There has been a potential breakthrough in treatment for Tasmanians suffering with eye disease. 

Macular degeneration is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive loss of central vision.  Injections exist to treat wet macular degeneration but up till now no treatment is available for dry macular degeneration.

It’s the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in Australia with approximately 1 in 7 Australians over 50 having some evidence of this disease.

But new technology installed in Tasmania for the first time will provide revolutionary treatment for Tasmanians with this eye disease, providing excitement in the industry and hope for sufferers.

The 2RT technology, installed by Tasmanian Eye Clinics, will also see the patients treated be part of a global research program and enable them to participate in the latest cutting edge innovative research and treatment.

“This treatment is relatively new but we feel so encouraged by the initial reports that we have invested significantly to become the only clinic in the State to install it,” Dr Gordon Wise, managing director of Tasmanian Eye Clinics, said.

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“We strongly believe this represents a significant potential breakthrough in treatment and so we are making this treatment available for the public as a community service, with those patients who meet the criteria having no out of pocket cost for the actual treatment,” Dr Wise said.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson was on hand to launch the new technology at Tasmanian Eye Clinics in Hobart.

“The Tasmanian Government welcomes the development of innovative technologies such as this and the benefits they may bring to Tasmanians. 

“I congratulate Tasmanian Eye Clinics on its work on this notable initiative.” 

The 2RT treatment involves nanosecond laser technology which was developed at the Institute of Ophthalmology in London and is currently being researched through the University of Melbourne.

Tasmanian Eye Clinics will participate in their research program, and is aiming to include the Menzies Centre in the trials.  

“It’s a simple innovative treatment which has been shown to have no significant risk.”

Tasmanian Eye Clinics is now recruiting for other field trial patients with places available through referrals from local optometrists and hospitals.

Enquiries can be made through Tasmanian Eye Clinics if you are interested in finding out more or being a part of the trial.  Please call 62140599.