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Optics 2000 Pty Ltd, the forerunner of Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd, was founded as an optometrical company in 1987 and quickly grew to several practices in suburban Melbourne and one in Geelong, Victoria. By 1994 Ralph had consolidated to practice full time in Geelong where he built up A busy practice specialising contact lens wear for older patients. This included bifocal contact lens product testing for major international manufacturers. |
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An innovative approach was taken to technological development resulting in a custom designed computer recall program and a self built digital imaging system for ocular photography of eye conditions that manifested both externally and internally – within the eye.
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First hand experience of the plight of poor and socially excluded minorities in South East Asia and Latin America inspired Ralph to change professional direction, enrolling in a Masters of Social Science in International Development at RMIT University as well as completing the Ocular Therapeutics course at Uni Melbourne in 2005. The heavy study load of two post-graduate courses necessitated the sale of the Geelong practice. Part time locum work was commenced specialising in meeting the needs of regional Victorian practitioners where a huge manpower crisis exists. This environment provides the scenario for direct application of the therapeutic treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma often hundreds of kilometres from the nearest eye surgeon. This unique combination of experience, knowledge and skills provides the ideal platform for eyecare aid and education programs as well as a base from which to advise on visual disability in the context of the built environment. Ralph has now completed his International Development Masters (November2006)
with a minor thesis entitled: |
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