News

30/11/2009

Exclusive preview at Centre for Eye Health

More than 160 eye health professionals gathered at The University of New South Wales on 7 August 2009 for an exclusive preview tour of Centre for Eye Health (CFEH). CFEH is a new facility that will provide specialist eye testing services to the general community at no charge.

The centre, which opens officially on 4 November 2009, is an initiative of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and aims to reduce preventable blindness through the early detection of eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Professor Michael Kalloniatis, the inaugural director of CFEH, provided an overview of the purpose and vision for the centre, before Professor Algis Vingrys and Professor Charles McGhee conducted scheduled lectures on: the future of imaging and functional assays; and the relationship and interaction between imaging modalities and corneal disease.

The President of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), Dr Iain Dunlop, and Deputy Chair of Optometrists Association Australia (OAA), Mr Michael Knipe, were also present on the night to welcome audience members and extend their formal congratulations to the board of CFEH.

In his address to the audience Mr Knipe said, 'It’s easy to be supportive of the centre because we have shared values'.

Dr Iain Dunlop, congratulated the CFEH Board on the appointment of Professor Kalloniatis and went on to state, '[Professor Kalloniatis], you’ve got a considerable challenge ahead, a great responsibility and a great privilege.'

CFEH is unique in that it provides referred individuals with free access to a complete range of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment in one location.

Staffed by both optometrists and consulting ophthalmologists, the centre represents the ultimate in integrated care and will bring new efficiencies to the diagnosis of eye disease throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

The services offered by CFEH are designed to complement existing services provided by optometrists, ophthalmologists and general practitioners.

For further information, interviews and images please contact Natasha Webb on 0413 753 241 or nwebb@guidedogs.com.au