International focus on Eye and Ear

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital was acknowledged by world-leading specialist eye hospitals as an international leader at the Annual Meeting of the World Association of Eye Hospitals (WAEH) held in Melbourne.

The hospital was recognised for its national and international leadership role in eye health, treatment and research.

Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Ann Clark said the WAEH conference enabled world eye health leaders to share ideas and build collaborations with colleagues from around the world.

Challenges of Innovation in Eye Care forums included the bionic eye, renovating or rebuilding of eye hospitals world-wide and international co-operation opportunities.

Other discussions included the international exchange of staff, including the roles of orthoptists, optometrists and nurses, research on the bionic eye, treatment for dry AMD (age-related macular degeneration), corneal stem cell therapy and retinal scar reduction.

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is a teaching, training and research health service specialising in the area of eye and ear, nose and throat health.

It is Australia's pre-eminent specialist eye and ENT hospital and undertakes 90 per cent of Victoria's specialist eye surgery.

The co-operation between the eye hospitals contributes to the objectives of the project Vision2020 of the World Health Organization (WHO).