Instilling eye drops is the most common method for managing eye diseases. This often requires using drops at regular intervals over a short or extended period. Thus, instilling eyedrops is a habit, like routine daily activities. When drops are not administered at the correct times, dosages, and frequencies, patients may present at emergency care clinics with red, painful eyes and suboptimal vision. Elderly patients often miss the drops because they are either unable to self-administer them correctly or forget to instil them.

The Cataract Calendar Project is an analogue-digital solution that helps to bridge this problem by providing an easy-to-use habit-tracking system integrated into the standard prescription with an optional digital component. The objective of the project is to assess the effectiveness of the Cataract Calendar in improving compliance with eye drops following cataract surgery and to evaluate the subsequent reduction in post-operative complications.

This project aims to describe the distribution of anaesthetic techniques (such as topical, intracameral, regional (peribulbar, retrobulbar, or sub-tenon’s block) and general anaesthesia) used in different ophthalmic surgeries across WAEH members. In addition, the project aims to measure and compare the cost and the pain experienced by patients during surgery to establish which techniques seem to be more appropriate for different types of surgical interventions. The present project aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the variety and distribution of anaesthetic techniques used in ophthalmic surgeries across WAEH members?
2. What is the average cost of using these techniques for different ophthalmic surgeries?
3. What is the effectiveness of each anaesthetic technique in managing pain during ophthalmic surgical interventions?
4. How much time is added to the surgical intervention when using different anaesthetic techniques?
5. Considering both cost and effectiveness, should we recommend a preferred anaesthetic technique to be used in certain types of ophthalmic surgical interventions?

The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital implemented a pilot program to address growing specialist clinic waiting lists by expanding the role of Orthoptists to co-manage selected patients typically seen by Ophthalmologists. Orthoptists conducted face-to-face assessments for Emergency Department referrals, collaborated on care planning, and supported patients’ return to primary care. The pilot achieved very high patient satisfaction and strong medical staff satisfaction, and generated significant interest when presented at the 2024 WAEH annual meeting, highlighting its potential for broader adoption.

This project builds on the pilot’s success by embedding an Allied Health co-management model within an ophthalmic specialist service, enabling Orthoptists to work at full scope while increasing Ophthalmologists’ capacity to focus on more complex patients. Further implementation work is required to scale and embed the model, with learnings that can be adopted by other services with Orthoptic and Ophthalmology workforces.

This project aims to create comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines to empower nursing and allied healthcare staff to better support visually impaired patients. By addressing gaps in communication, accessibility, and training, the guidelines will provide practical tools and strategies to enhance patient care and improve outcomes. The goal is to create a healthcare environment where visually impaired patients feel valued, understood, and supported throughout their care journey. By reducing barriers, the project also aims to increase patient satisfaction, promote independence, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards across healthcare settings.