MALINDA HALLEY OPTOMETRIST

06/05/2026

Australia Declared Trachoma-Free as a Public Health Problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that Australia has become the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. This is a significant milestone for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities across the nation, and a vital....

01/05/2026

MAY 2026: MACULA MONTH

Macula month is a campaign from Macula Disease Foundation Australia aimed at promoting awareness and helping Australians understand their risk of developing macular disease.

The macula is the centre part of the retina and is responsible for our everyday vision such as reading, driving and recognising faces. Macula disease is any eye condition that affects this area of the retina.

Some common symptoms of macular disease:
• Distortion in visions e.g. straight edges of doors, TV screen may look wavy or bent
• Patch of blur or grey blobs in the central vision
• Difficulty reading or activities that require detail

Some common macular disease:
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema
• Retinal vein occlusions
• Myopic macular degeneration
• Epiretinal membranes
• Vitreomacular traction syndrome

What should I do?
• If you have a known macular disease, keep your regular appointments with your optometrist, ophthalmologists and other allied health professionals.
• If you have a known family history of macular disease, annual eye examinations with your optometrist is essential for early diagnosis.
• If you haven’t had an eye test in a while, book in for an eye test.

Book an appointment with us via HotDocs:
https://www.hotdoc.com.au/medical-centres/dapto-NSW-2530/malinda-halley-optometrist/doctors

Article written by Dr Annie Tran, who is available for appointments Monday to Friday.

Book an online appointment with your preferred healthcare provider all over Australia. See up to date availability and book instantly.

02/04/2026

📢 Easter Closure Notice

Our practice will be closed from 5:30pm today (Thursday 2 April) and will reopen on Tuesday 7 April at 8:30am following the Easter break.

For urgent eye care:
• Please attend the Emergency Department at Wollongong Hospital or Shellharbour Hospital
• Sydney Eye Hospital phone (02) 9382 7111 — open 24/7 with on-call triage available

Have a wonderful Easter break !

31/03/2026

Congratulations Dr Annie Tran!

Many of our patients would know Dr Annie who has been with us since 2022. Dr Annie is also the author behind the monthly awareness campaign which was started in 2025.

Dr Annie published a case report in November 2025 titled ‘To dilate or not to dilate? Obtaining appropriate baseline data: choroidal melanoma case report in Optometry Connection, an industry journal. The article was short-listed for an industry award, 2025 Optometry Connection Case Report and Clinical Image Award.

I am delighted to share that Dr Annie was announced the winner of the award in March 2026.

Immense congratulations to Dr Annie on this well-deserved recognition!

Further readings:
Case report: ‘To dilate or not to dilate? Obtaining appropriate baseline data: choroidal melanoma case report
https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Publications/Optometry_Connection/Case-report-shortlist_combined-PDF-2025.pdf

Optometry Australia’s 2025 Optometry Connection Case Report and Clinical Image Award news article: https://www.optometry.org.au/awards-scholarships/optometrist-annie-tran-wins-2025-optometry-connection-case-report-and-clinical-image-award/

Dr Malinda Halley and team.

Optometrist Annie Tran has been named the winner of the 2025 Optometry Connection Case Report and Clinical Image Award.

19/03/2026

A big congratulations to our own Dr Annie Tran for winning this prestigious award. She is available for consultations Monday to Friday, book via HotDoc or phone 42618855.

17/03/2026

MARCH 2026: GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide. It causes permanent damage to the optic nerve which can lead to irreversible blindness. Glaucoma’s nicknames are “the silent disease” and “the sneak thief of sight” as there are no obvious symptoms*, no pain and the vision loss is usually gradual and therefore routine eye examinations are essential to detect this condition early.

World Glaucoma Week by World Glaucoma Association 2026 theme
“Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World”

Glaucoma Australia reports:
1 in 50
Australians will develop glaucoma in their lifetime
You are 10 times
more likely to develop glaucoma if you have a direct relative with it
50%
of people with glaucoma are unaware they have it

What can you do?

If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, develop a supportive community of your optometrist, your ophthalmologist, your GP and family, friends and support groups to ensure your eye health is being well-looked after.

If you have a family member with glaucoma, the risk of developing glaucoma in the future is higher, therefore annual eye examinations are recommended for early detection.

If you are not under the care of an optometrist, or haven’t had a comprehensive eye exam in the last 1-2 years, book in for an eye examination to ensure you are not at risk of developing glaucoma.

Further reading:
Glaucoma Australia: https://glaucoma.org.au/
World Glaucoma Week:
https://www.worldglaucomaweek.org/

* There is a small sub-group of glaucoma called acute angle closure with sudden onset of pain, redness, smoky vision, nausea or vomiting.

--
Annie Tran
BSci MClinOptom GradCertAdvCL

Don’t forget to use the hashtag and tag the official WGA and the World Glaucoma Week accounts in your posts and stories.

24/02/2026

FEBRUARY 2026: LOW VISION

Low vision is a vision impairment ranging from inability to see smaller letters or text through to complete blindness. An important difference is that it cannot be corrected with standard prescription glasses or contact lenses, medications or surgeries. Persons living with low vision can face challenges completing everyday tasks and usually require adopting strategies, tools or assistive technology to complete routine tasks, maintain independence or continue with their loved hobbies.

According to Vision Australia:
Over 450,000 Australians are affected by low vision or blindness
Over 560,000 Australians are estimated to be affected by low vision or blindness by 2030

Some common eye conditions that may cause low vision:
Age-related macular degeneration
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Ocular albinism
Retinal dystrophies

Some common symptoms of low vision:
Blurry or cloudy vision
Difficulty reading or recognising faces
Restricted peripheral vision
Poor night vision
Changes in colour
Increased falls or bumping into things

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
Stay connected to your community and raise any concerns or difficulties you may have
Speak to your optometrist for referral pathways to low vision centres locally
Speak to your optometrist for optical aids to maximise your vision
Maintain your scheduled eye examinations with your optometrist or eye specialists

Further reading:
Vision Australia: https://www.visionaustralia.org/
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT: https://nsw.guidedogs.com.au/

--
written by Dr Annie Tran Optometrist
Available at MALINDA HALLEY OPTOMETRIST
BSci MClinOptom GradCertAdvCL

10/01/2026

—JANUARY 2026: BACK TO SCHOOL - EYE’M READY—

January is the month to get back to school ready!

Similar to children’s growth charts, it is essential children have their eyes examined to ensure they are developing properly, to detect any vision/learning problems early and promote healthy habits in children.

Did you know? 80% of learning in school is visual. Children need good eyesight and eye coordination to achieve developmental and educational milestones.

Many childhood vision problems are preventable, treatable and manageable!

Some reasons why children’s eye examination is necessary:
- family history of amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (crossed eye)
- tired eyes or complaints of headaches especially after reading, screens, sports
- eye rubbing
- squinting or tilting their head when reading
- closing one eye to see
- holding books or devices too close
- below grade level performance in school
- routine examination

Government Screening Programs:
Many preschools offer access to the STEPS screening program for children in the year before starting school. A pass may miss more complex vision problems.

Our Recommendation:
We recommended that children have a comprehensive eye test before starting school (sooner if there is a family history of eye problems or glasses, or if there are any concerns from parents or teachers, as well as annual exams throughout school.

More information:
StEPS screening brochure:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/Publications/steps-brochure.pdf
Optometry Australia Myopia Position Statement:
https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Professional_support/Guidelines/Myopia-Position-Statement-2024-v3.pdf

--
Annie Tran
BSci MClinOptom GradCertAdvCL

21/12/2025

Christmas Trading Hours
Monday 22nd Dec: open 830-530
Tuesday 23rd Dec: open 830-530
Wednesday 24th Dec: open 830 to (as required, no later than 5pm, we may close earlier).

New Years
Open 8.30am Monday 5th January.

19/11/2025

NOVEMBER 2025: Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. Glucose is our body’s energy source. Insulin is a hormone produced by our pancreas which allows glucose to enter our cells. In people with diabetes, either insulin is not produced, not enough is produced or the body does not use it well, causing the glucose to stay in our blood leading to high sugar in the blood.

Over time, this can harm blood vessels and nerves, leading to problems with the heart, kidneys, eyes, and feet.

In Australia:

1,500,000 people live with diabetes.
120,000 new diagnoses are made every year.
400,000 are at risk of diabetes.

How does diabetes affect the eyes?

There are two main types of diabetic-related eye conditions:
- Diabetic retinopathy - small blood vessels leak in the retina
- Diabetic macular oedema - small blood vessels in the macula area (centre of the retina) leak and cause the retina to swell

However diabetes can increase the risk of developing:
- Cataracts - 2 to 5 times more likely, and at a younger age.
- Glaucoma - risk is doubled.

How do I manage my diabetes and eyes?

Maintain blood sugar levels - stay active, have a balanced diet, limit processed sugars
Schedule regular eye examinations - comprehensive dilated annual (sometimes more!) exams are recommended to help detect any diabetic-related conditions

If there has been a recent diagnosis of diabetes, or you’re due for your annual diabetes exam, please call us or book via HotDocs.

More reading:
Prevent Blindness: https://preventblindness.org/2024-diabetes-awareness-month/
Diabetes Australia: https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/

--
Annie Tran
BSci MClinOptom GradCertAdvCL

We want a future where diabetes can do no harm and we are leading the fight against Australia’s biggest health crisis. It’s time to unite in the fight for change.