G
Book a free laser assessment Book a consultation
News
News Room

Hitting the high note at AUSCRS 2026

07/08/2026

Vision Eye Institute (VEI) doctors, clinical staff and executive team helped celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS) Conference on the Sunshine Coast last month.

Themed ‘The Sound of AUSCRS,’ this year’s meeting attracted record attendance and delivered a program focused on emerging technologies, clinical innovation and the future of cataract and refractive surgery. VEI was strongly represented throughout the conference, including presentations on spanning artificial intelligence in ophthalmology, refractive laser suitability, cataract outcomes and intraocular lens technologies.

Prof Gerard Sutton, VEI ophthalmologist and past AUSCRS President, is proud of the organisation’s unique role within the ophthalmic community. ‘AUSCRS is the only conference in Australia, or the world for that matter, where you can find out about the latest technology and treatments and where hard discussions tease out truth,’ he says.

VEI Chief Executive Officer Amanda Cranage agrees, describing the annual AUSCRS conference as a ‘wonderful reflection of what makes ophthalmology such a progressive and collaborative specialty.’

For Carolyn Tay, Senior Orthoptist and Quality Manager at VEI Chatswood, the conference’s blend of education and collegiality continues to set it apart.

‘I have to say that this year’s 30th anniversary conference was extra special, brought to life by the incredible AUSCRS team and the wonderful camaraderie throughout the event,’ says Ms Tay.

‘As an orthoptist, I’ve always found AUSCRS incredibly insightful, with plenty of learning and laughter as we hear the science behind what we do as clinicians from our colleagues. The experience is always so warm and welcoming, and it was a fantastic opportunity to attend the conference again this year.

‘The Venetian Carnivale theme for the gala dinner was absolutely beautiful and such a wonderful way to celebrate this milestone anniversary.’

VEI Chatswood colleague and optometrist, Alanah Luu, says AUSCRS provides an invaluable opportunity to learn the latest developments in cataract and refractive surgery.

‘I found it particularly interesting to learn how small refractive outcomes can significantly influence patient satisfaction, reinforcing the importance of precision and managing patient expectations. The presentations on emerging technologies, including new extended depth of focus (EDOF) and light-adjustable lenses, also provided valuable insight into advances in lens design and visual outcomes.’

Beyond the clinical content, Ms Luu also enjoyed speaking with clinical support staff from other practices and discussing their clinical protocols. ‘Exchanging ideas and understanding the rationale behind different workflows encouraged reflection on our own pre-assessment processes and highlighted opportunities to further enhance the patient experience,’ she says.

VEI congratulates all team members who presented at AUSCRS 2026 and thanks the organisers, speakers and attendees for another outstanding event.

Photo credit: VEI and AUSCRS.

Image of the audience at AUSCRS looking out from the centre left of the stage. It's an indoor conference room with a brown, panelled wall at the back, you can see the tele-prompter and time screens, the time reads 10:12Group shot of Vision Eye Institute (VEI) CEO Amanda Cranage (third from the right) with other VEI staff (5 others) at AUSCRS in front of the 'The Sound of AUSCRS' LED screen (visual like the 'The Sound of Music' movie title card but with a turquoise background and tropical island instead of mountainsAUSCRS conference room shot, taken from the back right of the room at the start of the Barret Wolfe gold medal lecture – you can see the Barret Wolfe title screen at the back of the stage. The background is gold/bronze streamers overlaid with a gold medallion to the left, the Barret Wolfe in white, cursive writing and 'Gold medal lecture' in all caps underneathShot of the main stage for AUSCRS head-to-head session, an 'IOL showdown'. The presenting doctors are dressed in theme as boxers wearing 'costume robes' and the moderators dressed in black and white as referees. Two doctors are standing and 'facing off' the doctor on the left is wearing a red satin boxer robe with yellow trim and belt, the doctor on the right is wearing a red and white vertical striped satin boxer robe with cobalt blue trim and belt with white stars, remaining speakers/contestants are sitting in chairs at the back of the stage. The title screen reads 'Head to Head, IOL showdown: the battle for better vision' with stock images of boxers book-ending the screen.Close up shot of a Vision Eye Institute key speaker at the 'Sound of AUSCRS' staff support program. The key speaker is a woman with brown hair in a bob and glasses, wearing a black t-shirt and standing behind a lectern. You can see the bottom left of the 'The Sound of AUSCRS' title screen which is set up to look like the 'Sound of Music' movie title cardClose up shot of the AUSCRS stage which has been set up for the Gala with band on stage, you can see a drum kit to the centre back and a keyboard to the left. Two women on stage are dressed in full Venetian masquerade gowns with black lace face masks. The lady on the left (facing out to the audience) is in a burgundy satin gown with gold trim, a gold face mask and large gold fascinator, the women on the right is in a royal blue satin gown with gold trim, a black lace mask and large blue hat black lace trim. You can see part of the themed screen which is orange and black with AUSCRS logo and part of the event name 'Biennale Carnevale di Venezia'Image of Vision Eye Institute (VEI) CEO Amanda Cranage (right) and VEI medical director Dr Lewis Levitz (left) in the AUSCRS auditorium Group shot of three Vision Eye Institute (VEI) staff dressed up in gowns and masked for the Venetian Carvivale Gala dinner. Woman on the left wears an off-the-shoulder black and white floral gown and black and red lace eye mask, the woman in the centre is wearing a red short-sleeved top with black dress pants, an orange and black neck scarf and red and gold face mask, the woman on the right is wearing a blue and purple gown with a black embroidered bodice with blue, purple and gold thread, and blue velvet skirt, purple shawl draped across her arm and a purple face mask with black and purple feathers at the top. The women are outside the venue.

Enjoyed this article?

The information on this page is general in nature. All medical and surgical procedures have potential benefits and risks. Consult your ophthalmologist for specific medical advice.

Date last reviewed: 2026-08-07 | Date for next review: 2028-08-07

Have a question?

IMPORTANT: If you are concerned about your eyes and require an urgent consultation, DO NOT use this form. Please call one of our clinics during office hours or contact your nearest emergency department.

coloured spectrum bar