Talking Eyes with Lien Trinh

Associate Professor Penelope Allen is a leading expert in ophthalmology and a pivotal figure in the Australian Bionic Eye project. Join us as she delves into the fascinating journey of this initiative, from its inception and the brilliant minds behind it to the many challenges they have faced along the way. We'll also hear about the outcomes of the first and second clinical trials, offering hope and new possibilities for vision-impaired individuals. To learn more about this project, visit:Centre for Eye Research Australia https://www.cera.org.au/research/bionic-eye-and-vitreoretinal-research/Bionics Institute https://rb.gy/p2t75w Check out Channel 9’s recent news coverage (May 2024) of the 2nd clinical trials here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what sort of nutrition advice is best for vision, for eye health and importantly, to prevent eye disease? Feeding your eyes is the very beginning of a conversation on nutrition for eye health. Professor John Nolan, the founder and director of the Nutrition Research Centre in Ireland, joins me to discuss the ingredients needed to improve and retain our vision. We deep dive into John’s areas of expertise: the role of nutrition for vision, cognitive function and the prevention of age-related diseases like macular degeneration. And we dare to venture into provocative territories that challenge the status quo. Food for thought.The late Michael Moseley is mentioned in this episode, related to his work investigating the legitimacy of Prof. John’s work. We’d like to acknowledge not only his tragic passing this year, but his brilliant contributions to the field of science translation. Vale Michael.Additional resources:The Brain and Ocular Nutrition Conference aims to connect the global scientific community as well as nutrition enthusiasts, for the advancement of eye and brain function through nutrition. It is planned for June 2025 in Massachusetts, USA.Nutritional therapist Hannah Nunn’s channel can be found at www.youtube.com/@nutritionforamdMichael Moseley’s “Trust Me I’m a Doctor” review of macula pigment supplementation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1f4vsRpHghwGWZcSvRN72xM/can-i-improve-my-eyesightFollow us on social mediaFacebookInstagramIf you enjoyed today's episode we'd love for you to leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Associate Professor Anai Gonzalez-Cordero is a research scientist at the Children’s Medical Research Institute who joins me to discuss regenerative medicine and this incredible exciting possibility for vision restoration. We begin our discussion with the very basics of what stem cells can do, how we are now able to produce them without using embryonic tissue, what disease modeling is and excitingly, how we might manufacture and transplant stem cells to restore vision.Additional resources:A fantastic article about How iPS cells changed the worldRetina AustraliaAbout Stem Cells is a public resource provided by the International Society of Stem Cell Research. Stem Cells Australia hosts a site supported by the University of Melbourne which links researchers with the community. A complete list of current clinical trials can also be found here.Follow us on social mediaFacebookInstagramIf you enjoyed today's episode we'd love for you to leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 8: Fixing the Code for Inherited Retinal DiseasesHow does Lego relate to Genetics? In our final episode of our Talking Retina series, we have a very interesting chat with Dr. Tom Edwards, head of the Gene Therapy Research unit at the Centre for Eye Research Australia about how gene therapy works, how it might look in people receiving treatment, and the process from research to clinical delivery. According to Dr. Tom, multiple gene therapies are expected to roll out over the next 5 to 10 years, so genetic testing and signing up to registers is more important now than ever.Dr. Tom Edwards and A/Prof Lauren Ayton work closely with the Australian and global community on Inherited Retinal Diseases.Research sites specialising in IRDs in Australia are:The VENTURE Registry is a collaboration between the Centre for Eye Research Australia and the University of Melbourne which collects both clinical and genetic information on people living with IRDs in Victoria. This registry also includes female carriers of X-linked IRDs. The Australian Inherited Retinal Disease Register and DNA Bank is Australia’s largest DNA ban collecting family history and genetic samples, but not comprehensive clinical data (which is captured by state-based registries – below). The AIRDR has proudly been funded by Retina Australia since its inception in 2009. The Save Sight Institute IRD Registry is based in NSW and led by an ophthalmologist (Prof Grigg) and geneticist (Prof Jamieson), collecting both clinical and genetic data on people living with IRDs.The Western Australia Retinal Disease (WARD) study is based at the Lions Eye Institute in Perth, collecting clinical and genetic information on people with IRDs. The Lead Investigator, A/Prof Fred Chen, is also the Head of the Ocular Tissue Engineering Laboratory at Lions, developing new treatments for IRDs.Additional resources can be found at:Retina Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank you for tuning in to Season 1 Talking Retina. This season, we’ve covered so many things, so a quick recap. Ass Prof Lauren Ayton and I introduced you to the retina and inherited retinal diseases. Prof Andrew Turpin and I discussed vision testing, what AI is and its potential roles and setbacks in eye care. Prof Robyn Guymer helped us understand where research for macular degeneration is at and best practice clinical management. This means, not forgetting to offer clinical trials as an option, if no treatments are currently available to prevent vision loss. Ass Prof Penny Allen took us through the story of bionic eye development in Australia. Prof John Nolan took us through the research for macula protection and the use of macula pigment supplementation. And Ass Prof Anai Gonzalez-Cordero and Dr. Tom Edwards introduced us to the incredible work in vision restoration that is happening now.It’s been a huge learning journey for me and I hope it’s been one for you as well. As an optometrist, public health practitioner, amateur athlete, globetrotter, and mother in pursuit of living my best life, I set out to create something to make it easier to learn about and put into practice, our most latest understanding of the human eye. A stand out for me recording this season was hearing directly from people who have been affected by vision conditions that we diagnose and treat. I learnt as much from them as I learned from the experts in the field.So, with this season under my belt and so much learning, not only about the research on eyes, but about podcast creation as well, I’m aiming to bring you something more exciting next season. It’s currently in R&D stage so I can’t say too much, but for Season 2, we will be Talking Cornea. If you’d like to get involved as a contributor or a sponsor, you can reach me on my socials via Instagram and Facebook @Talking Eyes. Follow and share, and subscribe to Talking Eyes to stay updated. I’m Lien Trinh, your host of Talking Eyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Talking Eyes—a podcast about eye care research, clinical insights, and the everyday experiences of people living with vision conditions. Hosted by optometrist Lien Trinh, the show brings together experts and personal stories to make eye health both accessible and meaningful.Season 1, Talking Retina, took listeners on a journey into the back of the eye—exploring conditions, treatments, and the research shaping how we protect sight. Season 2,Talking Cornea, has taken a little extra time to create—and for good reason. It comes in two streams: one for everyone on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and a practitioner-only edition through Optometry Australia and Mivision, packed with technical pearls for clinical practice.We’ll be exploring what the cornea is, why it matters, and what happens when it loses transparency, changes shape, or simply dries out.Episodes shine a light on keratoconus, transplants and eye banks, contact lenses, myopia, and dry eye disease.Follow the release of the show on Facebook and Instagram @talkingeyespodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Dr. Karl David Brown, Chief Scientist, Centre for Eye Research AustraliaThe cornea might look simple—a clear “window” at the front of the eye—but it’s one of the most complex and vital parts of vision. In this episode, host Lien Trinh is joined by Dr. Karl Brown, a leading researcher in corneal biology and tissue engineering, to unpack what the cornea really is, how it works, and why it matters.We cover:The five layers of the cornea and their unique roles.How the cornea protects the eye and focuses light.Why transparency is maintained, and what happens when it’s lost.The cornea’s sensitivity and nerve supply—why even tiny changes are felt so strongly.Cutting-edge research into corneal tissue engineering and donor cell expansion.Resources & Further ReadingCentre for Eye Research Australia — Corneal ResearchCornea and Contact Lens Society of AustraliaAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology — Cornea BasicsThe Cornea SocietyAcknowledgementsProduced with support from Humdinger Studio (Melbourne), Gulwa Recording Studio (Darwin), the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Optometry Australia, and mivision.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkingeyespodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Larry Kornhauser, President of Keratoconus AustraliaIn this episode, we flip the usual script and learn about keratoconus through lived experience. Our guest is Larry Kornhauser, co-founder and President of Keratoconus Australia and a tireless advocate for patients nationwide. Larry was diagnosed as a schoolkid in the 1960s, underwent a corneal transplant at 18, and has spent the past two decades helping others navigate a condition that can quietly upend education, work, and daily life.Larry takes us from classroom vision screenings and early hard-lens fittings to the joy of restored sight, the realities of cost and access, and why second opinions with an experienced fitter can be life-changing. We also unpack what keratoconus is—when the normally dome-shaped cornea thins and bulges into a cone, distorting vision. Larry shares practical advice for patients and families, reflects on the mental-health toll of uncertainty, and explains how advocacy, teaching clinics, and modern treatments like corneal cross-linking have transformed outcomes.In this episode:Larry’s diagnosis, transplant, and the bumpy road of early RGP lensesWhat keratoconus actually is, who it affects, and how it progressesCosts, funding hurdles (including NDIS realities), and where to find more affordable careThe power of a proper fit, backup spectacles, and seeking a second (or third) opinionCross-linking as a game-changer—and why avoiding eye rubbing mattersKeratoconus Australia and building a supportive community This is a hopeful conversation. Larry’s story shows that with the right clinicians, the right lenses, and timely treatment, most people with keratoconus can study, work, travel, play sport—and simply get on with living.If you or someone you love has keratoconus, talk to an optometrist experienced in specialty contact lenses and ask about cross-linking assessment and teaching-clinic options in your state.Key resource for this episode:Keratoconus AustraliaThe national patient support, advocacy & information body in Australia withFAQs, downloadable guides, treatment info, and clinic directories Vision Subsidies & Assistance page (lists state/federal schemes, clinics that offer subsidised lenses) Helpline / outreach support, to help people find specialist eye-carers even in regional or remote areas KeraClub webinars / patient forums (updates, Q&A with clinicians) AcknowledgementsProduced with support from Humdinger Studio (Melbourne), Gulwa Recording Studio (Darwin), the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Optometry Australia, and mivision.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkingeyespodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Professor Mark Daniell, Head of Corneal Research, Centre for Eye Research AustraliaIn this episode, we unpack what a corneal transplant actually involves, why rejections happen, and how modern “layered” (lamellar) techniques like DSAEK/DMEK are changing recovery and outcomes.Mark also lifts the curtain on tissue-engineered corneas—how expanding a single donor could help treat more people worldwide—and a new hydrogel scaffold that aims to make delicate endothelial surgery faster, safer, and easier to perform in more places.In this episode:Why corneas fail: common reasons include keratoconus and endothelial failure (e.g., Fuchs dystrophy), where the inner cell layer can’t keep the cornea clear.From “open-sky” to layers: Full-thickness grafts (penetrating keratoplasty) once dominated, but today many patients get lamellar transplants—replacing only the diseased layer—improving vision quality and lowering rejection risk.Endothelial techniques:DSAEK/“DSEK” adds a thin stromal slice + endothelium.DMEK transplants just Descemet’s membrane + endothelium for the sharpest optics and the lowest rejection rates.Why rejections dropped: Fewer stromal immune cells (like dendritic cells) in lamellar grafts mean fewer immune alarms.Tech & tools matter: Microscopy, ultra-fine sutures, and air-bubble “sticking” steps are critical. Mini-scleral contact lenses also help post-graft vision.Global need: Millions need corneal surgery, but many regions lack eye banks and surgeons. Expanding endothelial cells from one donor into many grafts could be a game-changer.What’s next:A dissolving hydrogel scaffold that “pops open” like a tent to simplify DMEK-style surgery.Trials exploring cell-only injections of lab-grown endothelium.Longer-term efforts to bioprint stroma and generate cells from iPSCs (reprogrammed skin cells).Key resources for this episode:Centre for Eye Research Australia: Corneal Transplants: What you need to know Keratoconus Australia: Corneal Transplantation AcknowledgementsProduced with support from Humdinger Studio (Melbourne), Gulwa Recording Studio (Darwin), the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Optometry Australia, and mivision.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkingeyespodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest: Heather Machin, Head of the Lions Eye Donation Service (Melbourne); Chair, Global Alliance of Eye Bank AssociationsEye donation is about science, compassion, and community. Heather Machin lifts the lid on how eye banks honour donors and families, prepare tissue for surgery and research, and help restore sight in Australia and around the world—while navigating ethics, regulation, and the future of bioengineered corneas.Content AdvisoryThis episode includes discussion of eye donation in the context of end of life. Listener discretion advised.In this episode:What eye banks do and why Heather calls them “custodians of the gift.”Donation pathways: organs vs tissue; cornea vs sclera; how consent works with families.How tissue is prepared and stored (corneoscleral discs, preservation media, timelines).Access & equity: why Australia can pre-book surgeries—and why many countries can’t.Costs & funding: cost-recovery vs “selling” tissue; how pricing actually works.Ethics & safety: the Barcelona Principles; counterfeit risks; regulation (TGA).Training the workforce: education in a niche field; collaborating internationally.The future: precut tissue, injectors, CARES, bioengineering & cell therapies; where AI might help.What listeners can do: register intent and—crucially—tell your family.Key resources for this episode:DonateLife Australia (Eye & Tissue Donation Awareness)Overview of eye & tissue donation in Australia, myths, facts, how donation works. “How Does Donation Work” — explains that eye donation can occur up to 24 hours after death, and steps in registration & family discussion. “Get Involved” page — ways for community, schools, or workplaces to engage. Lions Eye Donation Service / CERAThey are one of Australia’s leading eye banks (Melbourne) that manage donations, evaluation, and distribution.“Why Become an Eye Donor” — discusses eligibility, how donated corneas are used, and the role of research/training.Frequently Asked Questions (CERA Biobank) — details about donations to research, ethics, and contact information.Eye Bank Association of Australia & New Zealand (EBAANZ)The peak body for eye donation and transplantation services in Australia and NZ. Donation & Transplantation section — outlines how eye tissue donation works, including the need for consent and how tissue is used.FAQ: Explains what an eye bank is, donation eligibility, ethics, and standards. AcknowledgementsProduced with support from Humdinger Studio (Melbourne), Gulwa Recording Studio (Darwin), the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Optometry Australia, and mivision.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkingeyespodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SummaryContact lenses have come a long way. In this episode, Martin Robinson — practicing optometrist of 30+ years and National President of the Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia — joins Lien to unpack the journey from early glass and hydrogels to today’s breathable silicone hydrogels, multifocals, toric multifocals, and what’s coming next. We get real about comfort, dryness, hygiene, allergies, risk, and how to match a lens (and a wear schedule) to real life.GuestMartin Robinson — Optometrist; National President, Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia (CCLSA)https://www.cclsa.org.au/about/cclsa-board | https://www.martinseyecare.com.au/about-us/ In this episode:Why contact lenses = freedom for kids, teens, adults and older adultsHow modern lenses “breathe” and why oxygen matters for corneal healthDaily vs fortnightly vs monthly vs extended wear: how to choose and the risk profilesComfort & safety: dryness, allergies, makeup, “jelly bumps,” biofilms, case careMyths busted: “a lens can go behind the eye” (nope), “tap water is fine” (hard no)Scleral and water-gradient lenses for tricky dry eye casesSmart lenses on the horizon: pressure and glucose sensing, new optics designsThe #1 mindset shift: tailor lenses to how you actually liveKey resources for this episode:Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia (CCLSA): https://www.cclsa.org.au/contact-lenses/contact-lenses/Better Health Channel: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/eyes-contact-lenses Contact Lens Resource guide for Optometrists: https://www.optometry.org.au/guidelines_practice_notes/contact-lens-resource-guide-free-for-members DisclaimersThis episode is for education only and not individual medical advice. Always follow your own eye-care professional’s guidance for lens type, care system, and wear schedule.AcknowledgementsProduced with support from Humdinger Studio (Melbourne), Gulwa Recording Studio (Darwin), the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Optometry Australia, and mivision.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @talkingeyespodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content.Share this episode with a glasses-wearing friend 😉 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.