Episode 2: Battling the elements – how eye care innovations are keeping Aussie eyes healthy
Amy Kenefeck, head of dispensing advancement, Specsavers
Madeline Crowe, optometrist, Specsavers
Adam Byrne (Garigal/Gadigal), co-founder, Bush to Bowl
Mark Lucey, lecturer, School of Allied Health, Optometry, University of Western Australia
Proud Garigal/Gadigal man Adam Byrne has always loved the outdoors. Playing footy, surfing, and pursuing a career in landscaping and horticulture keep him under the sun. Byrne co-runs Bush to Bowl, a First Nations-owned social enterprise that grows native plants, hosts workshops and mentors Indigenous youth, helping them connect to Indigenous food, culture and Country. Now in his 40s, Byrne needs glasses for the first time.
Madeline Crowe, an optometrist at Specsavers in Erina, on the New South Wales Central Coast, sees a lot of sun damage in her patients. 'Living in Australia means that we can be exposed to dangerous levels of UV even when it is a cloudy day,' she says.
If you look at the UV index in a weather app, a higher number correlates to a higher risk of UV damage. But if you thought it was only your skin that could get burnt, think again.
Mark Lucey, a lecturer from the School of Allied Health, Optometry, at the University of Western Australia, says: 'The front of the eye can get sunburnt just like your skin can get sunburnt.'
In this episode we find out how to protect your eyes from UV, why we all need an OCT scan and why eye health checks aren't just for people who need glasses.
The Future Looks Bright is produced by Guardian Labs Australia.
Narrator: Fenella Kernebone
Series producer and editor: Cinnamon Nippard
Guardian Labs producer: Ciara Bowe
Lead Commercial Editor: Nicola Harvey
The Future Looks Bright is paid for by Specsavers.
Find your local Specsavers store for optometry and audiology services https://www.specsavers.com.au
Bush to Bowl is a First Nations-owned social enterprise https://bushtobowl.com/
Find out more about the University of Western Australia's School of Allied Health (Optometry) https://www.uwa.edu.au/schools/allied-health
Read more about The ultraviolet (UV) index https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241590076
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