at OpticsNZ, we 

always recommend owners use an external 

broker, preferably with strong industry 

knowledge, to help separate yourself from the 

emotional turmoil involved in selling what you 

have created and driven for often a lifetime. 

There is no simplistic, one-size-fits-all rule to 

calculate the asking price for a business. Over 

the years, I have found the best process is to 

value the business using a variety of valuation 

methodologies. There are future potential 

earnings-based methodologies and asset-based, 

cashflow-based and market-based valuation 

approaches. The most common option used is 

market-based methodologies. 

Nearly all optometry practices are considered 

SME’s (small to medium-sized enterprises) and are 

often sold on a going concern basis. For profitable 

practices, we use an EBIT methodology – basically 

bottom line earnings before interest and tax. 

We then add a multiplier (often subjective and 

sometimes the main cause of disagreement 

between buyer and seller) to that bottom line 

figure to arrive at what can be considered the 

current market value of the business. 

Arriving at the EBIT value is easy, while most 

people with an understanding of the industry 

will advise a multiplier of between two and 

three. Though, based on OpticsNZ experience, a 

multiplier between zero and five is more accurate 

for SME’s in NZ. At OpticsNZ, we use up to 12 

factors to provide rankings to help us value 

the business and the multiplier, for example, 

quality of equipment, need for immediate capital 

expenditure, level of competition, known subspecialities, 

the business’ ability to consistently 

earn, the attractiveness of the proposition and 

more. EBIT also allows us to compare practices 

against previous sales and compare ratios for 

practices in similar market positions. 

Be aware, however, that EBIT as a methodology 

usually excludes shareholder income but due to 

the very nature of what you do, a professional 

optometrist is a fundamental requirement 

to enable patient throughput. OpticsNZ will 

always allow for an average level salary in 

our calculations and make clear how we have 

presented our findings. 

For multiple practice sales, with a sizable 

management structure in place, EBITDA 

(earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and 

amortisation) can be used as it provides a better 

indicator of how well multiple business units are 

being operated. 

When a practice shows little, or no profit, we 

revert to an older historical methodology of plant 

(fixtures and fittings), stock, assets and goodwill. 

Many customers also wonder if it’s appropriate 

to compare value against the cost of start-up? It’s 

possible, but should only be used as a reference 

point. What your business is worth will always be 

reflective of your ongoing financials. 

Be wary of anyone creating or using any 

valuation methodology outside of those 

commonly accepted. Any purchaser will complete 

due diligence together with their own accountant. 

Stepping away from convention will only create 

doubt and could destroy potential purchaser 

interest levels. 

Today, the role of OpticsNZ is very much a 

case of preparing a business proposition which 

presents your company in its best light. No two 

practices are exactly alike. ▀ 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

*Stu Allan is director of OpticsNZ, 

a company which specialises in 

human resources, recruitment, 

practice brokering and business 

development for the optics industry. 

Over the years, OpticsNZ has 

brokered dozens of practices and 

with each engagement refines its 

processes. For more, contact Stu on 

027 436 9091, email stu@opticsnz. 

co.nz or visit www.opticsnz.co.nz 

Orewa Optics revealed their new look store on 21 March while celebrating 

30 years in business. Third generation dispensing optician and owner Petra 

Hewitt reflects on the past and future of the practice. 

Orewa Optics was founded 30 years ago 

by my parents, Guenther and Margareta 

Lammer, the same year they immigrated 

to New Zealand – 1987. Guenther was a trained 

dispensing optician (DO), the second generation 

from Austria, and Margareta had owned her own 

fashion boutique in Austria. I joined them in 1993 

and did the dispensing optician apprenticeship 

becoming the third generation DO in the family. 

It’s in my blood. Ever since I was a little girl, I 

knew that’s what I wanted to do. Even after 24 

years of doing the same thing, in the same shop, 

it’s never been boring. Every client is different and 

I love finding the perfect frame-lens combination 

and solution for them. Orewa Optics has many 

longstanding, loyal clients and it’s such a privilege 

to be able to serve them for so many years, often 

several generations from the same family. 

After 20 years of running Orewa Optics, Margareta 

and Guenther decided to retire in 2007 and I took 

the opportunity and bought the business from 

them. My good friend and fellow DO, Angela 

Mitchell, who trained at the same time as me, 

joined the practice when I took over and we worked 

alongside each other for about six years. Angela 

wanted to spread her wings and see the “other side” 

of optics and briefly went to work for a lens supplier, 

but she missed the client contact and returned to 

the practice as my partner. We’ve been working to 

grow Orewa Optics into its full potential ever since. 

This is a big year for Orewa Optics, celebrating 

30 years in business; 20 years for both Angela and 

I being fully-qualified dispensing opticians; 10 

years of owning the business for me; and having 

doubled Orewa Optics’ floor space. 

We are very privileged to have three outstanding 

optometrists working for us. Grant Dabb with his 

vast experience, talent and passion with children; 

Helen Hynes with her kind and caring manner, 

and the only low vision specialist this side of the 

bridge; and Erin Tan with her bubbly and caring 

personality, enthusiasm, accuracy and passion for 

people of all ages. 

Along with Angela and myself, Christine Rae is 

our other DO, having passed her DO course with 

distinction and just waiting for the final sign-off 

and registration to come through. 

What we love about this extra space is being able 

to give out clients a better experience in a more 

relaxing and spacious environment, as many of our 

loyal clients said it could feel busy and overcrowded 

very quickly in the small space we had. 

We are so excited having all this extra space and 

question how on earth we could have managed it 

in the old space for so long. We love how the shop 

feels and the work and client flow and hope all our 

loyal longstanding and new clients will love it as 

much as we do. ▀ 

EVF: an update 

The Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) screened 

nearly 2000 students at 25 low decile 

primary schools during 2016. The screening 

of year 5-7 students resulted in 553 referrals of 

which 225 students were provided free glasses 

through the charity. 

Louisa Wall, Manurewa MP and patron of EVF, 

says she is grateful the needs of so many children 

are being addressed through this initiative. “There 

is a growing body of evidence, from the hundreds 

of Kiwi children screened to date, that indicates 

on average 30% of school students need specialist 

optometrist assessment and intervention to 

address undiagnosed vision issues. I’m pleased 

that more children from our communities 

of high need will have the opportunity to be 

Robert Ng helping the EVF and Kiwi kids 

assessed and receive the specialist optometrist 

treatment needed to maximise their educational 

opportunities.” 

Without the generous support from the 

country’s independent local optometrists, Essilor 

staff and students at the Optometry and Vision 

Science School at Auckland University, the 

screenings wouldn’t be possible, says Kumuda 

Setty, EVF trustee and Essilor NZ marketing 

manager. “When a child’s vision is not functioning 

properly, education and participation in sports can 

suffer. We must remove all barriers to learning and 

I thank all the volunteers for their commitment.” 

The 2016 supporting optometrists are Campbell 

& Campbell Optometrists, Eyestyle, Frederick 

Swain Optometrists, Grant & Douglas Optometry 

& Eyewear Hastings, Martin & Lobb Optometrists, 

Mt Albert Optometrists, Occhiali Optometrists, 

Otahuhu Eyecare, Ross Gordon Optometrists, 

Parker & Co, the Paterson Burn Group, Stenersen 

Kain Opticians, Visique Frith & Laird Optometrists, 

Visique Hawkins and Westgate Optometrists. 

The foundation has kicked off the new year with 

the same optimism and passion, hoping to help 

even more Kiwi kids this year, says Setty. Finlayson 

Park School in South Auckland was first up, 

resulting in more than 600 students screened. The 

next screening is due in Christchurch on 12 May. 

New study starts 

A Massey University study to investigate 

the impact of poor vision on the 

education potential of low decile primary 

school students is currently underway. 

The research was initiated after the 

Essilor Vision Foundation low decile school 

screening project found up to one-inthree 

students had an undiagnosed eye 

condition. Similar research in the US 

showed 25% of all children have some 

form of vision problem that can negatively 

impact on their learning. 

The purpose of the New Zealand 

research is to investigate how the 

provision of corrective lenses impacts 

students’ learning, behaviour and 

friendships, said Associate Professor 

Alison Kearney from Massey University 

who’s co-leading the study with lecturer, 

Julia Budd. 

The comprehensive study programme will 

survey students, teachers and family members 

and compare the academic record of students 

before their eye conditions were identified with 

improvements once corrective lenses were 

provided by the foundation, said A/Prof Kearney. 

She says she hopes the research will raise 

awareness of the significance of vision for 

learning, engagement and social development and 

MP Louisa Wall, patron Essilor Vision Foundation, A/Prof Alison Kearney and Julia 

Budd from Massey University with Kumuda Setty, trustee Essilor Vision Foundation 

and Lois Hawley-Simmonds, vice principal, Rowandale Primary School 

the importance of identifying students with vision 

impairment early and providing the necessary 

corrective intervention. “I believe that the costs 

associated with providing these children with 

corrective lenses would pale in comparison to 

the costs associated with learning and behaviour 

interventions that may be required further down 

the track.” ▀ 

Read how another optometrist is helping her 

local school on p22. 


NZ Optics.half page ad2017.indd 1 

6/04/2017 11:39:05 AM 

Insight from Auckland Eye 

The first Auckland Eye Insight educational 

event for 2017 was held at Orakei Bay in 

Auckland on 4 April. Sponsored by Alcon, 

the event had a good turnout of guests despite 

the stormy weather and torrential rain. Attendees 

enjoyed time to chat with their colleagues, a 

seated meal and engaging presentations from 

Auckland Eye’s Drs Justin Mora, Paul Rosser and 

Sarah Welch. 

Grave concerns 

Working as a tag team, Drs Justin Mora and Paul 

Rosser discussed the complications and treatment 

of thyroid eye disease or Graves’ disease. 

Dr Mora opened by outlining the characteristics 

of thyroid eye disease, reminding the audience 

it affects mostly women in their 30s through to 

their 50s. In males, the disease is usually more 

severe and affects them later in life. Smoking is the 

biggest modifiable risk factor so Dr Mora urges all 

his patients to stop smoking. 

While only a quarter of those with 

hyperthyroidism will develop thyroid eye disease, 

10% of thyroid eye disease patients have normal 

thyroid function, so the two conditions occur in 

parallel, but are not cause and effect. Symptoms 

include proptosis, exposure keratopathy, muscle 

swelling together with double vision, optic nerve 

compromise and glaucoma. 

Optometrists can use the ‘NO SPECS’ acronym to 

help classify the ocular involvement of thyroid eye 

disease from no visual signs to significant vision 

loss due to optic nerve involvement. Investigations 

using CT scans can be useful to identify swollen 

muscles. Management of thyroid eye disease 

includes using selenium supplements (or eating 

brazil nuts!) medications, radiotherapy and surgery 

for the thyroid, and supportive treatments for 

exposure and congestion. 

Dr Rosser then outlined other factors involved in 

thyroid eye disease, including genetic and racial 

factors, and alternative classifications such as the 

VISA system (vision, inflammation, strabismus, 

appearance/exposure). 

He discussed three lines of therapy: oral steroids, 

which give a rapid response in a large proportion 

of patients; radiotherapy, as the second line 

of therapy; and third, surgery. Types of surgery 

include orbital decompression, strabismus, lid 

David Lee, Weng Li Keng and Jacqueline Ling 

retraction and blepharoplasty. While orbital 

recompression surgery is rarely undertaken, Dr 

Rosser gave an interesting pictorial example 

of a young male patient who received orbital 

surgery, which successfully reduced his significant 

monocular proptosis. 

Dr Mora concluded the talk by discussing 

strabismus surgery, commenting that his patients 

must first be ‘patient’ before undertaking this, 

explaining their condition must have been 

stable and quiet for at least six months before 

he will operate. He gave an example of a patient 

with significant double vision, who had a large 

exotropia, hypertropia and associated cyclotropia. 

Following surgery, Hess testing showed that his 

double vision was immediately alleviated. 

Drs Mora and Rosser closed their session 

by discussing thyroid eye disease associated 

glaucoma and examples of eyelid surgery. 

In the nick of time 

Dr Philip Polkinghorne kindly stepped up to start 

Dr Sarah Welch’s talk on ‘retinal detachment, 

flashes and floaters’ as Dr Welch was held up, 

somewhat ironically, by some complicated retinal 

detachment surgery. However, no sooner had Dr 

Polkinghorne introduced himself, than a dedicated 

Dr Welch raced into the room and was handed the 

baton. 

Dr Welch outlined the different types of retinal 

detachments and the level of urgency for each. 

The common horse shoe tear, for example, will 

usually be treated with laser the next day, while an 

Auckland Eye’s Drs Philip Polkinghorne, Paul Rosser, Justin Mora 

and Stephen Best 

atrophic retinal hole, such as those associated with 

lattice degeneration, is treated with less urgency. 

She shared some very clear retinal photography to 

illustrate the different types of retinal tears, noting 

that 15-20% of retinal tears progress to retinal 

detachment, with laser treatment reducing the risk 

to a mere 1-2%. Rhegmatogenous detachments 

were further classified to macula-on and maculaoff, 

with the latter giving significantly reduced 

vision. Macula-on detachments are treated within 

24 hours, while macular-off detachments are 

treated within one week. 

Treatment options have historically included 

scleral buckles, but today treatment usually 

includes vitrectomy, with techniques vastly 

improved though new technology and smaller 

gauge ports. 

Dr Welch concluded her talk by discussing retinal 

detachment complications. She showed images of 

proliferative vitreoretinopathy, which occurs when 

the retina has been detached for some time and 

causes the flexible nature of the retina to be lost. 

Scar tissue forms over the retina making it difficult 

to operate on – the exact condition that Dr Welch 

was operating on before she gave her talk. 

Next Insight 

Many braved the weather to join Auckland Eye’s Insight seminar at Auckland’s Orakei Bay venue 

Janice Yeoman, Auckland Eye CEO Deb Boyd and Amanda Snedden 

Auckland Eye’s next educational Insight event will 

be held in Takapuna on 16 May at Auckland Eye 

North Shore, 3 Fred Thomas Dr, Takapuna from 

5.30-7.30pm, exclusively for optometrists based 

north of the harbour bridge. Another general 

Insight evening will take place later in the year on 

17 October. ▀ 

Auckland Eye 

We love changing lives 

A full range of ophthalmic services 

with world-renowned specialists 

NOW OPEN: 

Clinic and 

Surgical Suite 

in TAKAPUNA 

0800 AKL EYES | www.aucklandeye.co.nz 



17

Facing the feedback 

Dealing with online customer reviews is a matter of when, not if. So how 

should you handle the growing world of online reviews? Cait Sykes asked 

those in the know to share their secrets. 

If you’re thinking about checking out a new 

restaurant, it’s likely you’ll jump online to scan 

the reviews before making your reservation. 

Likewise, with hotels. With so many options to 

choose from, reading a few reviews online from 

past customers is now commonplace before 

sealing the deal with many service providers. 

The phenomenon of customers writing and 

posting reviews of products and services online 

may currently be more pervasive in some sectors, 

such as accommodation and hospitality, but 

Wendy Thompson, founder and CEO of social 

media marketing firm Socialites, says if your 

business is not currently engaging with online 

customer reviews, it’s a matter of when, not if. 

“That applies to every single business in the 

world, and eyecare and eye health businesses 

are not immune to this. At one stage, it will 

happen, so it’s a matter of understanding that it 

will happen and being prepared and comfortable 

with that idea.” 

Thompson points to several factors driving 

the growth in online customer reviewing – 

primarily that New Zealanders are spending 

more time online and on mobile devices. Every 

day, for example, around 2.7 million Kiwis are 

on Facebook and more than a million are on 

Instagram, she says. 

“And people are spending a lot of time on 

mobiles; around two hours a day is the average 

in New Zealand, so it’s massive, and half an hour 

of that is spent either on Facebook or Instagram… 

Social media has become the new water cooler. 

It’s where people like to hang out and talk about 

stuff, including talking about their positive and 

negative experiences with businesses.” 

Another reason Thompson cites for the rise of 

online reviews, particularly those with a negative 

bent, is that customers often find they’ll get a 

better response from a business than if they 

approach them via traditional methods, such as 

a phone call. 

“That’s because [social media] is public and it 

does need to be addressed. It does put a bit more 

power back in the customer’s hand.” 

Danielle Ross, director and principal 

optometrist at optometry practice Ocula 

in Wanaka and Queenstown, is one Kiwi 

optometrist who’s embracing the advent of 

online customer reviews. 

“We didn’t used to put a lot of weight on them, 

but now we’ve seen how powerful they can 

be, we’re driving them a lot more. And on the 

other side, I think more generally – as disruptive 

innovations like TripAdvisor become the norm 

– people are becoming more comfortable with 

reviewing online. 

“I’ve always attributed word-of-mouth as 

our single biggest driver of business, so we do 

everything we can to drive that… Because these 

reviews are online and they’re relatively unbiased 

– we’re not telling people what to say, they’re 

saying what they want – they are a part of that 

word-of-mouth push. Testimonials have always 

been quite powerful but now they can be online 

and in a very public forum.” 

Ocula sends out an email to each customer 

around two weeks after their consultation or 

purchase to ask how they found the products or 

services they received. If the customer responds 

positively, the practice sends a standard email 

reply asking them to review the business with 

links to its Facebook and Google Plus pages 

embedded in the message. 

The firm directs customers to review the 

business via those two channels because 

Facebook is the social media platform where 

the majority of Ocula’s clients are active, while 

positive Google Plus reviews are valuable 

because they help boost a business’ search 

rankings, says Ross. However, she notes, reviews 

on the latter site can be more difficult to post, 

particularly if the customer doesn’t have a 

Google Gmail account. 

Ross grew up in the online world, so admits 

engaging with social media might come more 

naturally to her than to those who didn’t. But, 

like Thompson, she says burying your head in the 

sand and ignoring online customer reviews is not 

an option for today’s business owners. 

Positive online reviews can be a crucial 

differentiator when potential customers are 

deciding which firm they’ll try, she says, and they 

can also reinforce to existing customers that 

they’ve made a good choice in their provider. 

Human nature also dictates customers will 

be more motivated to write a review if they 

feel they’ve had a negative experience, which 

is another reason why the business has taken a 

proactive approach to garnering positive reviews, 

says Ross. 

No matter how hard you try, you won’t please 

Tips for handling 

online reviews 

1. Respond to all reviews, positive and negative: “Even if it’s 

just as simple as saying ‘thank you’, it’s about acknowledging 

that someone has taken their time to engage with the 

business,” says Jim Blakeley of Woodward Optical in 

Wellington. 

2. Respond to reviews in a timely manner: “We check Facebook 

every day, so we do expect to acknowledge all reviews within 

a day. Some of our reviews are just a star rating, so those ones 

we tend to just ‘like’, but if they’ve written a personal comment 

or review we definitely give them a personal response in 

writing as well,” says Anna Megaffin of Bell Neuhauser 

Matthews Optometrists. 

3. Acknowledge negative reviews online, but deal with the 

issues raised directly with the customer offline: “For more 

delicate matters and negative reviews, show your willingness 

to make it right with a simple message ‘we would like to 

remedy the situation, please call us’,” advises Robert Springer 

of OptomEdge. 

4. After any negative feedback has been resolved offline, close 

the loop online: “Something that many businesses forget to 

do is once you’ve got any issues sorted you go back to that 

negative comment online and write something like, ‘it was so 

good to talk to you, I’m glad we got that sorted out’ and ideally 

write a few details about how it was sorted. That closes the 

loop publicly,” says Wendy Thompson of Socialites. 


Anna Megaffin: the pros of online reviews outweigh 

the cons 

Danielle Ross, embracing the power of online reviews Wendy Thompson: “social media, the new water cooler” Robert Springer: “Practices should establish patient 

feedback processes” 

everyone all of the time and, although the firm is 

yet to receive a negative review, Ross says having 

a solid track record of positive reviews would 

mitigate the impact of a negative review should 

it occur. 

Anna Megaffin is an optometrist and 

part-owner at Hamilton-based practice Bell 

Neuhauser Matthews Optometrists, which has 

a number of customer reviews posted on its 

Facebook page. 

While occasionally a staff member might 

mention to a customer on the shop floor who’s 

had a positive experience that they could write a 

review on the practice’s Facebook page, Megaffin 

says almost all the company’s reviews are posted 

without any prompting. 

When assessing the broader pros and cons of 

online reviews, Megaffin sees more of the former 

than the latter. She echoes Ross’s view that 

positive reviews can influence potential clients 

to choose a business. They also offer potential 

customers greater insights into the business and 

the service they’re likely to receive before they 

walk in the door. 

At the time of writing, Bell Neuhauser 

Matthews Optometrists had an average fivestar 

customer review rating (the highest) on 

its Facebook page, with no negative reviews. 

However, Megaffin says the occasional negative 

review can also have a positive spin. 

“When I look at a business’ Facebook page 

and I see they have a negative review among 

mostly good reviews, I’m not looking so much 

at the content of the negative review itself, 

but more at the way the company responds. If 

they acknowledge the review respectfully and 

show evidence that they’re trying to remedy the 

situation, then I think that can turn a potentially 

negative situation for a business into a positive. 

It’s all in the way you handle it.” 

Jim Blakeley, dispensing optician and codirector 

of Woodward Optical in Wellington, 

also broadly views online customer reviews in a 

positive light. 

“With positive reviews it reinforces that the 

business must be doing something right, and 

a bad review gives a business an opportunity 

to find out what’s going wrong. It’s hard to 

objectively criticise what you do, and if you don’t 

know something is wrong, you can’t put it right.” 

Blakeley says younger people seem to place 

greater weight on customer reviews when 

choosing a potential provider for the goods 

and services they’re after, as do those whose 

purchasing decisions are driven more by service 

than price. 

Woodward Optical also has an average fivestar 

rating from customers reviewing it on the 

company’s Facebook page, however Blakeley says 

the number of customer reviews the company 

has received online represents only a small 

fraction of its customer base. 

Robert Springer, technical director at 

optical industry practice marketing specialist 

OptomEdge, says that while online review sites 

force greater transparency, it’s often only a few 

reviews that dominate the overall online profile 

of a practice. 

“Therefore we advocate proactive measures 

for practices to implement patient satisfaction 

processes, and ensure that a larger and more 

representative number of their patients are able 

to share their experience and provide a more true 

reflection of the service that is being delivered. 

“In general, our recommendation for 

all practices is to have a patient feedback 

mechanism established within the practice as 

a standard process through a post-visit survey, 

which can be easily done via SMS or email. This is 

the primary mechanism to capture the patient’s 

feedback, and can often catch any issues before 

they enter the public domain and are shared via 

word-of-mouth or online.” 

One optometry practice owner spoken to for 

this story who didn’t wish to be named talked 

about the potential pitfalls posed by fake or 

malicious reviews. While he hadn’t heard of 

specific instances of this occurring among 

optometry businesses in New Zealand, he said he 

and his staff were cognisant that this did occur 

more broadly in the world of online reviewing. 

Wendy Thompson of Socialites, however, says 

such instances are rare. “And if it does come up 

there are steps you can take to address it. [In the 

case of a false, malicious review] get the person 

to remove it or call them out on it – for example, 

‘I totally understand your review, but I also 

happen to know you’re married to one of our key 

competitors, so please stop it’. You just have to 

handle things as you would personally.” 

Ultimately, Thompson sees few downsides for 

businesses when dealing with online reviews. 

“As a business you should always be looking for 

things you can improve on, and things you’re 

doing well that you can talk about.” 

“Personally I think every bad customer review is 

gold to a business because it gives you a chance 

to address a problem, handle it really well and 

make yourself a stronger business…. And if you’re 

worried about what people are going to say 

about you online then you’ve probably got bigger 

problems to sort out in your company.” 

Ophthalmologists: 

a different view 

While there are currently no specific regulations, restrictions or guidelines around 

optometrists and opticians engaging with online reviews as part of their practice 

marketing (while obviously still adhering to broader professional ethical and marketing 

standards), the situation differs for ophthalmologists. President of the Royal Australian 

and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), Associate Professor Mark Daniell, 

responds on the issue of online reviews. 

What is RANZCO’s stance on online reviews? 

RANZCO does not encourage involvement in online forums by its members and urges all 

members to exercise appropriate caution when considering any public comments. 

We understand that patient feedback is a cornerstone in the development and evaluation 

of appropriate treatment, which makes online forums, at least theoretically, a potentially 

rich resource. However, online forums can be problematic in the context of medicine, 

particularly in relation to online reviews. This is because posts are often submitted 

anonymously and can have the potential of being misconstrued or taken out of context. 

There are a number of relevant factors that impact on how ophthalmologists, as doctors, 

operate their businesses. This includes: 

• Ophthalmologists are not permitted to discuss individual cases given appropriate 

confidentiality and privacy restrictions 

• Ophthalmologists are bound by advertising rules, which pose a challenge when 

participating in online forums 

• Ophthalmology is a complex medical specialty, which does not lend itself well to typical 

online discussion formats 

• Ophthalmologists practise evidence-based medicine, which requires appropriate 

observations and reliable data (not opinions) 

• Genuine patient grievances and complaints cannot be appropriately investigated in 

online forums 

What advice would you give members about online reviews? 

Ophthalmologists, like other medical specialists, use online resources on a daily basis. 

RANZCO and others in the eye healthcare sector also use social media and other online 

forums to provide general education content to build community awareness around eye 

health. The use of and engagement with online forums in order to deliver real patient 

outcomes is, however, questionable. RANZCO members are mindful of the pitfalls 

associated with online forums and, as such, participation in the online forum space is 

rightly limited. ▀ 

SHOW 

silmoparis.com 



19

with 

Prof Charles McGhee 

& A/Prof Dipika Patel 

Series Editors 

Ocular manifestations of 

systemic neurological disease 

Introduction 

DR HANNAH KERSTEN* 

Ophthalmic findings, particularly abnormalities of 

the optic nerve and retina, are common features 

of a number of neurodegenerative disorders. In 

addition to being a significant cause of disability in 

affected patients, anterior visual system changes 

can be a clue to diagnosis. 

Multiple sclerosis 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory 

autoimmune neurodegenerative disorder that 

affects the brain and spinal cord 1 . Four subgroups 

of MS are currently recognised: clinically isolated 

syndrome, relapsing remitting MS, primary 

progressive MS, secondary progressive MS 2 . Vision 

loss is an important cause of reduced quality of 

life in MS and it has been well-established that the 

anterior visual pathway is affected. Post-mortem 

studies show optic nerve lesions in 94-99% of 

patients with MS 3 . 

For at least 15-20% of individuals with MS, optic 

neuritis (immune-mediated inflammation of the 

optic nerve) is the initial presentation of the disease 

and up to 80% of MS patients will develop visual 

impairment of some kind during the course of 

the disease 4 . In MS optic neuritis, the severity of 

vision loss is highly variable, ranging from mild to 

devastating. However, most patients will experience 

good functional recovery 5 . 

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessment 

is routinely used in the evaluation of the anterior 

visual pathway in patients with MS, both with and 

without a history of optic neuritis. Thinning of the 

retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), compared to healthy 

age-matched controls, has been documented in 

a large number of studies. The most predictable 

finding is thinning of the temporal quadrant of 

the peripapillary RNFL 6,7 . Additionally, thinning of 

retinal layers in the macular region, including the 

RNFL, ganglion cell, inner plexiform, outer nuclear 

and photoreceptor layers has been observed 8 . Eyes 

with a history of optic neuritis have the greatest 

reduction in RNFL (and other retinal layer) thickness. 

It is, however, important to note that patients with 

MS and no history of optic neuritis also have reduced 

peripapillary RNFL and macular layer thickness values 

compared with controls 9 (see Fig 1). 

OCT examination can also be useful in detecting 

other retinal changes associated with MS. 

Microcystic macular oedema can be visualised 

on OCT scans in approximately 5-10% of patients 

with MS 10 . These scans show small cysts which 

predominate in the inner nuclear layer at the 

macula (Fig 2). The microcysts can be bilateral, but 

more commonly occur in one eye. In patients with 

microcystic macular oedema, the inner nuclear layer 

is significantly thicker. Microcystic macular changes 

have been found to predict recurrence of optic 

neuritis and are associated with increasing disease 

severity and poorer visual acuity 11 . Microcystic 

macular oedema is not unique to MS and has been 

observed in a number of other conditions including 

glaucoma, neuromyelitis optica, dominant optic 

atrophy and Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy 12 . 

Fig 2. Microcystic macular oedema in a patient with multiple sclerosis and 

a history of optic neuritis. The microcysts can be seen (yellow arrow) at 

the level of the inner nuclear layer. Image from Kaufhold et al 13 

Fingolimod is an immune-modulating agent 

used in the treatment of relapsing remitting 

MS. Approximately 0.5% of patients taking this 

medication will develop cystic macular oedema (Fig 

3). Fingolimod-associated macular oedema is more 

likely to occur in patients on a higher daily dose 14 . 

The majority of cases occur within four months 

of treatment initiation. The diagnosis is based on 

changes in visual acuity, fundus examination and 

OCT assessment. It is recommended that all patients 

commencing fingolimod therapy should have a 

baseline ophthalmic assessment and macular OCT 

scan, with a repeat assessment at six months and 

then annual reviews thereafter 14 . Patients with 

uveitis or diabetes mellitus have an increased risk 

of fingolimod-associated macular oedema. Visual 

acuity and macular oedema generally improve with 

cessation of therapy 14 . 

Fig 3. Fingolimod associated macular oedema in the right eye of a 

51-year-old female with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Visual 

acuity at presentation (two weeks following treatment initiation) was 

6/30, and improved to 6/6 two months following cessation of fingolimod 

therapy. The left eye also had evidence of macular oedema secondary to 

fingolimod. Image courtesy of Dr Narme Deva 

A number of other ocular abnormalities are 

also associated with MS, including reduced 

Fig 1. Retinal nerve fibre layer and ganglion cell complex thinning in a 39-year-old male patient with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and a 

history of optic neuritis in the left eye. Note the gross retinal nerve fibre layer and ganglion cell complex thinning in the left eye and less marked, but 

still significant, thinning of the retinal layers in the right eye. The patient had not had a previous episode of optic neuritis in the right eye 

contrast sensitivity, colour vision defects, uveitis 

(particularly intermediate uveitis and periphlebitis) 

and ocular motor defects (including internuclear 

ophthalmoplegia, saccadic abnormalities and 

nystagmus) 15 . 

Alzheimer’s disease 

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive 

neurodegenerative disease affecting the brain, and is 

the most common cause of dementia in the elderly 

population. Symptom onset is usually after 65 years 

of age 16 . Signs of visual dysfunction, including loss 

of best-corrected visual acuity, reduced contrast 

sensitivity, ocular motility abnormalities and colour 

vision defects are common in patients with AD, and 

complaints related to vision can be reported early in 

the disease process 17 . 

RNFL loss was first visualised in AD using 

red-free fundus photography. More recently 

advances in ocular imaging, including scanning 

laser ophthalmoscopy and, particularly, OCT, have 

enabled the quantitative analysis of optic nerve 

and retinal changes. Compared with age-matched 

controls, individuals with AD have greater cup-todisc 

ratios and decreased neuro-retinal rim area 18 . 

There is now a large body of literature 

concerning retinal changes in AD measured with 

OCT. Peripapillary RNFL thinning, compared 

with healthy controls, is a unifying finding 

across studies, although there is variability in 

the degree and pattern of RNFL loss in patients 

with AD. The superior and inferior quadrants are 

most frequently affected 19 . It is interesting to 

note the predilection for inferior and superior 

RNFL thinning is also a feature of glaucoma, 

the most common optic neuropathy. It has 

been reported that the incidence of glaucoma 

is higher in patients with AD and that if both 

AD and glaucoma are present in the same 

individual, there is more rapid progression of 

optic nerve head damage and corresponding 

visual function 20 . The relationship between 

glaucoma and AD is not fully understood. In 

addition to peripapillary RNFL thinning, macular 

layer thinning has also been reported, with the 

inner retinal layers (RNFL, ganglion cell layer) 

being preferentially affected. Although some 

authors have reported a significant correlation 

between RNFL thinning and cognitive dysfunction 

in patients with AD 21 , OCT assessment is not used 

in the routine assessment these patients. 

Parkinson’s disease 

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common 

neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterised by loss 

of dopaminergic neurons, predominantly from the 

basal ganglia of the brain. A broad range of motor 

and non-motor ocular changes are associated with 

PD 22 . Reduced visual acuity, loss of contrast sensitivity 

and colour vision defects are prevalent in PD 23 . 

Dopamine plays an important role in retinal function 

as the retina contains dopaminergic neurons. These 

neurons modulate ganglion cell receptive fields to 

provide colour vision and spatial contrast sensitivity 24 . 

A number of studies have found reduced 

peripapillary RNFL and macular layer thickness, 

compared with age-matched controls, at specific 

sites in PD cohorts. However, the results are highly 

variable and some investigators found no significant 

difference between patients and controls 25 . There is 

not a clear relationship between either peripapillary 

RNFL or macular findings and PD severity. 

Abnormalities of the efferent visual system, 

particularly poor saccadic performance, are also 

frequently reported. Spontaneous blink rate is 

significantly reduced and this is more marked 

in advanced disease 26 . Ophthalmic involvement 

extends to the ocular surface; dry eye symptoms 

and signs suggestive of ocular surface irritation are 

prevalent in patients with PD, including those who 

are in the early stages of the disease 27 . The cause 

of these ocular surface changes is thought to be 

due to the disease itself and the medical therapies 

used to treat the condition (dopamine therapy and 

psychiatric mediation used in the treatment of the 

disease can lead to symptoms of dry eye) 27 . ▀ 

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3. Toussaint D, Perier O, Verstappen A, Bervoets S. 

Clinicopathological study of the visual pathways, eyes, and 

cerebral hemispheres in 32 cases of disseminated sclerosis. 

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4. Di Maggio G, Santangelo R, Guerrieri S, et al. Optical 

coherence tomography and visual evoked potentials: which 

is more sensitive in multiple sclerosis? Multiple Sclerosis. 

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5. Petzold A, de Boer JF, Schippling S, et al. Optical coherence 

tomography in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and 

meta-analysis. Lancet neurol. 2010;9(9):921-932. 

6. Albrecht P, Balk L, Oberwahrenbrock T, Petzold A, Paul F. 

Retinal segmentation to demonstrate hyperplasia in ataxia 

of Charlevoix-Saguenay: critique on study methodology and 

results. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55(8):4728. 

7. Klistorner A, Sriram P, Vootakuru N, et al. Axonal loss of 

retinal neurons in multiple sclerosis associated with optic 

radiation lesions. Neurology. 2014;82(24):2165-2172. 

8. Garcia-Martin E, Polo V, Larrosa JM, et al. Retinal layer 

segmentation in patients with multiple sclerosis 

using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. 

Ophthalmology. 2014;121(2):573-579. 

9. Walter SD, Ishikawa H, Galetta KM, et al. Ganglion cell 

loss in relation to visual disability in multiple sclerosis. 

Ophthalmology. 2012;119(6):1250-1257. 

10. Burggraaff MC, Trieu J, de Vries-Knoppert WA, Balk L, 

Petzold A. The clinical spectrum of microcystic macular 

edema. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55(2):952-961. 

11. Saidha S, Sotirchos ES, Ibrahim MA, et al. Microcystic 

macular oedema, thickness of the inner nuclear layer of the 

retina, and disease characteristics in multiple sclerosis: a 

retrospective study. Lancet neurol. 2012;11(11):963-972. 

12. Gelfand JM, Cree BA, Nolan R, Arnow S, Green AJ. 

Microcystic inner nuclear layer abnormalities and 

neuromyelitis optica. JAMA Neurology. 2013;70(5):629-633. 

13. Kaufhold F, Zimmermann H, Schneider E, et al. Optic 

neuritis is associated with inner nuclear layer thickening 

and microcystic macular edema independently of multiple 

sclerosis. PLoS ONE [Electronic Resource]. 2013;8(8):e71145. 

14. Jain N, Bhatti MT. Fingolimod-associated macular edema: 

incidence, detection, and management. Neurology. 

2012;78(9):672-680. 

15. Chen L, Gordon LK. Ocular manifestations of multiple 

sclerosis. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2005;16(5):315-320. 

16. Goedert M, Spillantini MG. A century of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Science. 2006;314(5800):777-781. 

17. Sadun AA, Borchert M, DeVita E, Hinton DR, Bassi CJ. 

Assessment of visual impairment in patients with 

Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 

1987;104(2):113-120. 

18. Danesh-Meyer HVF, Birch HF, Ku JYFM, Carroll SM, Gamble 

GM. Reduction of optic nerve fibers in patients with 

Alzheimer disease identified by laser imaging. Neurology. 

2006;67(10):1852-1854. 

19. Berisha F, Feke GT, Trempe CL, McMeel JW, Schepens CL. 

Retinal abnormalities in early Alzheimer’s disease. Invest 

Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007;48(5):2285-2289. 

20. Bayer AU, Ferrari F. Severe progression of glaucomatous 

optic neuropathy in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Eye. 

2002;16(2):209-212. 

21. Ascaso FJ, Cruz N, Modrego PJ, et al. Retinal alterations in 

mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: an 

optical coherence tomography study. Journal of Neurology. 

2014;261(8):1522-1530. 

22. Jankovic J. Parkinson’s disease: clinical features and 

diagnosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 

2008;79(4):368-376. 

23. Archibald NK, Clarke MP, Mosimann UP, Burn DJ. Visual 

symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease 

dementia. Movement Disorders. 2011;26(13):2387-2395. 

24. Altintas O, Iseri P, Ozkan B, Caglar Y. Correlation between 

retinal morphological and functional findings and 

clinical severity in Parkinson’s disease. Documenta 

Ophthalmologica. 2008;116(2):137-146. 

25. Bodis-Wollner I, Miri S, Glazman S. Venturing into the noman’s 

land of the retina in Parkinson’s disease. Movement 

Disorders. 2014;29(1):15-22. 

26. Karson CN, LeWitt PA, Calne DB, Wyatt RJ. Blink rates in 

Parkinsonism. Ann Neurol. 1982;12(6):580-583. 

27. Biousse V, Skibell BC, Watts RL, Loupe DN, Drews-Botsch 

C, Newman NJ. Ophthalmologic features of Parkinson’s 

disease. Neurology. 2004;62(2):177-180. 

Dr Hannah Kersten 

About the author 

*Dr Hannah Kersten is a 

therapeutically qualified 

optometrist, currently working 

as a lecturer in the School of 

Optometry and Vision Science, 

and a research fellow in the 

Department of Ophthalmology 

at the University of Auckland. 

She completed her PhD in 2016. 

Her main area of research is the 

role of ophthalmic imaging in 

neurodegenerative disorders. 


Summer student symposium 2017 

BY JAI BREITNAUER 

This year, 17 students presented the 

findings of their summer research projects 

showcasing a diverse range of knowledge 

across the School of Optometry and Vision Science 

and the Department of Ophthalmology at the 

University of Auckland. With just four minutes 

each to share the gist of their achievements, it was 

also a great way to hone those all important public 

speaking skills! 

Hosted by the NZ National Eye Centre on Tuesday 

21st February, head of ophthalmology Professor 

Charles McGhee stepped up as chair offering a 

humorous and encouraging opening message. 

Distinguished Professor Ian Reid and Professor 

Alan Merry, deputy dean and head of the School 

of Medicine respectively, were introduced as the 

‘distinguished’ judges for the evening proceedings, 

while Associate Professor Dipika Patel kept time 

with a handy bell. 

Student supervisors and colleagues crammed the 

lecture theatre in Grafton, making the event read 

like a who’s who of eye health research in New 

Zealand. Professor Steven Dakin, Dr Ehsan Vaghefi, 

Dr James McKelvie and Associate Professor Jennifer 

Craig were just a few familiar faces. Also noted 

were the summer projects’ sponsors: Eye Institute, 

the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, 

the New Zealand Association of Optometrists 

Education and Research Fund, the New Zealand 

Association of Optometrists, the Tom Cat Trust, 

The Ombler Trust, the Betty Bennett Trust and the 

School of Optometry and Vision Science. 

The research projects on offer ranged from Don 

Laing’s look at the management and diagnosis of 

eye conditions in emergency medicine to Chloe 

Li’s project around facial recognition. Charisse Kuo 

offered an insightful overview of her work around 

the epithelium in diseased corneas, while Louisa 

Howe took us into the world of physics, with a 

look at fluid dynamics and lens structural changes 

in the aging eye. Ultimately, the judges admitted 

every project was a winner and they found it 

exceptionally hard to choose the three prize 

recipients, though they eventually agreed on three 

who they said had that ‘slight edge’. 

1st Prize – Muthana Noori 

Overall winner Muthana Noori, from the School 

of Optometry and Vision Science, looked at ‘The 

effect of feedback on measures of visual acuity 

(VA)’. The study looked at two different procedures 

for measuring VA; the staircase method and 

methods of descending limits. The descending 

method, where the letters on the chart decrease 

in size until the patient cannot read them, is 

considered the quicker of the two methods. In 

the staircase method, the letter sizes may go up 

or down in cycles depending on the participant’s 

response. This may take longer, but it is considered 

more accurate. 

Noori also looked at two electronic charts; 

the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study 

(ETDRS) chart and the Amblyopia Treatment Study 

(ATS-HOTV) chart. The charts and procedures 

were compared with each other under three 

different feedback conditions. The first condition 

was no feedback, where participants were not 

told anything in regards to their responses in 

reading the acuity charts; the second was minimal 

feedback, where participants were only told if their 

response was correct or incorrect; while the third 

was maximum feedback, where participants were 

told the correct letter on the chart if their response 

was incorrect. 

Results showed there was no significant 

difference between the two different procedures or 

between the two charts used to measure VA. Noori 

found considerable correlation between these 

methods and there was no significant change in VA 

Lize Angelo, Professor Colin Green and Sarah Bould 

measures over time 

using these methods. 

He also found there 

was no difference 

between the minimal 

and no feedback 

conditions. However, 

when participants 

were provided with 

maximum feedback 

and corrected 

when they missed 

a letter, there was a 

significant difference 

in the average VA 

measured. This 

significant difference 

was consistent across 

all different methods 

and was estimated 

to be about a 

0.0425 logMAR 

point increase on 

the logMAR scale, 

which translates to 

approximately half 

a line on the letter 

chart. There was 

also a statistically 

significant 

difference in 

VA scores when 

comparing minimal 

and maximum 

feedback conditions, 

with a 0.049 logMAR 

point improvement 

on the chart. 

Noori suggested 

the study could 

be expanded in 

the future to fully 

investigate the effects on real patients in a clinical 

setting and was useful in showing the importance 

of being consistent and systematic in measuring VA. 

2nd Prize – William Cook 

Ophthalmology student William Cook’s project 

was entitled ‘Reproducing and comparability of 

wavefront sensing devices’. He opened by saying 

his research wasn’t just optometry – it was rocket 

science. The more complicated higher order 

aberration Cook was referring to was, in fact, being 

studied by the military and NASA to ensure pilots 

had optimum visual capabilities. 

In his project, Cook used four machines – the 

Abbott iDesign, the Nidek OPD-scan III, the Ziemer 

Galilei G2 and the Bausch+Lomb Zywave – to 

scan 23 eyes under similar, but not reproducibly 

identical conditions (due to factors beyond his 

control) to measure spherical aberration to see 

what statistical differences occurred between the 

machines and whether that mattered. 

In conclusion, Cook said even a 10th of a 

micron could make a difference – and some of 

the differentials were much bigger than that. If 

you performed laser surgery using one machine, 

having measured on another, you could have 

a clinically different outcome, he said, as the 

machines, despite being designed for the same 

purpose, are not interchangeable. 

3rd Prize – Aimee Aitkin 

Head of ophthalmology Professor Charles McGhee with the summer project students 

Prize winners’ Muthana Noori, William Cook and Aimee Aitkin 

This project may have come in third but it 

was definitely a talking point in the atrium 

afterwards. Aimee Aitkin looked at the ‘Optical 

plasticity of the jumping spider’. These types of 

spiders – T. planiceps – jump on to their prey; a 

finding Aitkin was also able to confirm for the 

first time in relation to the New Zealand variety. 

Jumping spiders have four functional cameratype 

eyes, explained Aitkin. Two 

of these are high acuity principal 

eyes. They have a long focal 

length and a narrow field of 

view, with a layered retina. Other 

studies have found that jumping 

spiders accurately hit their mark 

under green light, but fall short 

of their prize – a fruit fly, in this 

case – under red light. Aitkin 

hoped to discover if the spider, 

exposed to red light conditions 

for an extended period, would 

adjust their jump to get the fruit 

fly – and if so, was this due to 

optical plasticity or changes in 

the brain? 

She undertook two 

experiments: the first was to 

replicate previous experiments 

and confirm jumping spiders 

Professors Alan Merry and Steven Dakin 

fell short of their target under red light; while the 

second was to see if the spiders can adapt to red 

light. Aitkin left the spiders in constant red light 

for seven days – the audience was assured the 

spiders were well fed! On retesting the spiders, she 

LEAVE A LEGACY 

OF VISUAL FREEDOM. 

TECNIS ® 

PRESBYOPIA-CORRECTING IOLs 

noticed a significant reduction in the jump error, 

suggesting the spiders can adapt either through 

ocular plasticity or learned behaviour. More 

research is required to confirm if this behavioural 

change is ocular or brain led. ▀ 

TECNIS is a trademark owned by or licensed to Abbott Laboratories, its subsidiaries or affiliates. All other trademarks are the intellectual property of their respective owners. 

AMO Australia Pty. Limited. Level 3, 299 Lane Cove Road, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113. AMO Australia Pty. Limited (Incorporated in Australia) PO Box 401, Shortland Street, Auckland, 1140. 

© 2017 Abbott Medical Optics Inc. | www.vision.abbott | PP2017CT0286 

AMO20530 Tecnis PCIOLs Adv_JJ_A4_FP.indd 1 



31/3/17 5:12 pm 

21

Focus on 

Eye Research 

Should patients stop taking 

glucosamine and brush their teeth? 

EFFECT OF GLUCOSAMINE ON INTRAOCULAR 

PRESSURE: A RANDOMISED CLINICAL TRIAL. 

Esfandiari H, et al 

Eye 2016; available online 21/10/2016. 

Glucosamine is a commonly-used, over-thecounter 

supplement used to treat osteoarthritis. 

It is an amino monosaccaride and is a component 

of glycosaminoglycans found in cartilage. 

Glycosaminoglycans also contribute to the 

morphological and functional characteristics of 

the trabecular meshwork. Because it is a substance 

found naturally in cartilage, it is often assumed 

that it is safe and benign. However, there is some 

evidence that it may increase the intraocular 

pressure (IOP) in some individuals. 

In this randomised, double-masked trial, 88 patients 

with osteoarthritis were randomised to either 

glucosamine sulfate (n=44) or placebo (n=44). 

Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured at baseline, 

month 1, and month 3. Mean IOPs at baseline for 

glucosamine vs. placebo were: 12.4 ±2.7 vs. 13±2.8 

mm Hg (P=0.3), at 1 month 12.6 ±2.7 vs. 12.9 

±2.4 (P=0.89), and at 3 months were 13.5 ±2.3 vs. 

13±2.7 mm Hg (P=0.002). At final follow up, 34.1% 

in glucosamine group compared to 12.5% in the 

placebo group had a rise of ≥2 mm Hg (P=0.02). 

Comment: In this study, there was a statistically 

significant rise in IOP in the group receiving 

glucosamine. Further study is required to determine 

the clinical significance of this finding. In particular, 

is it repeatable in another study population? Does 

the IOP increase with longer duration of treatment? 

Does the IOP return to baseline when glucosamine 

is discontinued? Are these findings repeatable 

in patients with glaucoma? Are there certain 

individuals who are “glucosamine responders” 

similar to steroid responders. While at this point, 

these questions are unanswered, it may be worth 

considering a trial off glucosamine for any patient 

with worsening glaucoma despite treatment if they 

are taking this supplement. In addition, it may be 

worth developing the habit of documenting nonprescription 

supplements that patients are taking in 

addition to their medications. 

PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ORAL HEALTH AND RISK 

OF PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA IN MEN. 

Pasquale LR, et al 

Ophthalmology 2016; 123:2318-27. 

Periodontitis is a common bacteria-induced oral 

inflammation that has been associated with 

systemic endothelial dysfunction. Periodontal 

BY DR JAY MEYER* 

disease has been related to systemic diseases such 

as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid 

arthritis, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. It 

is speculated that bacteria-induced inflammation 

could induce a systemic inflammatory response, 

leading to endothelial dysfunction and impaired 

vasodilation, affecting the blood flow to the optic 

nerve. 

This study evaluated an association between oral 

health history and risk of primary open angle 

glaucoma (POAG). A prospective cohort study, it 

evaluated health professionals (40,536 men) with 

biennial questionnaires regarding their health 

between 1986 and 2012. Participants reported 

number of natural teeth, teeth lost, periodontal 

disease with bone loss and root canal treatments. 

During the follow-up, 485 incident cases of POAG 

were confirmed with medical records. A report of 

tooth loss within the past two years was associated 

with a 1.45-fold increased risk of POAG (95% CI: 

1.06-1.97). The risk was 1.85-fold higher (95% CI: 

1.07-3.18) in those with both tooth loss within 

two years and a previous diagnosis of periodontal 

disease. There was no association between POAG 

and number of natural teeth, periodontal disease or 

root canal treatment. 

Comment: This study relied on participants’ 

self-report of glaucoma, which may introduce 

some reporting bias. While oral health measures 

and glaucoma diagnoses were self-reported, 

the glaucoma diagnoses were confirmed with 

medical records. Nonetheless, the study has 

many strengths, including its prospective design 

over a 26-year period. This interesting study may 

stimulate further research into possible associations 

between systemic inflammation and glaucoma. 

Patients often ask whether there is a dietary or 

lifestyle change they can make to reduce their risk 

of glaucoma or worsening glaucoma. If this study’s 

findings are confirmed, there may come a day when 

we say, “yes, brush and floss your teeth!”. ▀ 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

* Dr Jay Meyer is an anterior 

segment and glaucoma 

specialist and senior 

lecturer at the University of 

Auckland. 

Tackling local problems 

Research shows that as many as 

64% of children experiencing 

learning difficulties have an 

undiagnosed vision problem, says 

behavioural optometrist Danielle Ross, 

co-owner of Ocula in Queenstown and 

Wanaka. 

Ross is working with local primary 

schools to help children overcome 

learning and behavioural challenges 

and is spreading the word among local 

media that getting kids’ eyes tested is 

key to fixing many behavioural problems. 

“Vision is critical to learning and is the 

most dominant system for getting 

information. It is responsible for 80% of 

our information intake,” she says. 

In addition to checking the eyesight, a 

behavioural optometrist considers how the two 

eyes work together as a team and how the brain 

makes sense of what is seen, she says. “When 

needed, vision therapy helps re-wire and re-teach 

visual pathways and visual patterns using a 

variety of techniques over a 12-16-week course of 

treatment.” In some cases, when a fully-integrated 

approach is required, Ross also works as part 

of a team with speech-language therapists, 

occupational therapists and educational 

psychologists to solve the problem. 

Teacher Nicole Fawcett, Piper McChlery, Danielle Ross, special education needs 

coordinator Shirley Forrest and Kobus Delport 

Ross says her services have been well received by 

local primary schools. Arrowtown School special 

education needs coordinator Shirley Forrest says 

having an easily-accessible specialist that teachers 

can refer parents to is helpful. “It is wonderful that 

we now have a behavioural optometrist working 

in this area who we can refer parents to if we have 

concerns,” she says. ▀ 

For more about tackling Kiwi kids’ vision 

problems, see the Essilor Vision Foundation story 

on p16 

BOOK REVIEW: 

Cornea, 4th edition, 

by Mark J Mannis, MD, FACS and Edward J Holland, 

MD. Published by Elsevier, 2017. 

REVIEWED BY PROFESSOR CHARLES MCGHEE * 

I approached the fourth edition of Cornea, 

edited by Mark J Mannis and Edward J Holland, 

with enthusiasm since previous editions have 

been an excellent staple of my bookshelf, and 

the ophthalmology department library, for two 

decades. 

Cornea is an exceedingly comprehensive 

textbook, encompassing the entire breadth of 

anterior segment diseases and the expanding 

portfolio of surgical techniques that have become 

standard in the last decade. This new edition 

comes some six years after the publication of the 

last edition and offers a myriad of clinical pearls 

displayed over 170 chapters, with a sumptuous 

2,300 illustrations and 60 videos. Additionally, 

by using a personal code supplied in the cover, 

the owner of the publication has access to the 

complete contents and illustrations online at the 

Expert Consult ebook website. 

Originally launched as three volumes of text 

with a fourth volume atlas, the publication is now 

in two, more manageable, volumes: the first on 

“Fundamentals, Diagnosis and Management”, 

and the second on “Surgery of the Cornea and 

Conjunctiva” with colour illustrations throughout. 

The volumes are robust in red covers with black 

spines and the quality of the paper and print 

is superb, with easy to read text, regular tables 

and key highlights emphasised. This edition 

also features an additional 20 chapters covering 

the latest surgical advances in the field, such as 

Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty 

(DMEK), endothelial cell transplantation, collagen 

cross-linking, SMILE and keratoprosthesis 

implantation. Usefully this new edition also 

showcases “key point” overviews at the beginning 

of each chapter for easy access to the crucial 

information contained within the text. 

Approaching 2000 pages, this is not a 

publication one reads from cover to cover (unless 

you are currently completing a Corneal Fellowship 

– then it is an absolute must-read) but rather 

one that is easy for the corneal specialist or 

general ophthalmologist to dip into for a quick 

consultation in relation to a presenting case or to 

consume a few chapters at leisure to consolidate 

VOSO update 

Last year VOSO had three trips to the Pacific 

– Nukalofa inTonga, Savai’i in Samoa and 

Taveuni in Fiji. 

VOSO volunteers undertook 100 surgeries in 

Tonga and Fiji with most of the surgical cases 

being cataract. Around 230 people were examined 

in ophthalmology clinics and more than 500 in 

optometry clinics. In Samoa, screening was done 

for the Fred Hollows Foundation, whose volunteers 

operated the following week. In total, VOSO 

distributed about 850 pairs of glasses and donated 

further recycled frames for glazing in Samoa. VOSO 

worked alongside local teams, organising training 

and offering ongoing collegial support to the New 

Zealand-trained staff based there. 

Board changes 

Dr Andrew Riley is the new president of VOSO. 

Andrew has been a trustee for some time, has 

led many trips to Tonga and is the key coordinator 

for surgical supplies for the region. 

This year, with money raised at Merediths’ Dine 

by Donation dinner, Andrew has organised an 

emergency surgical kit that will travel with the 

lead ophthalmologist on each trip, as well as the 

surgical supplies for all three trips. 

Andrew says he’s looking forward to continuing 

VOSO’s good work and building stronger 

relationships in the Pacific. He will work closely 

with myself, as VOSO secretary, and outgoing 

president Richard Johnson whilst he establishes 

himself in the role. Richard has been the president 

for 10 years and they are big shoes to fill! 

On standing down, Richard said, “It has been 

an enjoyable and rewarding 10 years as chair of 

VOSO, but I feel it is now time to hand over the 

reins. I am still looking forward to being involved 

in VOSO, both as a trustee and on the ground in 

trips to the islands. I’d also like to thank all the 

other trustees and, in particular, the co-ordinators 

for each of the trips for all the planning that goes 

into running them.” 

BY KYLIE DREAVER* 

knowledge in a particular area. The chapters 

in the book are written by more than 200 

international experts and are clearly presented 

in a succinct and logical manner. In keeping 

with previous editions, the book has kept a clear 

clinical focus with high-quality illustrations 

and exceptional, sometimes unique, clinical 

photographs. The series now also showcases a 

range of surgical videos highlighting state-ofthe-art 

surgical techniques, including advanced 

anterior segment and corneal lamellar surgery. 

My only minor reservation, worth noting in 

the era of high-quality video and multimedia 

presentations, is that some of the videos are quite 

short in duration, occasionally poorly edited and 

sometimes without narration. However, this does 

not detract from the overall excellence of the 

publication. 

In summary, the 4th edition of Cornea has 

substantially evolved compared to its predecessor 

and without doubt, in the opinion of this 

reviewer, remains the number one reference 

textbook for corneal specialists and general 

ophthalmologists who regularly encounter 

corneal and external eye disease. It is certainly a 

must-have for training institutions and outshines 

its counterparts in the field. ▀ 

*Professor Charles NJ McGhee PhD DSc FRCS FRCOphth is 

Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland in New 

Zealand and Director of the New Zealand National Eye Centre 

Dr Andrew Riley with a grateful patient in Tonga 

VOSO has three trips planned this year: a twoweek 

trip to Samoa in June; a two-week trip to Fiji 

in July-August; and a week trip to Tonga in late 

September. 

VOSO has identified a need for more 

ophthalmologists to be volunteers, but is keen 

to hear from anyone interested in volunteering. 

To volunteer or to find out more, please visit the 

VOSO website at www.voso.org.nz and/or fill in 

the volunteer form at http://www.voso.org.nz/ 

volunteer-form.html. ▀ 

* Kylie Dreaver has been secretary of VOSO since December 2014 

and is a co-owner of Victoria Street Optometrists in Auckland 


Eye Doctors: Grand Round 

Lorraine Beattie, Theresa Novak, James Park and Dr Penny McCallum 

Tomo Konishi and Alicia Han 

Bruce Watson, Ray Wong, Radiant’s Yvette Beattie and Dennis Oliver 

The first Eye Doctor’s Grand Round took place 

at the Novotel Ellerslie on 29 March with 

more than 70 enthusiastic attendees. 

Cataracts and double vision 

Dr Shuan Dai opened the evening with 

characteristic humour and zeal, talking about what 

causes double vision after cataract surgery and 

how it can be treated. “It’s usual for the patient to 

blame the surgeon, however surgery is rarely the 

cause of diplopia.” He urged optometrists in the 

audience to alert the cataract surgeon if there’s 

a history of previous or existing ocular motility 

abnormalities that may be useful for their surgical 

planning. 

Common causes of diplopia after cataracts 

surgery include: decompensating of existing 

strabismus; age-related neuromulscular changes, 

associated with poor central control of ocular 

balance; and, rarely, iatrogenic injury to the 

eye muscle from sub-Tenon’s anaesthesia. 

By far the most common cause is a sagging 

extraocular muscle, said Dr Dai, which shouldn’t 

be unexpected given most cataract patients 

are over 60. Patients usually present with small 

angle distance esotropia with diplopia, and full 

abduction and eye muscle surgery is usually very 

successful in curing the diplopia in these patients. 

Dr Dai concluded his talk recommending a 

complete ocular motility examination for patients 

with a history of amblyopia or strabismus prior to 

them having cataract surgery. 

Dealing with diabetes 

Dr Andrew Riley took the floor next with an 

interesting overview of diabetes. Some diabetic 

patients will know more about diabetes than we 

do, he said, and we can learn from them even 

though some won’t know or accept they have 

diabetes. 

When he left medical school, there were two 

widely accepted diabetes diagnoses, he said, but 

these days there are many more, and the American 

Diabetes Association has (for the first time since 

2002) recently updated its guidance around 

diabetes diagnosis and treatment. 

Diabetes type 1 is the classic form of the 

condition, usually diagnosed in childhood and 

caused by cell destruction in the pancreas. 

However, there is now also LADA (latent 

autoimmune diabetes in adults) from where 

the loss of insulin production is slower than in 

children. Dr Riley said a 92-year-old patient who 

visited him had been diagnosed with type 1 

diabetes just three months prior to their meeting, 

demonstrating how this autoimmune condition 

can come on at any age for those with the right 

genetic susceptibility. 

Type 2 diabetes, strongly associated with obesity, 

accounts for more than 90% of diagnoses, but a 

new group of type 2 diabetics are emerging who 

do not fit the traditional picture – young, typically 

around 25, and fit and have not responded to 

prescribed medication. These may represent 

MODY’s (maturity onset diabetes of the young) 

where patients have specific genetic problems 

leading to diabetes. Eleven different variants are 

now described and more are likely. 

Much research is being done into the genetics 

of the different types of diabetes, particularly for 

the classic type 1 sufferer, said Dr Riley, and while 

lifestyle changes can help prevent type 2, there is 

also scope for identifying genes and personalising 

medications to help this group as well. 

Vitreomacular traction 

After a short sponsor’s talk from Bausch + Lomb 

representative Yvette Beattie and a break for 

nibbles and wine, Dr Mark Donaldson kicked off 

the second half of the evening with an update 

around vitreomacular traction (VMT). 

He started with 

a case study of a 

74-year-old myopic 

man who presented 

with blurred vision 

and visual acuity 

of 6/12 in August 

2010. By June 2012, 

however, his VA had 

returned to 6/6.6 

with no intervention. 

This spontaneous 

resolution 

of idiopathic 

vitreomacular 

traction is common, 

said Dr Donaldson, 

quoting a relatively 

recent study which 

looked at 168 eyes 

with symptomatic 

vitreomacular traction, 

where 20% resolved spontaneously and only 4% 

needed a vitrectomy. 

A larger UK vitrectomy review in 2016 looked at 

1254 patients with an average age of 72. It found 

that conservative management of vitreomacular 

traction kept the condition stable over two to five 

years, with those in the early vitrectomy group 

reporting worse visual acuity post-surgery, with 

slow improvement over one to two years. Quoting 

another study, Dr Donaldson noted that pneumatic 

vitreolysis, using gas, could result in spontaneous 

resolution of a macular hole. This study looked at 

50 patients and concluded that 86% of them didn’t 

need a full vitrectomy after having pneumatic 

treatment. 

Cornea Society update 

The final speaker of the evening, Dr Penny 

McAllum, provided a review of the 2017 Australian 

and New Zealand Cornea Society meeting in 

Brisbane in February. Research covered at the 

event included studies relating to the importance 

of omega-3 for dry eyes. The overarching medical 

opinion is that omega-3 has a positive impact 

on dry eye symptoms, however, the best source 

of omega-3 is still up for debate. Dr McAllum 

noted some sources of omega-3, such as animal 

products, are also very high in omega-6, which 

we need far less of. Salmon and flaxseeds are the 

best source of omega-3, with krill oil, which also 

contains astaxanthin (see NZ Optics’ April issue) 

possibly showing additional benefits over fish oil. 

Another topic of discussion at the meeting was 

the idea that corneal transplantation should 

be gender matched, said Dr McAllum, referring 

to a UK study that showed female-to-female 

transplants in particular, were most effective. 

However, an Australian Corneal Graft Registry 

review of its data, showed gender matching was 

Dr Penny McAllum 

FRANZCO 

Dr Shuan Dai, Trevor Skinner and Linda Zhang 

inconsequential in Australia. 

The final topic from the 

meeting covered by Dr McAllum 

was corneal endothelial 

transplantation. A common 

intervention for Fuchs’ dystrophy 

is Descemet’s stripping 

endothelial keratoplasty 

(DSAEK), with the next iteration 

of treatment, Descemet’s 

membrane endothelial 

keratoplasty (DMEK) also gaining 

in popularity as techniques 

evolve. 

Dr McAllum noted “the 

exceptionally interesting 

work” being undertaken into 

the injection of proliferated 

endothelial cells into the 

anterior chamber to heal corneal 

endothelial damage. Professor 

Shingeru Kinoshita, from the 

Kyoto Prefectural University 

of Medicine in Japan, is at the 

forefront of developing this new 

technique. 

Dr McAllum closed the evening 

with some images from the 

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in 

Brisbane, where the event was 

held and encouraged everyone 

to visit. 

The next Eye Doctors’ Grand 

Round will be held at Ormiston 

Hospital on 28 June by invitation 

only, given the space constraints. 

The final Grand Round for the 

year will be held at Novotel in 

Green Lane on 8 November. ▀ 

Eye Doctors Grand Rounds 2017 

. Wed 28th June, Ormiston Hospital . No registration fee 

. Wed 8th November, Novotel, Ellerslie . CPD points available 

. www.eyedoctors.co.nz 

ASCOT CLINIC (09) 520 9689 - BOTANY JUNCTION (09) 277 6787 

Dr Shuan Dai 

FRANZCO 

Dr Andrew Riley 

FRANZCO 

Sally Adams and Dr Mark Donaldson 

Martin Boase and Yonus Bhikoo 

Donald Klaassen, Melinda Nordin and Dr Penny McAllum 

Dr Mark Donaldson 

FRANZCO 

EYE 0810 



23

Style-Eyes 

Framing a face 

Despite being in the fashion industry, 

the only item I ever spend decent 

money on is eyewear. Glasses are 

the easiest way to make a style statement; 

there are few things so intrinsically part of an 

identity that forge such an immediate visual 

link between the wearer and their personality. 

That is what’s so great about glasses as 

a fashion accessory – they can be a true 

expression of who you are with the added 

bonus of helping you see. But just like people, 

faces come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and 

understanding which optic frames fit best can 

be the difference between a look being sleek 

or flop. 

If you can’t determine face shape, brush 

hair back and snap a picture directly facing 

the camera (or phone) and work it out 

by tracing around the outlines. There are 

various variations but generally there are five 

common face shapes. 

Square 

Square-shaped faces have a strong jawline, 

broad forehead, wide jaw and square chin. 

The right frames for square shaped faces are 

all about softening angles with curved shapes 

to lengthen the face and downplay sharpness 

of the jaw. Avoid boxy frames and those with 

colour emphasis on the bottom rim. 

Rectangle 

Lengthier and more tapered than square, the 

rectangular face is defined by a shape that is 

longer than it is wide and angular features 

such as high 

cheekbones, 

strong nose and 

tall forehead. 

Like a square, 

look for curvy 

styles and 

accentuated 

top rims to add 

width. Avoid 

small, square 

shapes that 

accentuate facial 

length. 

A fan of grunge 

and nineties 

fashion, blogger 

Robecca Leyden 

(pictured) has a 

rectangle face 

she counters 

with an 

oversized oval 

or round shape. 

“I have made 

them part of 

my signature 

style,” she says. 

“Sometimes I 

think an outfit 

looks better with glasses.” 

Round 

Round faces are pretty easy to spot, with 

broad foreheads, full cheeks and a curved chin. 

Angular or geometric styles that are wider 

than they are tall make the face look longer 

and thinner. Look for something equal to or 

slightly wider than the broadest part of the 

face and avoid small, oval or round frames, 

which can make a face look rounder. 

Style Blogger Rachel Gronback has a round 

face and says she naturally gravitates to more 

vintage style glasses because they seem to 

be universally flattering. “I generally wear 

oversize cateye frames to cover my brows and 

because I think they are effortlessly stylish,” 

she says. “I throw on some lippy and I am 

good to go.” 

BY MIRANDA LIKEMAN* 

Oval 

Those who are lucky enough to have an 

oval face look great in most styles. Evenly 

proportioned and softly rounded, oval faces 

are longer than they are wide and have 

balanced features. The oval-shaped face can 

wear almost any frame, so experiment with 

more structured shapes to soft curves… just be 

sure to steer clear of anything wider than the 

broadest part of the face. 

Heart 

Sweet, heart-shaped faces like Reese 

Witherspoon or Taylor Swift (pictured above) 

are the most feminine of all, featuring a wide 

forehead, high cheekbones and a delicate, 

narrow chin. Bottom heavy frames without 

decorative detail on the temples are the way 

to go. Stay away from wraparounds that are 

wider at the top, as these will echo the face 

shape rather than balance it. 

Men have different shaped faces too 

Don’t forget men – they don’t all necessarily 

have square or rectangle shaped faces. The 

current trend for males are key shapes from 

the sixties and seventies which fit most faces 

and are easy to wear, like the panto lens 

(round shape slightly wider at the top), classic 

Wayfarers or aviators. 

Round-faced actor Will Hall says “I’m 

an aviator man because they sit so nicely 

above the moustache.” He is also a great 

example of the importance of proportion, 

choosing frames that sit on the outside of his 

cheekbones because small lenses make him 

look awkward. “I ask for the biggest aviators 

they have.” 

Another famous fan of aviators is model, 

presenter and New Zealand’s most stylish 

man, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, who has an oval 

face. “I just think they are easily the most 

timeless design, effortlessly chic on both men 

and women,” he says. 

Rule of thumb 

In summary, a useful rule of thumb to 

determining suitably-shaped glasses is to 

maintain balance by finding a pair that 

contrasts face shape. If you have a client with 

a more angular face, suggest softening curved 

shapes: conversely if a face is round, a more 

square-shaped frame may suit. 

While not definitive, this should give you a 

good idea of what frames to consider when 

advising customers. However, remember 

these are guidelines – as with anything in 

fashion, confidence usually means you can 

pull off anything. ▀ 

* Miranda Likeman has commented on style and the stylish as 

a fashion journalist for 15 years, including seven years running 

a successful designer clothing and accessories PR agency. 

Fashion update 

This month in the world of frames, there’s something 

for everyone – women, men and children. Although 

our days are getting shorter, new sunglasses are being 

launched in the northern hemisphere, so there’s also some 

sunny inspiration to consider for the seasons ahead. 

Blackfin 

Blackfin’s new 

sunglass range 

introduces three new 

models, two for women and the Oyster 

Bay BF779 (featured here) for men. The Oyster Bay has 

a chunky yet light look accentuated by the contrasting 

colour outer edge. This model is also available in black/ 

silver with tinted grey lenses and dark grey/yellow with 

tinted gold lenses. Distributed by Beni Vision. 

Calvin Klein 

Calvin Klein Collection eyewear has taken the minimalist 

design aesthetic to the next level having all branding 

removed with no visible logo on the outside of the 

frame. The recognizable reverse hinge is now fully 

integrated throughout both the sun and optical 

collections. The CK8041, pictured here in black and gold, 

has a timeless feel to it and is, according to the company, 

inspired by industrial forms and surfaces accentuated by clean, 

sharp lines. Distributed by General Optical. 

La Matta 

Bold brand La Matta is releasing a new exclusive 

capsule collection made from new acetates where La 

Matta’s traditional animal print patterns are paired 

with small roses and other floral motives in fresh and 

bright summer colours. The LM 3210 is available in 

three different colour combinations. Distributed by BTP 

International Designz. 

Theo Eyewear 

Belgian brand Theo’s new series Kamasutra is inspired 

by the famous book and, just like its namesake, it’s 

all about what feels right for you. Titanium frame 

‘Rowing Boat’, featured here, is one of five differently 

shaped models which all come with two 

different coloured pieces, 

creating one original 

style. The two parts 

cross at the nose 

bridge and click into 

one another. 

Havaianas 

Stars and their eyes: 

Steve Buscemi 

Little Paul & Joe 

Xavier Garcia 

In 2014 a meme trend took the internet by storm. ‘Steve Buscemi 

eyes’ started with a tumblr feed where pictures of female celebrities 

were photo shopped with Steve Buscemi’s characteristic ‘wild eyes’, 

and the results were terrifying. Soon everyone from Michelle Obama 

to Disney’s Cinderella had suffered the Steve Buscemi treatment, with 

Buscemi himself commenting, “I think they look a bit hotter,” when 

asked what he thought about the trend. Although he didn’t find it that 

funny himself, he admitted his wife thought it was hilarious. 

A well-decorated actor, Buscemi has strabismus. He often gets cast 

in the role of the slightly unhinged – from Mr Pink in Reservoir Dogs to 

Carl Showalter in Fargo. His distinctive, dishevelled look is accented by 

those infamous eyes. ▀ 

Little P&J Tommy 

Little P&J Lola 

Little Paul & Joe models Tommy 04-DE68 and Lola 

02-E373, are new additions to the Paul & Joe family. 

With 14 models for girls and four for boys, these 

colourful styles with quirky details don’t just suit 

little people’s faces but work for anyone in need of 

something small, says the company. All models are 

designed with spring hinges and are available in 

sizes 42 to 49. Distributed by Little Peach. 

Xavier Garcia’s colourful new collection is inspired 

by Garcia’s native city, Barcelona. The new 

sunglass collection, with models Bomba, Croqueta 

and Sifon, are made from acetate with their 

shapes and colours referencing the 60s, says the 

company. Sifon, featured here, has a boxy shape 

and strong detailing. Distributed by Cardinal 

Eyewear. 

C-Zone 

Combining classic style and state of the art 

technology, C-Zone’s new Crystal Spark models are 

inspired by the famous Murano glass work, says the 

company. The craquelure finish seen on the model 

P2204-60 featured here, is handmade through an 

epoxy process where transparent icy colours are 

applied to the bright surface of the hypo-allergenic 

stainless steel. Crystal Spark is also available in a 

panto shape and both come in a variety of bright 

colours. Distributed by Little Peach. 

The new collection of Havaianas Eyewear, made by Safilo for the 

famous Brazilian jandal company, features four distinct shapes in 

different sizes and, true to the spirit of the brand, are available in 

every colour under the rainbow. The models, named after Brazilian 

beaches, Paraty, Noronha, Rio and Trancoso, are made from acetate, 

polyamide and rubber. The lenses offer UVA/UVB protection with 

various finishes such as gradient, mirrored and solid. Each frame 

comes with a neoprene pouch. ▀ 


Frame: Miramar 

Originals Collection is for creators. 

Because we like people who seek and find, the ones that 

never give up. Because we like people who are capable of 

transforming things, of giving beauty and value to a raw 

material. People who dress the world in poetry and art. 

May 2017 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS 

General Optical NZ Toll Free: 0800 141 444 customerservice@genop.co.nz www.generaloptical.co.nz 

25

To refer or not to refer? 

by 

Chalkeyes 

I 

had an enlightening conversation recently. 

A -9.00D myope in glasses who had some 

disquiet after an experience with a shopping 

mall optometry store (no qualms with the glasses 

– just the examination) had approached his GP 

to recommend an optometrist that was more 

“thorough”. 

The GP refused to make any recommendation 

and, “under siege,” copped out by suggesting 

he approach an ophthalmology practice for a 

recommendation. The poor patient did as suggested, 

but the ophthalmology practice also refused to 

recommend an optometrist. This left the patient 

wondering whether the people he’d spoken too felt 

it was unethical to recommend someone. But then, 

he pondered, how are you supposed to find this sort 

of thing out if you are new to an area, like he was? 

This annoyed me, of course! The aforementioned 

patient ended up in my chair because the 

receptionist of one practice he’d visited had finally 

said, quietly, that she came to us and felt we did 

a good job, but it was policy not to recommend 

anyone specific. Ethics or commercial reasons? 

Fear of perceived favouritism, probably… 

Why was the GP prepared to recommend a 

specific ophthalmology practice and not, more 

appropriately, one of several well-tooled up 

optometry practices in the area who see a lot of 

tricky cases? If I was being charitable, I suppose 

a GP can’t be expected to appreciate the specific 

needs of a high myope, so we’ll call it ignorance. 

But this brings us to the changing world of 

optometry and what this might mean for those 

more dedicated to selling healthcare services as 

opposed to the retail aspects of the business – 

both worthy of course. I admire the courage of 

colleagues who’ve unshackled themselves from 

retail opticianry and gone to a service-only model. 

They are going to need a lot of recommending if 

they are to thrive, but I suppose you don’t need 

to pay prime retail rent or tie up as much working 

capital in frames, so the model does make sense. 

But I do wonder if they are going to enjoy the 

support of their colleagues that they should? It’s 

going to be an interesting test of the collegiality 

between what, are in many situations, commercial 

competitors both amongst individual optometrists, 

different models of optometry and increasingly 

between ophthalmology and optometry. 

Getting back to the high myope who’d initiated 

this pondering. His question was how was he 

to know where to go? He was new to the area? 

Google sent him everywhere. My quick search 

of the Google domain left me reminded that the 

bigger the budget the better the website and the 

search function, but that didn’t help with knowing 

the quality of what you were looking for. Despite 

everything, word-of-mouth advertising is still by 

far our best marketing tool, even today and even 

when it goes against company policy. 

Looking at it from the other side, a career 

practicing urban optometry, in an area where 

there is no shortage of ophthalmologists, has me 

pondering who to recommend or refer a patient to. 

We have a good gender spread, a good age spread 

and a good spread of subspecialties – so there’s 

plenty of choice in and around my area. Yet, this is 

a choice that should be made with care, because 

it will reflect on me and it’s never nice to hear that 

you got something wrong. 

I think the godlike status medical specialties 

enjoyed in the past has slowly given way to one 

where patients feel they need to both like and to 

trust the person with all the letters behind their 

name, which I believe, overall, is a good thing. 

Some, of course, do this much better than others. 

And some, such as anaesthetists, simply don’t 

have to worry about it as much, if at all! 

I do get a bit irritated, however, when I refer 

someone for phako and they are then discharged 

and left having to deal with unsuitable reading 

glasses as their primary vision correction. Really! 

In this day and age? Have you tried those things? 

I have some in the car that I bought (after a fit of 

forgetfulness) while away on holiday. I got the 

good $35 dollar ones too, but they are just nasty to 

read in, full of chromatic aberration. Not everyone 

is cheap and not everyone minds wearing glasses 

that give them comfortable vision at near, middle 

and distance vision. Some folks do make their 

way back in, complaining they aren’t coping 

and usually wondering why they were denied a 

more elegant visual solution in the first place. 

Prescriptions don’t change much after phako, 

but eyes do. Surely the occasional contact with 

optometry isn’t a bad thing after cataract surgery, 

so being able to recommend one, two or three 

good optometrists in an area is something we 

should all know how to do and we should do! ▀ 

See p18-19 for how to deal with tricky customer 

reviews 

The views expressed by Chalkeyes are his, or 

hers, alone and not necessarily the views of NZ 

Optics . If you wish to comment on Chalkeyes’ 

views, please email a brief letter to the editor at 

info@nzoptics.co.nz for consideration. 

MORE CLASSIFIEDS ON PAGE 28 

PART-TIME OPTOMETRIST 

HAMILTON 

Part-time optometrist wanted for weekend work, split between 

two practices in Hamilton. One of the days would be working 

with one of New Zealand’s top ophthalmologists assisting with 

the running of his clinic. The other day would be testing at a 

high-end fashion practice located in Te Awa mall. 

The work would be varied and educational, working with qualified 

staff and state of the art equipment. Remuneration based on 

experience. 

Please forward applications to info@insighteyecare.co.nz 

FULL-TIME OPTOMETRIST 

WHANGANUI 

Our client is seeking to employ a full-time optometrist. The 

practice is open seven days a week and you will be testing initially 

Monday to Friday, weekend work maybe be included in the future. 

The practice operates with fields, fundus, Tonoref and one fully 

automated refractor heads and one manual. 

The team within the practice is highly experienced (including 

three Dispensing Opticians) and looking forward to the 

introduction of a new senior team member. 

Start date is as soon as possible but remains subject to finding 

the right person, their experience and skill set. The package terms 

remain negotiable, but for the right candidate, the terms will be 

strong and there may be an opportunity to buy into the practice. 

Applications for this position (V332) close at 5pm Thursday 25 

May 2017. Applications, CV and cover letter to stu@opticsnz.co.nz 

For more information, please call (03)5466 996 or 027 436 9091. 

Naomi Meltzer BSc, Dip Opt, PostGrad.Dip.Rehab. 

Low Vision Optometrist 

Ph: (09) 520 5208 

0800 555 546 

Fax: (09) 520 5515 

PO Box 28486 

Auckland 1541 

info@lowvsionservices.nz 

www.lowvisionservices.nz 

low vision 

services 

Low Vision Consultations available at 

REMUERA, TAKAPUNA, MANUKAU and PUKEKOHE 

An Optometrist dedicated to Low Vision support. 

DISPENSING 

OPTICIAN 

HAMILTON 

We are a small, busy practice 

requiring a dispensing 

optician. Based in rapidlygrowing 

Hamilton, we are a 

fun team who pride ourselves 

on delivering quality eyecare, 

eyewear and exceptional 

customer service. 

This role encompasses frame 

stock purchasing and has the 

potential for management 

responsibilities in the future. 

We consider our dispenser 

to be an integral part of our 

team so if you are looking for 

a position with variety, job 

satisfaction, and flexibility in 

a strong team environment 

please forward your application 

(CV and cover letter) to 

ghampton@visique.co.nz 

SALES 

PROFESSIONAL 

REQUIRED 

NZ frame distributor is looking 

for a sales professional with a 

passion for fashion. 

The successful candidate needs 

to be self-driven with a desire 

to build relationships and add 

value within all ranges and 

products for the independent 

market. Lens experience would 

be an advantage. 

Package to be discussed at 

interview only. Please forward 

expressions of interest and CV 

in strict confidence to 

info@nzoptics.co.nz, quoting 

code SPR05. 

NEED TO REPLACE YOUR LETTER CHART? 

AcuityKit has a comprehensive range of digital eyecharts for eye-care 

professionals. Ideal for low vision and domiciliary work. 

Visit our website www.acuitykit.com or email john@acuitkit.com 

DREAM OF 

TRAVELLING 

At OPSM, we are passionate about opening eyes to 

the unseen. Our advanced technology enables us to look 

deeper to ensure we give the best care to every customer. 

OPSM in New Zealand is looking to expand their Locum 

Optometrist network. 

LOCUM OPTOMETRISTS – NEW ZEALAND 

As a locum you will be your own boss, you will have 

the flexibility to set your own hours and will be exposed 

to lots of different patients and locations across New 

Zealand all while gaining lots of skills and experience. 

We are looking for Optometrists who share our passion, are 

willing to learn quickly and want to join our customer focussed 

teams in making a difference to how people see the world. 

WHAT’S ON OFFER: 

• Great working environment 

• Fantastic locum rates $$ 

• Accommodation and flights 

• Latest technology 

• Luxury brands 

• New friends and having fun 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

For a chance to be your own boss and part of an amazing 

team, contact us for a confidential, no obligation chat. 

CONTACT: 

Hirdesh Nair 

hirdesh.nair@opsm.co.nz or call +64 21 523 282 

OPSM.CO.NZ/CAREERS 


SHIRLEY & 

LOWER HUTT 

OPPORTUNITIES 

AVAILABLE 

TODAY! 

ISLANDS 

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. 

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS IN 

WELLINGTON & CHRISTCHURCH 

As 2017 gathers pace, so too do the opportunities for optometrists at all stages 

of their careers in and around both Wellington and Christchurch. 

A number of Specsavers stores are available for you to choose from – and we have multiple positions available, depending on your experience. 

We have graduate positions, full-time roles, locum opportunities – and we can even discuss the pathway to partnership if you believe you are ready to 

look at store ownership. 

Whatever your situation, there has never been a better time to talk to our team about what roles are available now and what is in the pipeline. While 2016 

was another year of strong growth for Specsavers stores across New Zealand, 2017 promises just as much for those looking to develop their careers. 

Talk to us now and we can tell you about great rates of pay and our unrivalled professional development program. 

Contact Chanelle Coates on 0800 717 350 or chanelle.coates@specsavers.com 

SEE OUR SHIRLEY AND LOWER HUTT OPPORTUNITIES ON SPECTRUM-BLOG.COM 

Millward Brown 

Research 

No.1 for eye tests 

2016 

Excellence in 

Marketing 

Award 

2016 

Retail 

Store Design 

Award 

2016 

Retail 

Employer 

of the Year 

2015 

Overall 

National 

Supreme Winner 

2015 

Franchise 

Innovation 

Award 

2015 

NZ Franchise 

System of 

the Year 

2014 

Retail 

Innovator 

of the Year 

2014 

Roy Morgan 

Research 

No. 1 for eye tests 

2014 

FCA Social 

Responsibility 

Award 

2014 



27

MORE CLASSIFIEDS ON PAGE 26 

RECEPTIONIST/OPTICAL ASSISTANT 

AUCKLAND 

Experianced optical assistant required for independent practice 

in Auckland. Option of part or full-time for the right person, no 

late nights or weekends. Must genuinely enjoy providing special 

service with a smile! 

Please send application (CV and cover letter) to Jenny Ogier at 

jenny@gp-optom.co.nz 

OPTOMETRIST LOCUM/CONTRACT 

HAMILTON 

Paterson Burn Optometrists is looking for an experienced 

Optometrist to join our team on a locum/contract basis. 

Paterson Burn Optometrists is one of the largest independent 

optometry practice groups in New Zealand. Our core purpose is 

to improve people's lives by providing the best visual solutions 

available. We value respect, integrity, accountability, enjoyment, 

continuous improvement, freedom for initiative and teamwork. 

The position is flexible and requires you to provide cover at any 

of our nine branches during extremely busy periods and covering 

staff holidays. To apply, please email your CV and a cover letter to 

sandri@patersonburn.co.nz 

DISPENSER/OPTICAL ASSISTANT 

We are looking for a Dispensing Optician or an experienced Optical 

Assistant who has a passion for eyewear and a keen eye for detail 

to join one of our stores in Hamilton. 

The position is 30 hours a week with the possibility of full time 

for the right candidate. You must be available for a late night and 

either a Saturday or Sunday. 

Please send application (CV and cover letter) to 

info@flagstaffeyecare.co.nz 

OPTOMETRISTS, DISPENSING 

OPTICIANS & OPTICAL ASSISTANTS 

TAURANGA 

New practice in Mt Maunganui, open seven days a week, seeking 

optometrists, dispensing opticians and optical assistants. All staff 

will share an equal rotation of working days. The practice has the 

very latest optometry equipment and is (excitedly) building faster 

than expected. 

Applications for the above-listed positions are welcome (from 

experienced candidates only) via email, pre-deadline of 5pm 

Thursday 18 May 2017. You must be able to work in New Zealand 

to apply for these positions. Position reference V330. 

Like the idea of moving to Tauranga? For more information, please 

contact Stuart Allan at OpticsNZ on (03) 5466 996 or 027 436 

9091 or email stu@opticsnz.co.nz 

PRACTICE FOR SALE 

CHRISTCHURCH 

Unique opportunity to acquire long established practice in the busy 

Riccarton suburb of Christchurch. The spacious premises are fitted 

out to a high specification custom design and have an excellent 

high profile location on Riccarton Road opposite Westfield Mall. The 

client base is large, extremely loyal and appreciates the individual 

and personal clinical service that the practice offers alongside 

high quality optical dispensing. With scope for further growth this 

practice offers an exceptional opportunity to practice your own 

brand of independent optometry. 

For a confidential discussion email Julia Saulsbury: 

js.visoncare@xtra.co.nz 

DISPENSER/PRACTICE CO-ORDINATOR 

DUNEDIN 

Stewart Caithness Gray Optometrists is a highly respected 

independent practice in Dunedin. Our experienced team provides 

a high level of eye care and eye wear to our patients, complimented 

by our on-site lab. 

We are looking for a practice co-ordinator who ideally would be a 

dispensing optician, or someone with equivalent experience, who 

has a passion for independent optometry. Your communication, 

interpersonal and management skills must be excellent. The 

position is full time but 0.8 FTE may be considered. 

We pride ourselves in providing excellence in eye care and are 

excited to be able to offer you this opportunity to join us. Please 

email Paul Gray paul@scgeyes.nz for further details. 

CHOOSE YOUR 

AUSSIE ADVENTURE 

WE SEE YOUR 

FUTURE WITH US 







OPTOMETRISTS 

QUEENSLAND & NORTHERN TERRITORY 

WITH ATTRACTIVE SALARY PACKAGES 

We are looking for Optometrists who share our passion 

and want to make a difference to how people see the 

world. Whether you like the city, the surf or the outback, 

we’ve got the role for you with our teams in: 

• Bundaberg 

• Cairns 

• Darwin 

• Katherine 

• Mackay 

• Mt Isa 

• Toowoomba 

• Townsville 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

You can look to take on a fixed period role or even 

consider a more permanent move – who knows, 

you might fall in love with the place. Depending on 

the location, salary packages up to 175K including 

superannuation, accommodation, annual return 

flights to visit family and friends and relocation 

support for the right candidate. Start your journey 

with us today! Graduates or recent graduates 

are very welcome to apply. 

CONTACT: 

Brendan Philp 

brendan.philp@luxottica.com.au or call +61 418 845 197 

Kim Shepherd 

kim.shepherd@opsm.com.au or call +61 408 763 575 

OPSM.COM.AU/CAREERS 

OPTOMETRISTS 

NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND 

Our New Zealand business is looking for passionate 

Optometrists to join the team. 

Riccarton – full time 

Willis St – full time 

Merivale – full time 

Bayfair – full time 

Whangarei – full time 

Wellington Float – full time 

Thames – full time 

Dunedin – full time 

The Plaza – full time 

Napier/Hastings – 32 hours per week 

When you join OPSM, you work within a team who 

are committed to providing the best possible eyecare 

solution with exceptional customer service. You will work 

with world class technology including our exclusive 

Optos Daytona ultrawide digital retina scanner. You 

will have many opportunities for continuing professional 

development and can enjoy career flexibility through 

our extensive store network. You can also make a 

real difference in the way people see the world by 

participating in our OneSight outreach program. 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

Start your journey with us today! Recent graduates are 

very welcome to apply. 

CONTACT: 

Hirdesh Nair 

hirdesh.nair@opsm.co.nz or call +64 21 523 282 

OPSM.CO.NZ/CAREERS 

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May 2017

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