Empowering Ophthalmologists and Future Visionaries Through AVR

Professor Nitin Verma, an ophthalmologist based in Hobart, Tasmania, reflects on his journey into ophthalmology and how Australian Vision Research (AVR) plays a pivotal role in supporting the field. He shares how his fascination with the eyes began during medical school and how ophthalmology has evolved into one of the most precise medical professions. Professor Verma emphasises AVR’s contributions to both current ophthalmologists and the next generation, offering seed grants and funding opportunities that often lead to larger research projects. He highlights the critical importance of research in vision sciences, describing it as an investment in the future that benefits patients, communities, and global eye health. Through AVR, groundbreaking research becomes reality, helping to safeguard the vision of millions.

Hello, my name is Nitin Verma and I’m an ophthalmologist in Hobart, Tasmania.

I decided to do ophthalmology when I was a fourth year medical student because of my first contact with ophthalmology, with eyes, and it fascinated me!

From then I think I’ve been proved to be correct because ophthalmology is now evolved into one of the most precise professions or branches of medicine that exist.

(What sets Australian Vision research apart?)

AVR is one of the few organisations that is run by ophthalmologists, that is made for ophthalmologists, and beyond it has this special position in the system where it allows younger ophthalmologists to convert their ideas, convert their thoughts into reality in terms of research by providing them the smaller grants opportunities for seed grants and which often,- as you would have known-, lead on to bigger grants and move for other organisations. 


So I think as a starting point for a researcher, AVR has got no equal.

(Why funding Australian Vision research is so important?)

Eyesight, vision, you know, is so important to everybody and if you don’t believe me, just close your eyes for 30 seconds, both of them, and then you know what I’m talking about.

Not only does eyesight and vision have a positive relationship with quality of life, but it’s also important from a national, community and also from an international perspective. 


We can deliver as much aid, we can deliver as much help to anybody, but if they can’t see, most of it will not be of any use.

So, I think that a donation, support for eye care, for keeping people’s vision, for research in vision sciences, is really an investment in the future. One day all of us in some form or another, are going to require something to do with our vision and our eyes. Really, not only are you investing in the future of the country, you actually are investing in the future of yourself.

(Why considering leaving a bequest matters?)

A donation when one is alive is good, because one can see the effects of the donation, the results of the donation. The outcomes of the donation are visible and will very often be communicated to you as a donor, communicated to you as a patient, communicated to you as a citizen, because many of the results of research are often visible. But research is not a one one hour, two hour, two day or even a month’s journey.

Research is a long drawn up journey, and sometimes the support for research needs to be also, you know, there to match that length of time that research comes or an idea comes to fruition. To ensure that your interest to ensure that your effort in supporting, promoting eye research continues even after you. 


I think one of the sensible ways of doing that, is including research, including support for research in your bequest, because that’s the only way to be able to continue your support even when you’re not there.