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A year after assessing its first client, CFEH has received 3,000 referrals and is already helping save the sight of ordinary Australians. In addition, more than 53% of optometrists and 12% of ophthalmologists across NSW and the ACT have signed up to use the Centre and close to 15,000 tests have been conducted.

"Considering that the Centre was still a construction site in June 2009 and we didn’t commence full operations until March 2010, the high volume of practitioner registrations and growth in patient referrals is a huge achievement," says Centre Director Professor Michael Kalloniatis. “What we are most proud of though, is the tangible impact we have already seen for the people referred to CFEH. When you realise that most of these people wouldn’t otherwise have had access to the necessary advanced imaging and assessment, for financial or other reasons, we know we are making a real difference.”

The majority of CFEH clients are from lower socio-economic backgrounds and at-risk of eye disease because of age, family history, health or lifestyle factors, or are suspected of having an eye disease and require further investigation. Some simply need ongoing monitoring of a known condition. Most interestingly, around 70% of people assessed at the Centre are from outside of inner Sydney.

“The higher utilisation of CFEH services by regional and suburban patients is an indication that the Centre is meeting its objectives. It also shows that despite some concerns about the Centre’s location, people are willing to travel to access this state-of-the-art facility,” Prof. Kalloniatis noted.

Overwhelmingly, the feedback from people assessed at CFEH has been one of gratitude for this valuable service being available at no charge. Clients also consistently comment on how impressed they are with the caring and professional staff as well as the excellent facilities. As Keith a client in October said, "CFEH is top notch. The service, facilities, care and attention I received are all a model for how to get it right."

For many optometrists and ophthalmologists, CFEH has already become an integrated extension to their own practice, with the top referrers from both professions sending more than 100 patients each this year.

“I’m now viewed as being more competent and professional by patients that I’ve referred to CFEH. They think I’m wonderful for making the extra effort to ensure they get the best testing and diagnostics available,” said Sally Atkins, Optometrist, and owner of Atkins Optometrists in Chatswood.

CFEH adds resource capacity to help cope with increasing demand for eye health services and, most importantly, reduces financial barriers so that everyone can access the very best in eye imaging and assessment at the critical early stages of eye disease.

As a new initiative and service offering within the ophthalmic sector, CFEH acknowledges that it will take some time for eye-care practitioners and the wider community to fully utilise the Centre. 

“A year on, we are finding that there is still some confusion about the role of CFEH. We see ourselves as part of an integrated team, and our contribution is helping with early detection, triaging patients and improving access to advanced ocular imaging and assessment to those who most need it,” says Prof. Kalloniatis.

He went on to say "We are committed to working with the eye health sector to ensure this community investment is effective in reducing preventable vision loss. To achieve this we understand that we need to be open to feedback and continually evolve, and we invite all stakeholders to let us know how we can best work together."

The Centre will next year look at extending its community reach even further throughout NSW and the ACT, and will continue to utilise the very best technology to improve diagnosis of early stage eye disease.