Unfortunately, many Australians suffer from chronic eye conditions, with over 13 million affected. Chronic eye disorders impact up to 93% of people aged 65 and over, with a higher prevalence in females. These conditions include refractory disorders like hyperopia, myopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism, as well as colour blindness (affecting about 550,000 Australians), cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, strabismus, amblyopia, venous occlusions, and retinal detachment.

Noteworthy conditions include:

- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): The most common cause of irreversible vision loss in Australia, affecting 1 in 7 people over 50. AMD impairs tasks requiring central vision like reading and driving.

- Cataracts: Lens opacities impacting vision and the leading cause of visual impairment. Cataract surgery is the most common elective procedure in Australian public hospitals.

- Glaucoma: The world's leading cause of blindness, affecting about 300,000 Australians. It is often asymptomatic early on and significantly increases in prevalence after 50.

In this episode, Dr Rogan Fraser, completing his fellowship in ophthalmology, discusses common eye problems. Topics include managing red eye, ophthalmic complications from shingles, giant cell arteritis, and semaglutide (Ozempic), as well as glaucoma, retinal vein occlusion, and macular degeneration.

Welcome Dr Rogan Fraser to the podcast for a focused tour of key ophthalmology topics.

References:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogan-fraser-7a9855b8/

National Eye Institute https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/can-ozempic-affect-eye-health-here-s-what-ophthalm