Lesley Springall, publisher and editor, NZ Optics and eyeonoptics

As New Zealand’s only ophthalmic publication and given how well we know many of you, we wanted to let you know that we are and we will do our utmost in these challenging times to support you, your businesses and everyone in our wonderful close knit ophthalmic industry.

Like many of you, NZ Optics and its online publishing site eyeonoptics, are facing some significant challenges as we and our advertisers grapple with rapidly depleting revenues and ongoing costs during this Covid-19 crisis.

We were lucky to distribute our April issue before the lockdown (available to all during this period on our home page or through the link below), but it is unlikely we will be able to bring you a hard copy version of our May issue, though we will do our best to ensure you still receive a digital version. Plus, as always, news will be posted regularly through our websites eyeonoptics.co.nz for all our New Zealand-centric news; and eyeonoptics.com.au for our more Australian-centric news

Anything of key importance will also be highlighted through our Facebook pages, www.facebook.com/NZOptics/ for New Zealand and www.facebook.com/eyeonoptics/ for Australia and further afield, and our monthly e-newsletters Clinical Desktop and Talking Shop.

We have engaged some of you to share what’s happening in your part of the ophthalmic world during this troubling time, which we will share with you in our May issue. We have also spoken to others about sharing case studies and research to help keep you informed, until our conferences and seminars return.

Most importantly, we will continue to share what your industry bodies are doing to support you at this difficult time, such as:

• the ODOB extending recertification cycle end dates by 12 months (http://eyeonoptics.co.nz/articles/archive/odob-level-4-advice-for-the-nz-optometry-community/); or
• RANZCO’s decision to suspend training for six months (http://eyeonoptics.co.nz/articles/archive/ranzco-covid-19-effects-on-training-and-rotations/)

As we all adapt to new working conditions, with many of us now based at home, we recognise how important communication within the industry is. Given our unique position, especially within the New Zealand industry, we are well positioned to help with this communication. So, please let us know if there’s anything we can cover for you or share for you to keep the industry informed and entertained and we will try to do so.

I would also like to personally thank all of you who have shared how tough things are out there and been so kind about it or have been in-touch to just let us know how you’re doing.

We have a wonderful industry, filled with many wonderful businesses and people, all doing their best to support the people of New Zealand’s and Australia’s eye health and our eye health industry. So, we look forward to working closely with you all as we work together to get through this.

Stay safe,

All the best,

Lesley Springall, publisher and editor, NZ Optics and eyeonoptics

NZ OPTICS APRIL ISSUE - http://eyeonoptics.co.nz/nz-optics/magazine/