Dry AMD finally has a treatment.Pegcetacoplan, a complement C3 inhibitor, is
now TGA-approved — the first approved treatment for dry AMD/geographic atrophy. A
second agent (avacincaptad pegol) is awaiting approval. Neither is PBS-listed yet. See
Age-related macular degeneration.
Glaucoma referral now has explicit urgency thresholds — quantified risk
stratification (age, family history, ethnicity), a clear table of which findings need
same-day vs 48-hour vs 1–3-month referral, and a PBS 60-day dispensing change (up to
12 months’ supply for some glaucoma medications). See
Acute glaucoma and
chronic open-angle glaucoma.
Retinal detachment: the “4 Fs” — Flashes, Floaters, Field defect, Failing
vision — plus quantified risk figures (myopia dose-response, fellow-eye risk,
post-surgical/trauma risk) and an explicit same-day vs semi-urgent referral split. See
Retinal detachment.
Ophthalmic trauma: chemical injury (Roper-Hall grading, irrigation protocol),
corneal abrasion/foreign body, blunt trauma, and orbital compartment syndrome — a
time-critical emergency needing urgent lateral canthotomy. See
Ophthalmic Trauma.
Giant cell arteritis can present as diplopia alone, not just visual loss — up to
19% of GCA patients have diplopia, sometimes before severe vision loss; GCA needs
active exclusion in anyone over 50 with new diplopia. See
Abnormal eye movements (diplopia).
Watery eye (epiphora): full differential (reflex tear production vs reduced
outflow vs paediatric-specific causes), the dye disappearance test, a >3-month
chronicity threshold, and paediatric red flags (neonatal ophthalmia neonatorum,
congenital glaucoma). See
Epiphora & Dacryocystitis.
Bacterial keratitis: coagulase-negative staph/S. aureus are the most common
cause, while Pseudomonas and Acanthamoeba are specifically tied to swimming/
showering in contact lenses.
Dry eye disease now uses the TFOS DEWS II (2017) aqueous-deficient/evaporative
framework, plus omega-3 supplementation evidence and the long-term topical steroid
glaucoma/cataract risk.
CRAO is now managed as an acute ischaemic stroke equivalent (2021 AHA statement —
IV thrombolysis within 4.5 hours may help). See
Central retinal artery occlusion.
Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna), TGA-registered 2020, is a gene therapy option
for the RPE65-mutation subset of retinitis pigmentosa. See
Retinitis pigmentosa.
AREDS2 formula (lutein/zeaxanthin, not beta-carotene) for AMD supplementation.
Risk factors for progressing to proliferative diabetic retinopathy are narrower
than for developing retinopathy at all. A 2023 Cochrane review of 59 prognostic
studies (~113,000 participants) found only higher HbA1c and baseline retinopathy
severity were consistently linked to progression to PDR — diabetes duration, blood
pressure, cholesterol, BMI, ethnicity and smoking were not independently
associated with progression once baseline severity was accounted for, a different
question from the risk factors for developing retinopathy in the first place. See
Diabetic Retinopathy.
New pages added
Thyroid Eye Disease — Graves’ orbitopathy
screening (Clinical Activity Score), EUGOGO severity grading, and teprotumumab
(TGA-approved March 2025) as the first targeted therapy.
Vision & Fitness to Drive —
Austroads visual acuity/field standards for private vs commercial licences,
monocular/diplopia standards, and which states have mandatory GP reporting
obligations.
Corneal Abrasion, Foreign Body & Chemical Eye Injury
— new page (2026-08-31), split out of Ophthalmic Trauma
and expanded with EM:RAP CorePendium and AJGP corneal-ulcer sources: how to
tell a simple abrasion from a corneal ulcer, foreign body/rust ring removal
technique, and chemical injury irrigation and Roper-Hall grading.