Optician articles from December 2001

Optician archives from December 2001

Tokyo's optical show reports record sales.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... The organisers the International Optical Fair Tokyo 2001 have reported record-breaking profits which has reiterated its place as Asia's largest optical trade show and one of the world's most significant optical trade events. The show, held...

Corneal and conjunctival lacerations; Trauma, Seidel's sign.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Description Traumatic injuries of the eye commonly lacerate not only the cornea and/or the conjunctiva but can also damage periocular structures such as the eyelids and canaliculi. Common sources of trauma include metal from grinding or...

RNIBcalls for wider use of photodynamic therapy in NHS.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... The Royal National Institute for the Blind has called on the Government to make photodynamic therapy universally available to all AMD patients in the UK. The lobby group, a member of the Age-related Macular Degeneration Alliance of...

Contact lens care.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Part 9 - Rigid lens care systems: an overview In the ninth part of our series on contact lens care, Dr Lyndon Jones and Caroline Christie give an overview of rigid lens care systems (C3004i) Since the introduction of rigid corneal...

Are my contact lens skills adequate?(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... In this part of our industry-supported series, Donald Cameron reviews sources of contact lens education and training for practitioners of all levels of experience Are my contact lens skills adequate? Of course, it is a very confident...

RGP manufacturers meet in Nice.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Shelagh Hardy reports from Nice on the European Federation of the Contact Lens Industry's 29th conference The summary of European contact lens statistics as presented by Dr Philip Morgan in optician (Eurolens survey, June 1 2001) was a...

Ebony has a plan for independents.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... u South African frame company Ebony Optical has set up base in Ketton near Stamford in Lincolnshire to target UK independents. Owner Martin Atkinson and business partner Lindsy Atkinson started out in South Africa in 1995 to supply...

Record-keeping must improve, FODO told.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Practitioners must improve their record-keeping and accept that no one is immune if they are to avoid becoming embroiled in legal disputes. This was the dominant message from last week's Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians'...

Hawkes buys into Tant Plastics.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... u Nelson Hawkes has purchased 100 per cent of the shares of Tant Plastics, the Bishops Storford-based prescription laboratory. Mr Hawkes, a partner in coating firm IOCC of Milton Keynes, completed the deal at the end of October. Tant...

Brulimar reports on expansion policy.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... u In the past year Brulimar Optical has sold enough eyewear to cover the population of Manchester, at around 3 million frames, and has expanded its export business to over 28 countries. Managing director Howard Librae, though, admits that...

Flexon takes flight withpilot schools.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... u Marchon UK has today announced that the Air Experience Flights (AEF) and Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGS) which are run by a subsection of the RAF, have begun trials of Flexon frames. Should the trials prove successful, Flexon will then be put...

Norville promotes Seiko.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... u The Norville Group is running a number of promotions for its Seiko products for the festive season. Windows displays that highlight the lightness of Seiko's high quality lenses as well as one for the new release of titanium frames are...

Health Clinic's optical sales rise 30 per cent.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Care provider now has 12 Eye Clinics with three more to open in next six months Sales at the Eye Clinic have increased 30 per cent to [pound]11.6m in the last six months and three more sites are due to open in the next six months, its...

FODOrenews call for GOS system update.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... FODO has again put forward the case for centralising the administration of GOS claims to the Department of Health. This was one of the points it made to Almas Mithani, head of the Dental & Optical Services Policy Branch at the DoH, who was...

nemowrites.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Looking back As becomes clearer by the day, one of the tragedies of post-war Britain has been the politicisation of education and health. The latter issue is never far from the headlines - and with good reason. The failings of the hospital...

Market prospects are gloomy, report claims.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Optical report reveals fall in patient spending and rise in appointment cancellations The optical market in Great Britain and Northern Ireland continues to be flat, with little or no growth in patient volumes in October 2001, a new report...

Optical firms dice with debt.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... One in four UK optical companies are using debt to finance growth and are making themselves the most vulnerable players, a new report has claimed. The Plimsoll Strategic Risk Index of the Optics Industry has divided optical companies into...

Charity work leads to GMCreinstatement.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2001... Charity work in Bangladesh helped an ophthalmologist overturn a decision to strike him off the medical register for making false claims for sight tests on nursing home patients. Surrey-based Dr Khan Mohammad Manzur was struck off by a...

Planning to survive.(Eyeplan, a practice management system)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Three years ago Simon Mills set up Eyeplan, a practice management system which at a stroke generates constant cash flow, side-steps VAT problems and improves patient spend. Chris Bennett travelled to Somerset to take a closer look Steady...

Corneal dystrophies, degenerations and depositions - classification.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Description Corneal degenerations, dystrophies and depositions are common types of corneal opacifying disorders. Various conditions are covered individually in this A-Z series. Corneal dystrophies are non-inflammatory, progressive,...

ACLM hosts day of interactive training.(Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers )(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Practitioners can learn to take advantage of untapped consumer demand for contact lenses at a new training day next February. This is the message from the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers which will be hosting its first interactive...

Perfect partnership.(the advantages to limited liability partnership)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Optometrist Paul Spratt explains the benefits to practitioners of the limited liability partnership Partnerships in the business world grew flourished and declined before the beginning of the First World War after which the private company...

moneowrites.(this year in optometry)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 14, 2001... we would be prepared for Christmas well ahead of schedule. At the time I thought this was a good idea but, unfortunately, it would appear that most of the rest of the south of England had the same idea. The six-hour rugby scrum that I then...

Charity honours fundraiser.(Fight for Sight applauds Carol Standen)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... u A mother of three who raised money for sight charity Fight for Sight was guest of honour at its recent Open Day at the Institute of Ophthalmology. Carol Standen from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in the summer...

Multistorey effort for the RNIB.(Royal National Institute for the Blind )(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... u Practice manager Paul Yaxley from Indigo Patient Perceptions has raised more than [pound]150 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind by abseiling 100ft down the Chequers multi-storey car park in Maidstone. Hilco, Jai Kudo and Indigo...

Why all the gloom?(Opticians)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Optics as a business is embarrassingly short of solid information, so it is a treat when some hard figures are published. Each month optician's own Index seeks to capture the feeling of the moment and provide both quantitative and qualitative...

College extends search for new communicators.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Closing date for regional liaison officer applications is extended to January 18 The College of Optometrists has announced there has been a good uptake in its search for new communicators, and has extended the deadline for applicants to...

VAT ruling may be delayed.(case of Vision Aid Centre)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... An announcement of the decision on last month's VAT tribunal involving the profession and Customs & Excise could be delayed until the New Year. It is understood that tribunal chairman Dr Annula Brice, who will be making the decision, has...

Boots moves its RGP lens business to B&L.(rigid gas-permeable lens; Bausch & Lomb)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Boots swaps rigid gas-permeable lens supplier after a decade with David Thomas Boots Opticians has switched its supply of rigid gas-permeable lenses away from David Thomas Contact Lenses to Bausch & Lomb's Hastings subsidiary, formerly...

NICE attacked by watchdog.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has 'serious deficiencies' in the way that it carries out appraisals of treatments. NICE, which began studying photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration earlier this year...

Email offers cut-price way to reach patients.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... E-commerce group promises savings and profits through electronic messages An international digital marketing company, which promises to cut drastically the cost of patient reminder cards and other industry publicity, is targeting UK...

Disappointment over [pounds sterling]16.08 test fee deal.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Negotiators seek to link fee to increase in grants for pre-registration supervisors The profession has 'conditionally accepted' an offer to increase the GOS sight test fee to [pound]16.08, a 3.6 per cent rise which will be backdated to...

Nystagmus is under study.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... University of Leicester researchers have established a detailed survey of nystagmus sufferers which could lead to national standards of care. The university's Department of Ophthalmology is to ask practitioners and GPs in Leicestershire...

Corneal grafts ; Penetrating keratoplasty (PK, PKP), lamellar grafts.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... DESCRIPTION Although the most common form of corneal grafting is replacement of the central cornea with a 7-8mm diameter full thickness allograft, many variations exist. These include larger grafts, partial thickness (also called lamellar...

Norville now offers online ordering.(Norville Group)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... u The Norville Group has launched its secure online shopping service. Customers can browse or order frames, lenses, safety and sports eyewear, accessories, magnifiers and glazing consumables any time of the night or day at...

Visual field analysis - Part 4 The interpretation of data.
December 21, 2001... In the fourth part of our series, Dr Robert Cubbidge takes a look at the interpretation of data in the assessment of visual fields (C4006d) The advent of computerised automated perimetry in the 1980s enabled the introduction of statistical...

Harvey-Jones to host BCLA's symposium.(John Harvey-Jones)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... One of Britain's best-known industrialists, Sir John Harvey-Jones, will host a practice management symposium at next May's BCLA clinical conference and exhibition. The event, run in conjunction with the ACLM, is aimed at motivating...

The Philadelphia story.(American Academy of Optometry conferences in Philadelphia, PA)
December 21, 2001... Bill Harvey reports on some of the highlights of the recent conference of the American Academy of Optometry It is that time of year when that perennial seasonal classic, the American Academy of Optometry Conference, returns to enlighten us...

OEL roadshow adds new venues.(Optometric Educators)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... A new series of DOCET approved CETlectures are on offer to practitioners in five locations early next year With much attention currently focused on prevention of eye disease (see conference report page 18), it is timely to mention some...

Glossy promotion for practices.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... u For the fifth year in a row FreshLook will be featured in consumer magazines this Christmas, demonstrating Ciba Vision's commitment to colour contact lenses and the role they can play in market expansion. The company says the fashion...

omenwrites.(preventible blindness)(Brief Article)(Column)
December 21, 2001... dominated by man's inhumanity to man and my thoughts are with the many thousand families around the world who, following the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York, will have an empty seat around the table this Christmas. Hopefully next...

Drugs company funds BRPS work.(British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society)(GlaxoSmithKline)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... GlaxoSmithKline has awarded the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society a [pound]96,800 grant in search of a cure for retinitis pigmentosa. The award will fund a PhD student to work full-time on gene therapy for the disease which affects...

Diabetes standards plan recognises role of OOs.(optometrists)(UK Department of Health)(blindness prevention program)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Department of Health reveals details of fight against leading cause of blindness Optometrists in England and Wales are being encouraged to be involved in plans for the new Department of Health 'National Service Framework' for diabetes. ...

Public avoid opticians because of cost fear.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Men spend more than women on eye care, says healthcare provider's report More than three million people have not visited an optometrist for more than a year because they believe that routine checks are costly, a new survey has found. ...

Fashion victim.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The cancellation of Optrafashion, which was due to take place at the Islington Business Design Centre from April 13 to 15 next year, was hardly a surprise given the silence surrounding the event. The biggest surprise for many practitioners...

Optrafashion cancelled due to lack of interest.(fashion-led optical event)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Another fashion-led optical event is axed as organisers blame recessionary mood Optrafashion 2002, the UK's biennial exhibition for frames, sunglasses and equipment, has been cancelled. Organisers have blamed a lack of bookings,...

London clinic unveils new laser technology.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Daryus Panthakey describes his laser eye clinic as a 'breakthrough' in the application of cutting-edge technology for laser vision correction in the UK. Last week the ophthalmologist from India officially opened the doors to Accuvision,...

Titanium style with discretion.(eyeglass frames)
December 21, 2001... u New from Dunelm is a three-piece rimless set that uses flexible beta titanium sides with no need for flexi-joints. The company describes the lightweight line as an opportunity to make a strong fashion statement with discretion, adding...

Minima's new line is even more compact.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... u Minima Eyewear has introduced the new Minima 2 Micro line and the Minilon range (pictured). The Minima 2 Micro is a more compact and flat version of the lightweight and compact Minima 1 line, which features a number of subtle design...

Dozen designs from Alexander McQueen.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... uThere are 12 new eyeshapes in the latest collection from Alexander McQueen for spring/summer 2002. The latest styles are mainly titanium, although there are two women's acetate models, one of which is an elongated cat's eye shape with...

Dyslexia and vision explained.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... u A new book has been published with the aim of de-mystifying the controversial subject of dyslexia. Dyslexia and Vision is written by Professor Bruce Evans, a researcher and clinician in this field for many years. He explains that the...

Universities recognised.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Optometry departments, including Aston University and Cardiff University, were celebrating recognition for 'outstanding international quality' last week. In the latest Higher Education Funding Council assessment, Aston University's vision...

That was the year that wasa 2001 an optical odyssey.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... January The profession returned from the Christmas break to learn of a management shake up at Vision Express. Boss Jerry Lewis left and Simon Innes, who joined the group 12 months previously took overaAims to expand Anglia Polytechnic's...

Optical firms renew links through the Sunglass Hut.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Luxottica and Oakley have announced an agreement to distribute the latter's products through Luxottica's Sunglass Hut International retail outlets in Britain and elsewhere. The distribution agreement resumes the business relationship which...

Positive results.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Good news for contact lens fits and an increase in eye examinations, but dispensing fails to impress When comparing your practice with the results it is important to note that all our figures are equated to a 25-day month, so year on year,...