NZ Optics

19/10/2026

From kids in myopia control to patients ready for multifocals, one contact lens journey can run for decades.

Our friends at CooperVision are running a free CPD webinar for optometrists: From Myopia Management to Presbyopia. It follows “Sophie” through every life stage and covers:

✅ Talking to parents about myopia management with confidence
✅ Moving young patients into single vision contact lenses
✅ Getting multifocal fits right the first time

Two sessions with the same content, so pick the one that suits:
📅 Tuesday 27 October, 9pm NZDT, with Joe Tanner
📅 Wednesday 4 November, 7pm NZDT, with Dr Adam Samuels

CPD credits have been applied for in NZ.

Register here 👉 https://events.coopervision.com/nZ9Vx3

In partnership with CooperVision

14/10/2026

Two New Zealand optometrists are heading to the State University of New York (SUNY) on this year’s Snowvision scholarships.

Lynn Mascarenhas of Palmerston North and Quennie Chen of Dunedin, named at August’s SnowViz conference in Queenstown, will each spend four weeks in SUNY’s clinics working with chronic and complex cases. Chen says she hopes to come home with a book full of answers and a list of new questions.

https://nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/suny-days-on-the-horizon/

NZ optometrists Lynn Mascarenhas and Quennie Chen awarded Snowvision SUNY scholarships to advance clinical skills in dry eye, ocular disease, contact...

08/10/2026

Interesting factoid. As well as being World Sight Day, today is World Octopus Day. And in case you were wondering why that’s of any significance to our community let me explain what makes their eyes special:
1. No blind spot: photoreceptors face towards incoming light, with nerve fibres running behind them. This means they don't have the blind spot created by our optic nerve exiting through the retina.
2. Their pupils can change shape, often appearing as horizontal slits or rectangles, helping control light entering the eye.
3. Excellent polarisation vision. Octopuses can detect the orientation of polarised light. This helps them detect contrast, prey and potentially communicate.
4. Probably colour blind: most octopuses have only one known visual photopigment. They are generally considered colour-blind, although researchers have proposed alternative mechanisms for distinguishing colours.
5. Camera-type eyes. Their eyes evolved independently of vertebrate eyes but have remarkably similar structures, including a cornea, iris, lens and retina. This is a classic example of convergent evolution.
6. Different focusing mechanism. Rather than changing the shape of their lens as humans do, octopuses focus by moving their relatively rigid lens forwards or backwards, much like a camera.
Voila!

08/10/2026

Happy World Sight Day! Join Vision 2020/IAPB in focusing the world’s attention on the importance of eyecare that is accessible, available and affordable to all. Start the conversation.

07/10/2026

More than 36,000 New Zealanders have waited at least 50% longer than their clinician recommended for a public eye appointment, and specialists report patients losing vision that could have been saved. Ophthalmology New Zealand chair Dr Sonya Bennett describes the rising demand as a “tsunami” and is calling for sustained investment in eye-health services, staff and equipment. Read more in the October issue.

https://nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/patient-tsunami-risks-sightloss/

More than 36,000 New Zealanders are significantly overdue for public ophthalmology follow-up appointments, with specialists reporting irreversible vision...

03/10/2026

https://nzoptics.co.nz/magazines/october-2026/

The October issue of NZ Optics has landed.

More than 36,000 New Zealanders have waited significantly longer than recommended for a public eye appointment, and specialists are calling for sustained funding to prevent avoidable vision loss. Also this month: paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Justin Mora on family, values and fairness in eye health, and an optometry student’s six weeks in the Far North learning what rural healthcare really asks of patients.

30/09/2026

Proud to be a media partner for the upcoming Women in Vision Aotearoa Conference 2026.

Taking place on beautiful Waiheke Island from 4-6 November 2026, this year's theme, Illuminating Change, brings together an inspiring programme of speakers and discussions focused on leadership, visibility, wellbeing, negotiation, financial wellness and professional growth within eye care.

The conference features keynote presentations from:
✨ Dr Aileen Alegado
✨ Dr Amber Chisholm
✨ Dr Mai Chen
✨ Angela Meyer
✨ Dr Kyla Matenga
✨ Prof. Dame Helen Danesh-Meyer

Women in Vision continues to play an important role in fostering leadership, connection and empowerment across our profession, and we're delighted to support this important event.

Learn more and register at: https://www.womeninvisionnz.com

27/09/2026

Presbyopia affects everyone eventually, yet there is still no one-size-fits-all solution.

This feature from the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS) 2026 conference explores the latest thinking on treatment options and patient expectations.

https://nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-presbyopia/

The AUSCRS 2026 conference highlighted presbyopia management as a persistent challenge, noting that despite technological advances, no single '

25/09/2026

Pope Leo XIV is in Paris… though not officially opening SILMO 2026 His Eminence would no doubt rather be here than with 600,000 Parisians on the Champs-Élysées. I know I would! 😉

The SILMO 2026 halls are buzzing, with a wonderful esprit de corps, wild outfits, fabulous frames and some seriously impressive stands.

And I’ve already uncovered some exciting news from a few of our NZ faves, which I’ll be sharing in our November issue.

So keep an eye out… and keep it stylish! 👓✨

22/09/2026

Life changing eyecare 👏

Not-for-profits are saying eye care is inaccessible as more than two-thirds of adults delay vision tests.