Cinema as advocacy: The eye health message behind "My Eyes"

In this EyePod podcast episode, the Eye Care Network sits down with Australian actor, writer, producer, and practicing optometrist Tsu Shan Chambers to learn about "My Eyes"—her Australian film illuminating the experiences of families navigating inherited eye disease and vision impairment. Chambers explains that the project was “a 5-year journey, actually, inspired by true events,” tracing its origins to her time volunteering as a personal assistant to vision-impaired judo athletes at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, an experience she describes as “so profound” that 2 decades later it became the foundation for her screenplay.

The film follows Alana, an optometrist and mother whose daughter is diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, prompting a search for a stem cell donor that reconnects her with a former Paralympic judo athlete, portrayed by real-life champion Eduardo Ávila Sánchez. Chambers emphasizes the importance of authentic representation, noting that it took 12 months to find a vision-impaired actor: “I really wanted to have someone with a vision impairment to play that role… that was really really important for us.”

The production also stars Adam Garcia and was filmed across Australia and Mexico. Chambers describes the film as “a love story for our industry,” using entertainment to subtly promote awareness of preventive eye care and inclusion. She highlights that “in Australia, 75% of vision loss is preventable,” underscoring the power of mainstream media to shift public understanding of early detection and regular eye examinations.

Throughout development, Chambers collaborated with ophthalmologists, vision-impaired consultants, and global eye-health organizations including the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Vision 2020, Vision Australia, and the International Blind Sports Federation. She views the film as a unifying educational tool: “We’ve all got the same goal… trying to raise that awareness.”

My Eyes is available on Amazon Prime Video and aims to broaden public recognition of genetic eye disease while celebrating resilience, representation, and the vital role of lifelong eye care.