Optician articles from April 2003

Optician archives from April 2003

Lice; (Phthiriasis palpebrarum).
April 4, 2003... Description The eyelashes and eyebrows may become infested with the six-legged louse Phthirus pubis. This is the same louse that causes pubic lice and is distinct from Pediculus humanus, the common head louse. Lice may also contaminate...

Management of the dry eye in contact lens practice.
April 4, 2003... Part 1: Assessment and grading of dry eye conditions prior to CL fitting Jim Farrell begins a four-part CET series on dry eye by discussing several of the most commonly used tests in clinical practice for the assessment of dry eye...

nemowrites.
April 4, 2003... Dual role My colleague Moneo will probably not be alone in his distaste for the recent joint enterprise between a leading optical multiple and a major supermarket chain (optician March 14). If it is the one I have seen advertised, it...

The CL specialists' club.
April 4, 2003... Need a lens for a toric soft lens wearer who is just becoming presbyopic? Want to know whether the latest RGP multifocal works? If so, Ciba Vision's Specialist Club may well have the answer. Alison Ewbank reports from the club's recent meeting...

US show shrugs off fall in attendance.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... The Iraqi war has been blamed for a dramatic fall in numbers going to last month's Vision Expo East show and conference in New York. Preliminary attendance figures for the event - which took place at the city's Jacob K Javits Centre from...

Optrafair offers you an 'inspiring' top 10.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... With just a week to go before Britain's biggest optical exhibition opens, Optrafair's organisers have listed 'the top 10 latest inspiring ideas for additional business' at the NEC. Heading the list is Sama Eyewear's launch of sunglasses...

Caseco announces its Art for Eye and SHOC tactics.
April 4, 2003... u Two Scandinavian brands new to the UK - Art for Eye and SHOC - will be displayed by Caseco in the International City section of Optrafair. Paus Jenssen Optikk, the Norwegian company that manufactures the two brands, last year appointed...

Pennine takes on Harry Potter.
April 4, 2003... u Pennine Optical has been appointed distributor for Harry Potter and the designer brand Cacharel, both of which will be launched at Optrafair. Twelve unisex Harry Potter frames styles are available in three colours, with imaginative...

Get on the bus.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... Events in the optical world are a bit like London buses. You wait ages for one and then loads come along all at the same time. The trick of course is getting on the right bus and optician is here to help you do just that. The next few weeks...

Hypertensive retinopathy risk revealed.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... Researchers in the US claim they have shown that hypertensive retinopathy is twice as common in blacks as in whites. The research was published in last month's Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association (March 24). It has...

Specsavers targets Northern Ireland for further expansion.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... Specsavers Opticians has announced plans for a three outlet expansion in Northern Ireland following the increase in branches in Scotland (optician, February 28). The new practices in the province are expected to be open by this time next...

Wales switches to new system.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... This week Wales's new Health Service system started with optometrists involved in the new bodies in charge. The principality's five regional health authorities were replaced by 22 new local health boards (LHBs). The system, 'unique in the...

Support staff training receives official boost.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... Accreditation of a new qualification for receptionists will help the UK's optical industry provide the trained workforce they need to 'compete in the European and global markets'. This week the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (SMC)...

Contact lens survey asks: who fits what?(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... New research into the provision and recommendation of contact lenses is to be conducted by optician, in co-operation with the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM). The research is aimed at determining who fits contact lenses in...

Is one of your patients a wannabe film star?(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... If one of your contact lens patients cherishes a dream of acting in a Hollywood drama they may like to know about a new contact lens campaign. Johnson & Johnson's Acuvue2 Colours has launched a competition in the search for the next Jude...

Children's vision care neglected by parents.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... A third of Britain's parents have not booked their child an eye examination appointment in the last five years. This is one of the findings of a new survey of hundreds of parents and their attitudes to their family's eye health today. ...

OOs well placed for screening.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... Past president of the College of Optometrists Richard Broughton told MPs that optometrists were well placed to help deliver the national service framework's aims for screening diabetic retinopathy. At this week's All Party Parliamentary...

Significant fall in high street sales, says CBI.(Brief Article)
April 4, 2003... Practitioners who have experienced a tailing off in business of late are not the only ones. The CBI's Monthly Distributive Trades Survey, seen as the benchmark of what's happening in Britain's high streets, has reported the first...

Limbal stem cell deficiency.
April 11, 2003... Description The corneal epithelium is derived from epithelial stem cells situated at the limbus. These stem cells are a self-renewing population that also give rise to transient amplifying cells (TACs). TACs are rapidly mitotic and give...

Glossary of prefixes, suffixes and related terms: Part 4 R-Z.(medical terminology)
April 11, 2003... Ceri Goodman feels that many students these days have increasing difficulty in grasping the meaning of medical terms. An understanding of the individual components of a word helps one to understand its meaning. It must be remembered that...

Unequal pupils.
April 11, 2003... Nicholas Phelps Brown explains the nervous pathways and advises the use of drops to help diagnose causative factors of unequal pupils The left and right pupils are commonly closely equal in size. The normal pupil diameter varies from 2 to...

The Cookstown sizzler.(Cookstown, Northern Ireland optician practice wins Ciba Vision Practice of the Year award)
April 11, 2003... The personal touch is paramount at Ciba Vision Practice of the Year 2002 winner McGovern Optician in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, as Rory Brogan discovered when he visited the outlet last month To anyone growing up in...

Monkey business.(designer Paul Frank finds his way into eyewear and accessories)
April 11, 2003... Paul Frank is your friend. Rob Moss explains why, and in doing so introduces a monkey called Julius and talks to Anthony Reid about the launch of Paul Frank Optometrics It was only a matter of time before Julius would be found on a pair of...

Another day in practice.
April 11, 2003... Anthony Clarke presents a case study of a patient with poor distance vision and discusses the potential cause of diabetes mellitus and its complications A 59-year old woman attended for a re-examination. Her last eye examination (following...

UV-blocking contact lenses.
April 11, 2003... Douglas Clarkson discusses the ability of contact lenses to block ultraviolet radiation and puts some of the claims regarding safe levels of exposure under scrutiny Ultraviolet radiation and its effect on the eye from various sources,...

Mambo plans to add colour to practice displays.(several eyewear industry news briefs)
April 11, 2003... u Australian surfwear and accessories designer Mambo has created a stylish range of point of sale material to accompany its range of sunglasses launched earlier this year. Designed to coordinate with the point of sale already in place in...

Disciplinary hearings on the way.(professional misconduct cases)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... An optometrist and two dispensing opticians will face unrelated charges in three separate General Optical Council disciplinary hearings to be held later this month. Anthony Hugh Orr, an optometrist based in the south west, is to appear on...

moneowrites.(optometry and marketing; Optrafair preview)(Column)
April 11, 2003... Shopkeepers unite I do not wish to dwell too long on my colleague Nemo's comments last week about my happiness or otherwise of a recent advertising campaign. However, I believe that Nemo has again failed to note the threat that these sorts...

Cataract pilot cuts the wait.(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... A Merseyside scheme involving optometrists and ophthalmologists is the latest to boast it is reducing waiting times on cataract treatment via direct referral. Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust and South Sefton PCT have established a pilot scheme...

Siltint and Calotherm sign distributor agreement.(several eyewear industry news briefs)
April 11, 2003... u Two well-known names in the ophthalmic industry have joined forces in an agreement that sees lens coating specialist Siltint becoming an approved distributor of the Calotherm range of optical cleaning accessories. Commercial director of...

Optrafair awash with new software options.(optometry practice management software)
April 11, 2003... Practitioners will find no shortage of new or improved practice management software systems - targeted at businesses hungry to be more efficient - at this weekend's Optrafair show (April 12-14). As well as updated programs by current...

B&L appoints commercial directors.(several optical industry news briefs )
April 11, 2003... u Bausch and Lomb UK has appointed three new commercial directors to lead the development of its core business areas of visioncare, surgical and pharmaceutical. Maxine Green, Andrew Webb and Anthony John will be responsible for business...

Glitter Eyes lose a little sparkle.(Ciba Vision recalls contact lenses in US)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... Ciba Vision is conducting a voluntary recall of its Glitter Eyes soft contact lenses in the US. The recall has come about because the lenses do not meet the Novartis company's 'strict quality standards'. A spokeswoman for Ciba Vision...

Tesco to open more practices.(supermarket chain to open more optical departments)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... Supermarket chain Tesco this week announced its optical division remains a priority within its non-food business. The UK's largest supermarket plans to open four optical departments in the next six months, bringing its total to 21. The...

Life begins at 40cm says past president.(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... ABDO's West Country area will host its annual CET day later this month with former Association president Duncan Counter one of the key speakers. The event, on April 24, is claimed to be only second to ABDO's national CET day, and this...

Patients show loyalty to CL home delivery.(home delivery of contact lenses )
April 11, 2003... New research on contact lens wearers' attitudes has claimed that a home delivery scheme can reduce the numbers of patients who discontinue wearing lenses by up to a half. The consumer research also found that over a third of those wearers...

Deja vu.(national health insurance and the UK economy)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... Even before Gordon Brown delivered his Budget speech on Wednesday the damage to the economy was plain to see. Despite the lessons of the past, the economy continues to ride a roller-coaster of boom and bust. While Governments have succeeded...

Steering group ready to deliver draft report.(Eye Care Services Steering Group)
April 11, 2003... The Department of Health is to deliver its draft report for its optical steering group in the next few weeks. The report follows papers that were presented by the participants of the committee - now renamed the Eye Care Services Steering...

Conti donates specs to Lions.(Conti Opticals, Lions Club International)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... Conti Opticals, the UK distributor of optical goods, is to donate 25,000 spectacle frames to the Lions Club International charity. The donation, in recognition of the company's 25th year, will be celebrated with a special presentation at...

VE first quarter sales hit by difficult climate.(Vision Express)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... The depreciation of sterling against the euro, and a drop in consumer activity due to the war in Iraq have been blamed for a fall in sales at Vision Express. Its French parent company, GrandVision, announced that its pan-European sales had...

Safilo improves net sales by 6 per cent.(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... Safilo, the Italian eyewear manufacturer, has reported increased sales and improved margins for 2002. The luxury eyewear group, which counts among its brand name licences Giorgio Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren and Gucci, reported that in a...

It's all Greek to EU Commission.(European Commission sues Greece over optician licensing)(Brief Article)
April 11, 2003... Greece is to be taken to the European Court by the EU Commission because it will not recognise opticians who graduate in the country under franchising deals with universities from other EU states. The row has been brewing for some time,...

Paediatric optometry: Part 14 Vision screening.
April 18, 2003... Jane Henderson provides a snapshot of vision screening practices from birth to puberty, with reference to national guidelines (CET code C5025n) Screening has been defined as 'a public health service in which members of a defined...

nemowrites.(high price of spectacles questioned )(Column)
April 18, 2003... Cause and effect For reasons which will become apparent I make no apology for returning yet again to the controversial subject of the prices opticians currently charge for spectacles. Let me make it clear, however, that, as a mere observer...

Profession celebrates awards for supreme achievement.(Optician Awards 2003)
April 18, 2003... Sunday's presentation of the optician Awards 2003 saw 400 practitioners, manufacturers and other senior figures from optics pack the Palace Suite of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. Ten panels of independent judges sifted through a record...

Senior members find fault with ABDO plans.
April 18, 2003... In a unprecedented move, four past presidents of ABDO have acted together to voice their concern over proposed changes to the internal workings of the Association. They fear a larger council will be 'unwieldy', and although the appearance...

FMO seeks opinions on show future.(tradeshow organizers poll Optrafair attendees)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2003... Substantial changes to the future of Optrafair may be discussed as early as next month after organisers polled the views of hundreds of show visitors at the NEC. At a special stand at the exhibition 10 per cent of visitors - 1,100 people -...

Peterhead practice takes on 10,000th staff member.(Specsavers Opticians, Contamac news briefs)
April 18, 2003... u Specsavers Opticians in Peterhead has notched up two milestones in its first week of business. It is the 500th store to open and has employed Specsavers' 10,000th employee. Store director John Watson received a certificate naming...

50,000th Lasik patient celebrates.(Brief Article)
April 18, 2003... u Laser eye specialist Ultralase has performed its 50,000th Lasik treatment, which it says confirms its position as the UK's leading provider. The company's Guildford clinic carried out the procedure, enabling hair salon owner Gerri Keane...

It's Sunday best for visitors to Optrafair.(Brief Article)
April 18, 2003... Figures released by Optrafair this week revealed attendance levels for last week's show maintained 2001 levels. This was despite the hopes of the NEC's Centrex organisers that record pre-registration numbers could make the 2003 event 'the...

Conference draws in 500.(Optometry 03)(Brief Article)
April 18, 2003... About 500 delegates attended this year's Optometry 03 conference, a similar number to last time the event was held in 2001. The event boasted several strands of CET, combining hands-on workshops and lectures, and was not only aimed at...

Macular stromal dystrophy; (Groenouw II dystrophy).
April 25, 2003... Description The corneal dystrophies are a group of progressive, usually bilateral, inherited (although non-congenital) corneal disorders with a typical age of onset. The stromal dystrophies result in characteristic stromal opacities. There...

Optical aberrations and the eye.
April 25, 2003... In the first of a new series, Neil Charman discusses the basic aspects of aberrations of the eye, including chromatic and monochromatic aberrations Most readers will have at least vague recollections of taking, during their halcyon days as...

Gearing up for take-off.
April 25, 2003... Designer eyewear group David Clulow has spread its wings to Heathrow's Terminal 3 with a dispensing-only practice. Rory Brogan checked in to see the store in action ou've just broken your one and only pair of spectacles on your wedding...

Kemp expands to 10 practices.(Martyn Kemp Opticians acquires Fordham Dispensing Opticians)(Brief Article)
April 25, 2003... South Yorkshire-based independent group Martyn Kemp Opticians (MKO) has acquired fellow Sheffield independent business Fordham Dispensing Opticians. Fordham is based in the Totley Rise area of the city, and brings the number of outlets in...

Mido president plays down fears over Sars.(trade show scheduled for May )(Calendar)
April 25, 2003... Mido president Cirillo Marcolin this week hit back at 'alarmist' rumours surrounding the show and said everything was being done to limit the risks of the Sars virus to both exhibitors and visitors. The industry's leading show will be held...

FODO warns of more demands by VAT man.
April 25, 2003... Customs & Excise may be looking to hit the optical industry with new VAT demands, FODO warned delegates at its recent AGM. The association and its VAT adviser KPMG told members about their meeting with Customs' officials in January. They...

Riding the low point.(trends for dispensing and turnover )
April 25, 2003... March benchmarks fell back compared with February, but year-on-year trends for dispensing and turnover still look positive March was quite a slow month in terms of retail activity with many benchmarks falling compared to February. Average...

Alcon drops combat seasonal allergic response.(new opthalmic products)
April 25, 2003... u Alcon has launched a new eye drop for the treatment of ocular signs and symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Opatanol was first launched in the US in 1997. Alcon says that by virtue of its effectiveness and extremely good...

Reformed fraudster restored to Register.
April 25, 2003... A dispensing optician who was struck off for stealing more than pound sterling30,000 from her employers to fund a jet-set lifestyle was restored to the Opticians Register last week. The disciplinary committee of the General Optical Council...

omenwrites.(Column)
April 25, 2003... Nanny revisited With the Easter newspapers full of the disagreement between the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary over the introduction of compulsory parenting courses for the mothers and fathers of delinquent children, the argument...

Government pledges [pounds sterling]350k for training.(Brief Article)
April 25, 2003... neLast week the Government pledged more than pound sterling350,000 for optics through a scheme to be managed by the Sector Skills Council for the Science Engineering and Manufacturing Tecnologies Alliance (SEMTA) on behalf of the Learning and...

Cash for training.(Editorial)
April 25, 2003... Should the award of the biggest ever training fillip for technicians engender a sense of pride or concern in the optical community? News this week (see page 6) that the Government has provided a pound sterling350,000 cash injection for the...

Trusts to get [pounds sterling]27m to buy eye cameras.(digital cameras for diabetic screening.)(Brief Article)
April 25, 2003... A massive cash injection of pound sterling27m over the next three years has been announced to buy digital cameras for diabetic screening. Making the announcement, health minister David Lammy said diabetes was the leading cause of blindness...