Centre for Eye Research Australia

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East Melbourne, VIC
Centre for Eye Research Australia

CERA is Australia's leading eye research institute.

21/04/2026

We recently donated surplus masks that would otherwise go unused, helping ensure essential supplies reach people who need them. 🌏

Working with Kits4Life, Medishare and MedSurplus Alliance, the masks are being sent to The Diabetes Centre - TDC – one of Pakistan’s largest charities dedicated to diabetes care, providing treatment and support to patients regardless of their ability to pay.

✨ Thanks to everyone involved in sorting, packing and coordinating the donation. ✨

The images below show the masks being prepared and loaded for shipment – from stacked pallets in the warehouse to cartons being moved into shipping containers for delivery. 🚚

16/04/2026

Despite advances in glaucoma research and the role eye pressure plays, a fundamental question remains: Why do retinal ganglion cells die – and how to keep them alive?

Lowering eye pressure can ease stress on these cells, but it doesn’t stop their gradual deterioration or prevent vision loss. Understanding why this happens – and how to intervene more effectively – is where glaucoma research is now moving forward.

“Retinal ganglion cells in the eye – the cells that are damaged in glaucoma – are like an old motorcycle trying to climb a hill,” says Professor Pete Williams, lead researcher of CERA’s Neuroprotection and Repair research.

“And all the treatments we’re trying in the clinic are aiming to get that motorcycle over the hill.

“Surgical implants are like paving a smooth road for the motorcycle to ride on, reducing eye pressure is like knocking down the hill, and genomics is trying to understand exactly why the hill is there in the first place.

“But the problem is that even with all this help, a broken motorcycle at the bottom of the hill can go nowhere regardless of the road surface ahead.”

In the recent Crock Lecture, Professor Williams explains how he and his CERA colleagues are working to “turbo charge” that motorcycle over the hill to save retinal ganglion cells before vision loss occurs.

📺 Watch it via the link in the comments below 👇

15/04/2026

💡 We’re excited to share a new suite of accessible research information templates designed to give people more choice, clearer information and greater control when deciding whether to take part in research. 🔬

Developed through The MAIN Project, these resources recognise that everyone accesses information differently. They include options such as written, audio and video formats, making it easier to understand research and make informed choices.

The templates are designed to support people with low vision and blindness but can be tailored to suit individual needs, abilities or capabilities.

This work has been shaped by people with lived experience, with the aim of improving how research information is shared and ensuring participation feels more respectful, inclusive and accessible.

We’re grateful to everyone who contributed their insight, experience and support to make them possible. 🌟

👇 Visit the link in the comments below to learn more and access the templates 👇

13/04/2026

🦁 The 32nd 201v3 Lions Ride for Sight has officially come to a close for 2026 – with the final kilometres logged across the four‑day Gippsland Ride and the four‑week Ride With a Difference – which allows cyclists to nominate where and how long they wish to ride at their own pace. 🚲

We’re sincerely grateful to all the sponsors who supported this year’s event and helped turn those kilometres into meaningful momentum for CERA’s sight‑saving research. 🔬

With thanks to:

🔸Apellis
🔸Community Bank Inverloch & District
🔸Elders
🔸Evans Petroleum Gippsland
🔸Harvey Norman Nunawading
🔸Hentley Farm
🔸Hertz Australia
🔸PROMinsight
🔸SG Off Road
🔸TEMPUR
🔸Yulong Investments

Alongside the riders, Lions Club of Inverloch & District 201V3, volunteers and wider community, your support has helped ensure this year’s Ride is well on its way to reaching its fundraising target – and advancing research aimed at preventing vision loss. 👁️

From everyone at CERA, thank you for backing the Lions Ride for Sight. ♥️

10/04/2026

Join Professor Lauren Ayton AM, Wednesday 13 May, at Raising the Bar for a special presentation, 'Vision and tech: seeing the future of eye health'. 👁️ Professor Ayton will cover the basics of vision, what can go wrong with our sight, and the new technologies that may change the future for people living with vision loss.

Professor Ayton is a Deputy Director at CERA and Professor in Optometry and Ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne, who has worked for 20 years researching eye disease and new treatments to stop or restore vision loss.

She'll be joined by the most important expert of the evening – Cameron – a father of two girls and teacher/educator who'll discuss his experiences with vision loss and what it’s like being involved in ground-breaking clinical trials.

📆 Wed 13 May, 8:00pm
📍 The Toff In Town, Level 2, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne

Find out more and register for free via the link in comments 👇

08/04/2026

Have you tested your eyes lately? 👀

If you have early signs of age-related macular degeneration, an Amsler grid can help you monitor changes in vision at home in between visits to your eye specialist.

We have a downloadable Amsler grid you can print and display on your fridge, pin board or shed! Make sure to read and follow the included instructions.

Access the Amsler grid – plus our other helpful eye resources – by subscribing to our monthly Eye News (link in comments) 👇

02/04/2026

The team at CERA is taking a short break over the Easter long weekend. We'll be back on Tuesday 7 April both in office and online. Have a happy and safe Easter!

01/04/2026

We’re deeply grateful to Peter and Jo Manger, who decided to donate now to CERA in lieu of their planned bequest, so they could see the impact their generous contributions make.

“After raising four children, Jo and I had enough assets to consider bequests in our wills, and we both strongly believe that those who can do so have a duty to be philanthropic,” says Peter.

Peter was the project coordinator for the construction of the MCG’s light towers and the Great Southern Stand, an ocean yachtsman, and a Rotarian.

As a member of the Rotary Club, Peter volunteered to build a roofing factory in Timor-Leste.

“Jo had poor eyesight from the age of 10. With cataract surgery in 2021, Jo’s eyesight dramatically improved. She now has 20/20 vision in her right eye and has discarded her glasses,” says Peter.

"But her left eye has age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and she needs regular injections.

"It was when we met CERA’s impressive Head of Macular Research, Professor Robyn Guymer AM, and understood her important macular research.

“We decided to donate now instead of leaving our money to CERA as a bequest in our will, as we wanted to witness the impact we could make.”

31/03/2026

Today we’re proud to stand alongside our colleagues across Victoria’s medical research sector to call on the Victorian Government to fund the full cost of research.

Every grey lab coat in these pictures represents a research project with the potential to change lives that, under the current funding model, may never proceed. When the full cost of research isn’t funded, promising work to treat our most serious health conditions is delayed, downsized, or shelved altogether.

Together with AAMRI Vic, we’re calling for a $95 million investment in independent medical research institutes in the 2026–27 State Budget.

Without this commitment, the consequences will be seen in laboratories, hospitals, and future patient outcomes across Victoria.

27/03/2026

🚲🌄 After four big days on the road through Gippsland, riders have crossed the finish line in the 32nd Lions Ride for Sight! 🦁🚲 Their commitment, energy and teamwork have already resulted in more than $42,000 raised towards advancing our vital research aimed at preventing vision loss. 👁️

We’re incredibly grateful to the Gippsland Lions Club and their wider community for continuing to champion CERA’s sight saving mission. A special mention goes to the legendary Team Sisters, Ian De Bruyne and all the riders and dedicated support crews whose time and huge efforts are at the heart of the Ride.

Of course, we can’t forget our team of CERA Superstars – Dr Flora Hui, Associate Professor Guei Sheung Liu, Professor Keith Martin, Dr Jiang Hui (Sloan) Wang and Professor Pete Williams – who joined the ride and proudly represented CERA beyond the lab and clinic. 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲

We'd also like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the sponsors whose generous support helped make this year’s Ride for Sight possible.

From everyone at CERA, a huge thank you for riding for sight. ♥️

25/03/2026

Clinical trials are a vital step in turning research discoveries into treatments that can protect sight.

At CERA, Dr Flora Hui and Professor Pete Williams are co‑leading world‑first international clinical trials investigating nicotinamide (vitamin B3) as a way to support the energy needs of retinal cells in people with glaucoma – alongside standard eye‑pressure treatments.

“Eye pressure isn’t the final story in glaucoma – our trials are focused on what else we can do to help protect vision,” says Dr Hui.

For participants, taking part involves continuing their usual glaucoma care, with the addition of a daily vitamin B3 tablet and regular vision tests and eye scans to carefully track changes over time.

Their involvement is helping researchers understand whether this approach could slow vision loss.

👉 Learn how clinical trials – and the people who take part – are helping move new glaucoma treatments closer to the clinic.

18/03/2026

🦁 Lions Clubs from across Gippsland are coming together today for the 32nd – a four‑day ride through lush, green hills to raise funds for CERA’s sight‑saving mission. 🌄

Funds raised support research focused on preventing vision loss, continuing the Lions’ long‑standing commitment to our work. We’re grateful to Lions Club of Inverloch & District 201V3 and the dedicated volunteers who make Ride for Sight possible year after year.

Among the riders are the CERA Superstars – Dr Flora Hui, Associate Professor Guei‑Sheung (Rick) Liu, Professor Keith Martin, Dr Jiang Hui (Sloan) Wang and Professor Pete Williams. They're swapping lab and clinic for bikes to ride alongside the wider Lions community in support of the cause they work on every day. 🚲🚲🚲🚲

We wish all riders, including the legendary Team Sisters and Ian De Bruyne, and the support crew a safe and successful ride – with a big thank you from everyone at CERA. ♥️

And if you haven’t already, there’s still time to support the CERA Superstar members (link in comments) 👇

Image 1: Prof Williams, Dr Hui, Prof Liu and Dr Wang stand indoors either side of a blue-and-yellow Lions Ride for Sight banner.
Image 2: Prof Martin wears a helmet and red jacket and stands beside a black e-bike near the beach under a blue sky.

Address

Level 10, 200 Victoria Parade
East Melbourne, VIC
3002

Telephone

+61399298360

Website

http://www.cera.org.au/

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Hope in sight

Vision is precious and no one should ever lose the gift of sight.

We’re deeply committed to conducting eye research with real-life impact and finding ways to prevent people from going blind.

As an international leader in eye research, we use our world-class knowledge and expertise to achieve better treatments, and faster diagnosis of eye disease. Our goal is to prevent vision loss - and ultimately, find cures to restore sight.

As true innovators, our scientists are on the brink of new discoveries every day.