Optician articles from August 2008

Optician archives from August 2008

Stargardt's diseaseFundus flavimaculatus.(Features)(Disease/Disorder overview)
August 1, 2008... DESCRIPTION Stargardt's disease is an autosomal recessively inherited dystrophy of the macula. Rarely, autosomal dominant forms have been described. In the recessive form of Stargardt's disease, the ABCR gene, felt by some to be mapped to...

Coatings, compliance and corneal thickness.(Features)
August 1, 2008... In the second of our reports from this year's BCLA conference, Bill Harvey describes some lecture highlights, posters of note and a very lively discussion on regulations surrounding contact lens supply With practitioners constantly striving...

Independents feel the pinch.(News)(British Shops and Stores Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA), which counts optical outlets among its membership, says independent retailers are feeling the effects of the economic downturn to a greater degree than multiples. In its quarterly sales...

News.(Boots Opticians relaunched OPTOMise programme)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... As part of the relaunch of Boots Opticians' post registration programme, OPTOMise, all newly qualified optometrists will start the programme with a two day contact lens course at the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Institute in Prague. The first...

News.
August 1, 2008... Two high-street optical giants have launched their online ophthalmic frame collections this month. Specsavers has launched its eyewear collection online following confirmation earlier this year that it was to do so, while Boots Opticians has...

Boots offers frames online.(News)
August 1, 2008... Boots Opticians has launched an online eyewear collection with frames priced from [pounds sterling]25 upwards. As reported first on the Optician website last Monday (July 21), a similar service from Specsavers went live after months of...

Zeiss sets its sights.(P pages)(Carl Zeiss Vision)(Shared Vision)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Targeting consumers, Carl Zeiss Vision has created a newsletter called Shared Vision. Written with a consumer bias, it will support the Zeiss brand by introducing the company's latest products and lens developments. The first issue will look...

Procedures for plano contact lens fitting.(Features)
August 1, 2008... * Chris Kerr (Letters, July 18) calls for comments from the GOC and the College of Optometrists. I am happy to say that the positions he outlines are already supported by published material from both bodies. Plano lenses can only be sold...

A taste of Vision 2008.(Features)
August 1, 2008... Dr Ahalya Subramanian highlights some of the many interesting presentations at last month's Vision 2008 conference in Canada Montreal played host to Vision 2008, an international conference on visual impairment held once every three years....

Costco needs planning consent for GOS return.(News)
August 1, 2008... Milton Keynes PCT says warehouse retailer Costco could seek to join its ophthalmic list as well as to rejoin those of the other PCTs from which it withdrew, if it resolves a planning permission issue. 'If they've got everything in hand...

News.
August 1, 2008... vocational values: Dollond & Aitchison marked the inaugural launch of VQ Day by urging learners both past and present employed by the business to join in the celebrations by signing up to the Vocational Qualifications Roll Call at...

Tears and dry eyePart 2: The causes and mechanisms of dry eye.(Features)
August 1, 2008... Dr Michael Johnson continues our series looking at why dry eye occurs and what symptoms result. Module C9436, two CL points for optometrists and CLOs, two general points for DOse_SClB Poor wetting of the ocular surface can result from...

College highlights risks of viewing sun directly.(News)
August 1, 2008... Millions of people still remain unaware of the risk to their eyesight from direct exposure to sunlight during the summer months, especially during an eclipse, according to the findings of a new survey undertaken by the College of Optometrists....

Madrid postpones fair until 2010.(News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Madrid-based Spanish optics and optometry exhibition ExpoOptica is to become a biennial event, with the 28th edition taking place from March 19 to 21 2010. The move was attributed to industry demands and to avoid a clash with any other...

P pages.(International Eyewear Ltd introduced eyeglass frames)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Beat is the latest addition to International Eyewear's Eyestuff collection for children. Described as 'an edgy frame ideal for teenage boys', Beat has a full-rimmed square metal front with smooth deep metal temples featuring a graphic equaliser...

News.(General Optical Council)
August 1, 2008... At a General Optical Council meeting to discuss the agenda for the white paper requirements, the GOC detailed its plans for joining the Department of Health's new independent adjudication body, the Office of Health Professionals Adjudicator...

News.
August 1, 2008... Moves to transfer the management of GOC fitness to practise (FTP) hearings to a new government body were outlined at a Council meeting to discuss the implementation of the White Paper on health and social policy. During the meeting, which...

P pages.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Stylist and presenter of television programme 10 Years Younger, Nicky Hambleton-Jones has launched her summer Spec's Appeal Guide in association with Transitions lenses. Containing advice for consumers on correctly selecting lenses and frames...

Features.
August 1, 2008... References 1 The 9th International Conference on Low Vision. Final Program 2 http://www.senderogroup.com/mike.htm 3 http://www.knfbreader.com/products-mobile.php 4 http://wicab.us/technology/vision.php 5 Abstract Book of...

Clear benefits on display.(Features)
August 1, 2008... In the second of his reports on the recent Independents Day, Chris Bennett covers two lens presentations Throughout the recent Independents Day 08, and running parallel to the main conference programme, the event sponsors delivered their...

Marcolin signs up Galliano.(P pages)
August 1, 2008... Marcolin and Jardins d'Avrons, the company responsible for producing and distributing fashion-designer John Galliano's products, have announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement for the production and worldwide distribution of...

Overheard in practice.(Features)(Discussion)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... * I've just overheard a wonderful malapropism from the waiting area and I need to share it with you. But first, a couple from the archives: Elderly lady: 'I want those radioactives again!' Gentleman waiting his turn on the fundus...

News.
August 1, 2008... optometrist with influence: The owner of two optical practices and a glazing lab optometrist Kanwaldeep Koonar has managed to impress his ideas upon MP Ann Keen. The health minister is a patient of Koonar's Brentford practice and has listened...

Blueprint for a multiple.(Features)
August 1, 2008... Specsavers of Cannock in Staffordshire has signed up 65,000 patients over the years in a town of only 60,000, so no wonder it was a prime contender for the Multiple Practice of the Year Award When your practice is in a town of 60,000 souls...

News.
August 1, 2008... A patient at Specsavers Opticians in Swansea has commended practice staff for diagnosing a potentially life-threatening narrowing of the carotid artery. Campbell Conner, 66, went into the branch for an eye test after suffering blurred vision....

News.
August 1, 2008... Winning eyewear: Mark Cavendish's historic four stage wins in this year's Tour de France saw Oakley receiving plenty of exposure thanks to his customised versions of the company's Radar frame. Oakley provided frames for a number of riders...

It's all in the eyes.(Features)
August 1, 2008... Never mind unsung character actors, Mike Hale finds that one of the most unheralded heroes in films is, in fact, the ever-so humble contact lens Optometry is not seen as the most glamorous of occupations: if the eyes are the windows to the...

Shamir launches edging service.(P pages)
August 1, 2008... Shamir UK has launched a new remote edging service, Shamir Smartedge. Working with all currently available tracers, it is suitable for most metal, plastic and supra frames and offers a choice of traced shape or shape selection. In addition to...

Wall joins Silhouette.(P pages)(appointment of Markus Wall )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Silhouette International has appointed Markus Wall as its new international director of sales. Wall has over 20 years of sales experience in different industries, having previously worked for Nestle Nespresso as international sales development...

Titanium chic.(P pages)
August 1, 2008... Silhouette's Embrace collection for women features four new lens shapes and a variety of 'expressive temple colours.' The lenses in the rimless range are held to the frame by an intricate titanium clasp. The colour palette includes brown, red,...

P pages.
August 1, 2008... Smith Optic's new collection of optical frames take inspiration from the technical and style features of the brand's sunglasses range. Manufactured by Safilo, the collection features a significant new innovation in the positioning of the...

P pages.
August 1, 2008... Dakota Sciences and No.7 Contact Lens have entered into an exclusive agreement allowing No.7 Contact Lens to manufacture and distribute Dakota Sciences' SoClear Lens technology throughout the UK and Denmark. The So2Clear lens is a large...

Features.
August 1, 2008... No.7 CLs sign up SoClear Dakota Sciences and No.7 Contact Lens have entered into an exclusive agreement allowing No.7 Contact Lens to manufacture and distribute Dakota Sciences' SoClear Lens technology throughout the UK and Denmark. ...

Batemans name to leave high street.(News)
August 1, 2008... The Batemans name, bar a few exceptions, will disappear from the high street within the next 24 months as Vision Express (VE) invests in a 'substantial' upgrade of the 75 Batemans practices it acquired from bankruptcy in May. As reported...

Features.
August 1, 2008... The new Primary Ophthalmic Services contract becomes reality today. Imagine a conversation among group of optometrists, after a CET meeting.All own individual practices situated in neighbouring PCTs. Each wants reassurancethey have completed...

P pages.
August 1, 2008... You's eyewear has launched two futuristic frames that can be glazed with base-8 lenses. Model 659-205 for women and model 660-63 for men are both available in five different colourways and conform well to the natural shape of the wearer's face...

Panel rules on student's registration.(News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... An interim conditional registration order made on February 29 in respect of student optometrist Umar Abbas will remain in place until January 19 2009, a fitness to practise panel has ruled. Abbas is alleged to have forged testimonials from...

Behave yourself.(News)
August 1, 2008... Bill Harvey reports on a recent review commissioned by the College of Optometrists which argues for more rigorous research before behavioural optometric techniques be advocated It is important to distinguish the anecdotal from the proven....

Down in the mouth.(Features)
August 1, 2008... Why is the dental association so much better at communicating issues surrounding teeth than the many optical bodies are at promoting eyes?National Eye Week flashes across a handful of media screens once a year. Oral health is promoted in...

Birmingham joins the Trust.(News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Birmingham Optical Group has become the Eyecare Trust's 10th corporate patron. Patrons of the Trust have to pledge an annual subscription for a minimum of two years, with the donation being used to help the optical representative body's...

News.
August 1, 2008... Stylist and presenter of television programme 10 Years Younger Nicky Hambleton-Jones has launched her summer Specs Appeal Guide in association with Transitions lenses. Containing advice for consumers on correctly selecting lenses and frames to...

News.(Discussion)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Pulling together: Toric and multifocal contact lens specialist mark'ennovy recently invited a group of contact lens practitioners from the independent sector to share ideas, champagne and strawberries at the Henley Royal Regatta. Discussions at...

News.
August 1, 2008... Smith Optics' new collection of optical frames, manufactured by Safilo, features an innovation in the positioning of the Interlock system. The Interlock technology allows ophthalmic lenses to be switched for sun lenses by twisting the temples....

News.
August 1, 2008... A GOC fitness to practise panel has rejected an application to impose an interim suspension or conditional registration order on an unidentified optometrist. It ruled the registrant would remain anonymous as no action was taken. This issue had...

News.
August 1, 2008... No7 wins So2Clear licence Dakota Sciences and No7 Contact Lens have entered into an exclusive agreement allowing No7 to manufacture and distribute Dakota Sciences' So2Clear Lens technology in the UK and Denmark. The So2Clear lens is a...

P pages.
August 1, 2008... Frame manufacturer Orange Eyewear has unveiled eight new styles for men to be marketed under its own Orange label. The supra design of model OR222 (1) features a soft rectangular eye-shape with acetate-integrated sprung sides. The frame is...

Discussing laser vision correction.(Features)
August 1, 2008... Jay Dermott outlines some key clinical areas every eye care practitioner should know about modern refractive surgery Many articles are published for refractive surgeons under the umbrella heading of 'clinical pearls'. Naturally, such...

Interim order continues.(News)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... An interim order for conditional registration of a registered DO and student optometrist who provided misleading information to his assessor in relation to 'patient episodes' will remain in place for a further six months, a GOC fitness to...

News.
August 1, 2008... change at the top: Dian Taylor is to take over as acting chief executive and registrar of the GOC today (August 1) following Peter Coe's retirement on reaching his 60th birthday this month. Coe's last day with the GOC was July 31 and his...

News.
August 1, 2008... Targeting consumers in optical practices, Carl Zeiss Vision has created a newsletter called Shared Vision. Written with a consumer bias, it will support the Zeiss lens brand by introducing the company's latest products and lens developments....

Steroid-induced glaucoma.(Features)(Disease/Disorder overview)
August 8, 2008... DESCRIPTION Steroids, whether administered topically or systemically, can cause a significant elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). This is more likely with topical steroids but patients who use steroids in the form of an inhaled...

P pages.
August 8, 2008... The Argentinian optical exhibition Optiferia will be held in Buenos Aries from August 15-17. More than 100 exhibiting firms will attend this the fifth in the series of an event that gathers main firms in the sector together and attracts...

Prescription for global growth.(Features)(Company overview)
August 8, 2008... Transitions is one of a small group of truly global optical brands, Chris Bennett caught up with its president, Brett Craig, in Florida for a worldwide perspective on brand development Brett Craig is everything you would expect of a dynamic...

Brian Roy.(P pages)(Obituary of)(Obituary)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... After a long battle with illness, optometrist Brian Roy died on July 21, aged 69. After managing practices for Wright and Mills in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Roy bought his own practice in Forest Gate, where he worked for 25 years. Due to ill...

P pages.(Pursers Opticians)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Pursers Opticians of Purley, Surrey was the proud winner of Charmant's nationwide Esprit Eyewear spring/summer 2008 window display competition. The competition ran from April to June in conjunction with the launch of five new Esprit Eyewear...

P pages.(College of optometrists appointed Ian Humphreys)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... The College of optometrists has announced the appointment of Ian Humphreys as its new director of member services and communications. Humphreys, who has been in the post since the middle of June, joined the College from his post as head of...

Confident or cautious?(P pages)
August 8, 2008... Anyone looking for evidence of a slowdown in consumer spending in the UK market need only peruse the first-half results from Safilo. The Italian manufacturer highlights the UK as one of a number of European markets where sales were hit by...

News.
August 8, 2008... Diary dates September 27-29 ABDO Conference and Exhibition, Manchester, ABDO annual conference event, (www.delegate-info.co.uk/abdo) October 22 Haag-Streit UK glaucoma seminar, Stanstead, four point CET day, (01848 332020)

Kirkley wins promotion.(P pages)
August 8, 2008... Essilor's sales director of 10 years, Mike Kirkley has been promoted to business development director within the northern European regional business team. Kirkley's successor is Satnam Bhuller, who joins the company from his role as...

GOS contracts include threat to patient lists.(News)
August 8, 2008... Local optometric committees and practice owners have been expressing their dismay at clauses within the new General Ophthalmic Service contracts. Clauses, numbered 188.3.1 and .2 in some contracts, explain that primary care trusts have the...

Pigmented lesions of the choroid and retina.(Features)
August 8, 2008... Chris Hemmerdinger and Professor Bertil Damato consider the decisions involved in identifying and treating pigmented lesions of the choroid and retina Pigmented lesions of the choroid and retina are commonly encountered by optometrists in...

Features.
August 8, 2008... Singing isn't something you would normally associate with a business conference but there was more than a hint of the theatrical about this year's Independents Day with at least two of the speakers breaking out into song. The theme of this...

AOI complains of unfair prices.(News)(Association of Optometrists Ireland)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Irish practitioners are being forced to pay up to 20 per cent more than their UK counterparts when buying from UK-based suppliers, the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) has claimed. AOI president Martin O'Brien told Optician this...

News.(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... lenses for lybia: Ultravision was in Libya recently to present at the Libyan Ophthalmological Society's annual Congress in Tripoli. John Clamp (pictured left), the company's CEO gave a lecture entitled 'Tailor made silicone hydrogel contact...

Luxottica posts fall in profits.(News)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Luxottica has reported a drop in second quarter net profit of [euro]132,580m in comparison to [euro]154,581m during the second quarter of 2007, a fall of 14.2 per cent. Despite the fall in profits attributed to the weakness of the dollar...

News.
August 8, 2008... Summer snaps: Maui Jim and Optician are asking readers to send in pictures of themselves wearing sunglasses in unusual places this summer. The picture judged to be the best will win a case of champagne plus two pairs of Maui sunglasses and two...

Other.(Column)
August 8, 2008... I'm beginning to wonder whether our leaders have lost the plot. Fresh from their resounding failure to negotiate us a sensible GOS contract, leaving many of us with a legal document that has many question marks over it, I now see that at least...

P pages.
August 8, 2008... Advanced Medical Optics made a second-quarter profit of $22m compared to a loss of $166.8m for the same period last year when it recalled the Complete MoisturePlus multipurpose contact lens solution. Eye care sales more than tripled to $57.6m,...

News.(Survey)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... A national survey of blindness and low vision in Nigeria suggests that nearly half a million adults require cataract surgery. The survey, initiated by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health and supported by UK charity Sightsavers, examined...

Pay-per-patient brings growth.(News)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Medical technology company Optos has revealed that for the nine months ending June 30 2008 it received $73m in revenue, 93 per cent of which was generated by its pay-per-patient business model. It claimed that advances in the corporate...

News.(Luxottica S.p.A. revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... In a company statement Luxottica reported a drop in second quarter net profit of [euro]132,580m in comparison to [euro]154,581m during the second quarter of 2007, a fall of 14.2 percent. Despite the fall in profits attributed to the weakness of...

European slowdown hits Safilo's profits.(News)
August 8, 2008... The UK and Spain are the countries most severely affected by the slowdown of the international eyewear market according to Safilo's chief executive officer, Massimilano Tabacchi. The statement was given by Tabacchi to financial analysts...

Practitioner sentenced.(News)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... A Lancashire man described as an optician was given six months in prison, suspended for a year after he was convicted of attacking a neighbour in a road rage incident. During the trial at Burnley Crown Court, it was also revealed that...

News.(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... A. Sajid Patel was given six months in prison, suspended for a year after he was convicted of attacking a neighbour in a road rage incident. During the trial at Burnley Crown Court, it was also revealed that he was visiting 'vulnerable,...

P pages.(Seiko Optical UK appoints Andy Taylor )(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Andy Taylor has been appointed Seiko Optical UK's business development manager for the South West and South Wales. Taylor has over 20 years of experience in optics in such varied fields as manufacturing, dispensing quality management, training...

Helen Shadbolt.(P pages)(Obituary)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... Helen Shadbolt (nee Ball) died on July 6 after a long struggle with illness. Qualifying as a dispensing optician from City College in 1982, she achieved a further contact lens qualification. Shadbolt practised at Steven Harris Opticians in...

News.
August 8, 2008... balloon race: In celebration of its fourth anniversary, Specsavers in Wetherby, west Yorkshire began a charity balloon race on Saturday August 2 in support of Vision Aid Overseas (VAO). The balloons were sold for a minimum donation of [pounds...

Police win case.(News)(Brief article)
August 8, 2008... The family of murdered optometrist Giles Van Colle have lost their claim that the police failed to protect him. Van Colle, 25, was shot in 2000 by former employee Daniel Brougham. His family had claimed Hertfordshire Police had breached his...

Complete course in dispensing.(Features)
August 8, 2008... In the second article in our complete course in dispensing, Andrew Keirl and Richard Payne Module C9455, two general CET point, suitable for optometrists and dispensing opticians Interpreting the information given in a prescription...

Complete course in dispensing.(News)
August 8, 2008... In the second article in our complete course in dispensing, Andrew Keirl and Richard Payne consider the implications of prescription interpretation. Module C9455, two general CET point, suitable for optometrists and dispensing opticians ...

EU to include Rx details on new driving licences.(News)(European Union)
August 8, 2008... New EU driving licences that carry a driver's vision correction details coupled with compulsory eye tests are expected to significantly reduce the number of accidents and heighten awareness of eye health, delegates at a Federation of...

Outdoor play reduces prevalence of myopia.(News)
August 8, 2008... Children who stay indoors watching TV, reading or playing computer games have a greater association with myopia than those who spend more time playing outside, an Australian study has concluded. As part of the Sydney Myopia Study,...

News.
August 8, 2008... Birmingham on a budget: The Federation of Manufacturing Opticians has stepped up its efforts to provide cost-effective solutions for smaller companies who want a presence at Optrafair 2009 (April 4-6). The show organiser has launched shell...

GOC to pilot revalidation scheme.(News)
August 8, 2008... A government driven system for all health regulators to introduce 'periodic' revalidation of all registrants will be piloted by the General Optical Council (GOC) between July and December 2009, Optician has learnt. Details of how such a...