UNSW School of Optometry and Vision Science

Get Therapeutically Endorsed with Our New Professional Credential in Ocular Therapeutics We are excited to announce that enrolments are now open for our OCANZ-accredited program, designed to help you become a therapeutically endorsed optometrist in Australia. The credential consists of four professional credential short courses: - Foundations of Ocular Therapeutics (2 February 2026 - 29 March 2026) 100% online - Anterior Eye Therapeutics (6 April 2026 - 31 May 2026) 100% online - Glaucoma (8 June 2026 - 2 August 2026) 100% online - Clinical Placements (10 August 2026 - 4 October 2026) Online but with mandatory face-to-face clinical placements Take all four to qualify for therapeutic endorsement or enrol individually to refresh your skills. See links below to learn more and enrol today: navigator.agsm.edu.au/listing/pcot-f… navigator.agsm.edu.au/listing/pcot-a… navigator.agsm.edu.au/listing/pcot-g… navigator.agsm.edu.au/listing/pcot-cp

We are thrilled to announce that PhD candidate Mukesh Kumar has been awarded the 2025 Centennial Ezell Fellowship by the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. Mukesh was recognised for his outstanding contributions to research in optometry and vision science. This fellowship is testament to Mukesh's commitment to advancing the field through innovative and impactful research. The Centennial Ezell Fellowship honours emerging scholars who are shaping the future of eye care and vision science. Congratulations Mukesh! Your dedication and achievements inspire us all.

Congratulations to PhD candidate Soumen Sadhu who was honoured with the prestigious Rod Tahran Ezell Fellowship (EssilorLuxottica) from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. These highly competitive Ezell Fellowships are awarded to exceptional PhD students conducting research in eye or vision science that leads to a doctoral degree. Soumen's achievement reflects his dedication and excellence in advancing the field of optometry and vision science. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with him! Soumen is pictured here with his supervisors L - Professor Isabelle Jalbert and R - Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton AO. #optometry #VisionScience #ResearchExcellence

Congratulations to Emeritus Professor Stephen J. Dain, FAAO, the 2025 recipient of the Henry B. Peters Award for Public Health and Environmental Vision. This well-deserved honour from the American Academy of Optometry Foundation is a testament to his decades of impactful work in the field. Please join us in celebrating Stephen’s outstanding achievement!

Congrats to Soumen and Mukesh who were honoured with Ezell Fellowships at the @aaopt Foundation conference

Join the Retinal Research Group at UNSW School of Optometry & Vision Science in Sydney. We are looking for a passionate Post-Doctoral Fellow to help develop cutting-edge therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Work with Dr Daisy Shu on innovative drug delivery systems and make a real impact in vision science. For more information including application details see here: external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/5348…

We are thrilled to celebrate Emeritus Professor Eric Papas on receiving the Bernard Gilmartin OPO Award, presented by the College of Optometrists, UK. This award honours the author of a highly regarded paper published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics within the past five years, recognising outstanding contributions to the field of optometry, optics, and vision science. Awarded Paper: Papas EB. The global prevalence of dry eye disease: A Bayesian view. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2021 Nov;41(6):1254–1266. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/opo.12… Professor Papas’ work continues inspire researchers around the world. Congratulations Eric on this well-deserved recognition!

We are thrilled to congratulate four exceptional researchers on the completion of their PhDs, each contributing valuable insights to the field of optometry and vision science: Dr Elisa Wang explored attitudes and barriers to care in age-related macular degeneration, under the guidance of Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton AO, Dr Angelica Ly, and Associate Professor Gordon Doig. Dr Suhyun Kweon investigated the link between sex hormones, meibomian gland dysfunction, and dry eye disease, supervised by Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton AO and Associate Professor Michele Madigan. Dr Rebecca Dang focused on multifocal contact lenses for myopia, with supervision from Professor Isabelle Jalbert, Associate Professor Pauline Kang, and Associate Professor Alex Hui. Dr Sharon Ho's thesis was titled the application and implementation of primary care clinical decision support systems in retinal disease, supported and supervised by Dr Angelica Ly, A/Prof Gordon Doig and Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton. Your dedication, curiosity, and hard work have made a lasting impact. We are proud to celebrate your achievements and excited to see where your research journeys take you next! #PhDGraduation #VisionScience #OptometryResearch #UNSWSOVS #ResearchExcellence

SOVS Paper of the Week: Led by Dr Daisy Shu, this invited review from her lab, recently published in The American Journal of Pathology, explores how the angiofibrotic switch contributes toretinal and choroidal disease. Co-authored with Fergus McLellan, Kelvin Huang, and Elizabeth Wong, the work was recognised through Dr Shu’s ASIP Young Scientist Leadership Award.​ doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpa…

We are thrilled to announce that Professor Konrad Pesudovs has been awarded the prestigious Arthur Bennett Prize by The College of Optometrists UK for the global impact of his research in optometry and vision science. With over 130,000 citations and an H-index of 87, Professor Pesudovs is the world’s most cited optometrist. His groundbreaking work in patient-reported outcomes, Rasch analysis, and the development of ophthalmic item banks has transformed how we measure and understand visual performance and quality of life. From cataract surgery to diabetic retinopathy, his research continues to shape the future of eye care worldwide. Congratulations, Konrad! #Optometry #VisionScience #ResearchExcellence #ArthurBennettPrize #GlobalImpact #EyeHealth #PatientReportedOutcomes #Ophthalmology #OptometryResearch

SOVS Paper of the Week: Acanthamoeba keratitis is a severe eye infection, common in contact lens wearers and requiring complex treatment. This study analysed healthcare costs and patient burden, highlighting the need to optimise prevention, treatment, and outcomes. journals.lww.com/claojournal/fu…

Exciting News from the Microbiology Testing Laboratory! We have just received NATA accreditation for testing UV light disinfecting agents - a major step forward in our commitment to high-quality, evidence-based testing. This achievement was led by Professor Mark Willcox, with key contributions from Dr Muhammad Yasir and PhD candidate George Enninful. We are now working to expand our scope to include other disinfectant testing methods - stay tuned!

Keen to level up your skills in Dry Eye Disease management? Hear what a recent participant had to say about our short course: Dry Eye Disease: Diagnosis and Management and why they would recommend it! Kicking off next week - don't miss out - enrol now and take the next step in your professional development. navigator.unsw.edu.au/listing/med-ded

Congratulations to Rehana Khan Tajuddin Mohamed Akthar Khan and Samea Khan! At the 2025 Annual Postgraduate Research Student Presentations, Rehana was awarded First Prize, with Samea receiving Second Prize for their fantastic presentations. Rehana's research is guided by the expert supervision of A/Prof Maitreyee Roy, Dr Vinod Masedupally and Dr Rajiv Raman. Samea's work is supported by Prof Mark Willcox and A/Prof Maria Markoulli. We are incredibly proud of their dedication and excellence in research.

Hear directly from one of our recent participants about their experience in our Dry Eye Disease Diagnosis and Management Short Course. Whether you are a clinician or non-clinician, this course equips you with the practical skills to confidently diagnose and manage dry eye disease using the latest evidence-based approaches. Enrol now and join a growing community of professionals making an impact in eye health. navigator.unsw.edu.au/listing/med-ded

Discover a Rewarding Career in Orientation & Mobility Are you ready for a fulfilling career change? The UNSW Graduate Diploma in Orientation & Mobility equips graduates to become specialists in teaching people who are blind or have low vision the essential skills they need to travel independently and safely. Why study with us? Flexible learning: Our program combines virtual coursework with essential in-person components on our Sydney campus for five weeks. Real world experience: Benefit from hands-on placements. Gain practical skills that make a difference. High demand: With a global shortage of O&M specialists, our graduates enjoy excellent job prospects. Learn from experts: Our program is led by experienced academics and O&M practitioners. Limited places: Apply now for the 2026 intake. Enrolments are now open and close on 15 October 2025. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity and apply now: bit.ly/3pdHFTg See flyer also for further information: bit.ly/OandMFlyer2025

Check out this article featuring the research of Senior Research Associate Dr Suki Jaiswal which reveals that bushfire smoke can cause measurable damage to the eye surface of firefighters on the front line. unsw.edu.au/news/2025/07/b…

Our congratulations to Dr Nayuta Yoshioka on his promotion to Senior Lecturer at UNSW Sydney. Yoshi is a passionate educator dedicated to making optometry education engaging and relevant. He leads teaching in myopia management, ophthalmic dispensing and foundational vision sciences and is actively integrating the use of AI, augmented reality, and advanced imaging to enhance clinical training and student learning. This promotion recognises his commitment to innovation and excellence in education – well done Yoshi!