Welcome to season 2 of GENEYE POD. This is the first episode of a 7-part series on getting started with presbyopia correction at the time of cataract surgery. This podcast series forms part of a GENEYE digital course that has been developed by Dr Jacqueline Beltz, Director of GENEYE for Advanced Ophthalmology Trainees in Victoria, Australia. The full course is available at geneye.org.au under online training.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed worldwide. Microsurgery but particularly cataract surgery forms a significant part of the 5-year ophthalmology training program in Australia and New Zealand. Due to improvements in technologies and data analysis, cataract surgery results have improved significantly over the last few decades. These days, as well as the aim to restore sight, we also aim to reduce dependency on spectacles after cataract surgery. Reducing the need for spectacles for distance after cataract surgery has become standard in many countries around the world. Reducing the need for spectacles for intermediate and near is more complex and finding the perfect solution for this is perhaps the “holy grail” for cataract surgery within the developed world.

To date, correction of presbyopia at the time of cataract surgery has not been routinely taught in training in most parts of Australia and trainers have varied and sometimes limited experience with these technologies themselves.

This podcast series forms part of a GENEYE digital and real-life course providing active and structured training in getting started with presbyopia correction at the time of cataract surgery. This course is available for both teachers and trainees. Whilst parts of the course could be applied anywhere, the live and assessment components have been specifically developed for accredited advanced trainees in their 3rd and 4th year of ophthalmology training at the Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia. The full course can be found at geneye.org.au under online training.

In this podcast series, together with some great colleagues, Jacqueline covers some of the important aspects of presbyopia correction at the time of cataract surgery. She delves into the nuance and discussions. The things you actually need to know to make sure you start off safely and with success. Episode 1 covers some of the different options that we have available to us in Australia at the moment. Later episodes will cover patient selection and optimisation, astigmatism correction and IOL calculations, assessing corneal tomography, mastering the patient conversation, surgical tips and managing complications, refractive enhancements and IOL exchange. Bear in mind these technologies are changing all the time – covering everything at one point in time would be ineffective. Rather, she covers some of the general considerations and methods, so that you understand the concepts and are experienced and equipped when it comes to trying or developing newer and hopefully better technologies in the future.

In Episode 1 Jacqueline introduces Dr Benjamin Au. Ben recently completed the advanced cataract surgical fellowship at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. Ben’s involved in several trials, does a lot of the complex cataract surgery at the hospital and is heavily involved in teaching. Ben has a really interesting background, with many different influences on his cataract surgery that he shares during this episode as he explains the different technologies that are available to us.

Please subscribe to this podcast and remember that the full digital course is available at geneye.org.au.