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As rates climb globally, Eye Care for Kids provides families a clinically validated option to protect children’s long-term vision

Melbourne, VIC – A Melbourne optometry practice focused on children’s vision is helping local families address one of the fastest-growing paediatric health concerns: myopia, or short-sightedness, which is progressing in children at rates researchers now describe as epidemic.

Eye Care for Kids, with clinics in Narre Warren and Caulfield, offers MiYOSMART lenses as part of its approach to myopia control for children. Clinical trials have demonstrated that MiYOSMART lenses can slow myopia progression by up to 60 percent compared to standard single-vision lenses.

Myopia occurs when the eye grows too long, causing distant objects to appear blurred. Left unmanaged in childhood, it typically worsens as children develop, increasing the risk of serious complications in later life including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and cataracts. Global research projects that by 2050, nearly half the world’s population will be affected by myopia.

Marvin Janet, optometrist at Eye Care for Kids with over 20 years of experience in paediatric and behavioural optometry, says the condition is being detected at younger ages than previous generations.

MiYOSMART lenses use Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) technology, which simultaneously corrects distance vision and creates a controlled defocus effect that slows the physical elongation of the eye responsible for worsening myopia. The original clinical trials involved children aged eight to 13, with more recent studies demonstrating efficacy in children as young as four.

Eye Care for Kids conducts a full assessment before recommending myopia control options. Unlike a standard school vision screening or general eye test, this assessment examines how a child’s visual system is functioning overall, not only how clearly they can see a chart.

Families in Melbourne’s south-east can book a children’s eye assessment at either the Narre Warren or Caulfield clinic through the practice website.

About Eye Care for Kids

Eye Care for Kids is a Melbourne optometry practice specialising in children’s vision, with clinics in Narre Warren and Caulfield. Led by Marvin Janet, an optometrist with over 20 years of experience in paediatric and behavioural optometry, the practice provides comprehensive eye assessments for children, vision therapy, myopia control, and specialist frame fitting including Tomato Glasses.

Contact:
Marvin Janet
Eye Care for Kids
eyecareforkids.com.au
03 9972 2722
[email protected]

Balwyn dentist uses 3D imaging to design full-arch implant plans around each patient’s jaw – placing five to eight implants based on bone structure rather than following a fixed four-implant formula

BALWYN, VIC – May 2026 – All-on-4 dental implants are among the most heavily marketed dental procedures in Australia. The system – which uses four titanium implants in fixed positions to support a full arch of replacement teeth – has been used successfully worldwide for over two decades. But the same standardised design that makes it efficient also means it was engineered for the average jaw, not every jaw.

Dr Steven Rostkier, who has practised restorative and implant dentistry in Balwyn for over 25 years, takes a different approach. Rather than starting with a fixed protocol, he begins with 3D CBCT imaging of the patient’s jaw and designs each plan from the scan outward.

“All-on-4 is a well-validated system – I’m not dismissing it,” Dr Rostkier said. “But four implants in fixed positions is a template, and not every jaw fits the same template. When I look at a patient’s 3D scan and the bone density varies significantly across the arch, I’d rather place implants where the bone actually supports them than force a standardised layout.”

Why implant count matters for longevity

The clinical reasoning centres on load distribution. Four implants concentrate every bite force on four contact points. Published research reports implant failure rates of approximately 5-10% over a 10-year period, with excessive mechanical stress on individual implants identified as a contributing factor.

For patients with bruxism, uneven bone density, or asymmetrical jaw structure, that concentration of force becomes a long-term risk. A plan using six or eight implants spreads the same bite force across more anchor points, reducing the mechanical load on each implant and the surrounding bone.

The trade-off is cost and complexity. All-on-4 treatment in Melbourne typically ranges from $23,000 to $30,000 per arch. Customised plans with additional implants generally fall between $25,000 and $45,000 or more depending on case complexity. For patients whose anatomy suits the four-implant template – moderate, uniform bone loss and no heavy grinding – All-on-4 delivers strong results at a lower price point.

A two-specialist model

Full-arch implant treatment at the practice involves a collaborative approach: a specialist periodontist performs the surgical placement, while Dr Rostkier handles treatment planning, 3D imaging, case design, and the final prosthesis. This means each stage is managed by the clinician most qualified for that specific part of the process.

About Dr Steven Rostkier

Dr Steven Rostkier (BDSc, University of Melbourne, 1999) has operated his dental practice in Balwyn, Victoria, for over 25 years. The practice offers general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry, and was one of the first in Victoria to establish a dedicated dental hygiene department – now in its 30th year of operation. Dr Rostkier is a member of the Australian Dental Association and is registered with AHPRA.

Practice address: 2a/379-381 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn VIC 3103
Phone: (03) 9831 3272
Website: drstevenrostkier.com.au