Optician articles from January 2002

Optician archives from January 2002

How can I communicate the benefits of contact lens wear?
January 11, 2002... In the final part of our series aimed at helping practitioners to develop their contact lens business, Bill Harvey discusses the role of good communication in establishing new contact lens patients and ensuring they continue as successful...

Corneal graft rejection ; (Allograft rejection).
January 11, 2002... Description Clarity of a corneal transplant is dependent on the continued function of transplanted endothelial cells to pump fluid from the corneal stroma against the osmotic action of stromal mucopolysaccharides. As the transplanted...

RGPs: the next generation.
January 11, 2002... At its recent 50th anniversary celebrations Japanese contact lens maker Menicon explained why it believed the RGP contact lens has a big future. Chris Bennett reports from Japan Physiological differences in corneal topography and leading...

The ideal location.
January 11, 2002... Alison Ewbank reports from Allergan's County Mayo facilitywhere one of the many investments in manufacturing is production of the Complete solution 'rocket bottle' Twenty-five years ago, the prospect of 40 new jobs in a small town in rural...

Contact lens care.
January 11, 2002... Part 10 - Local allergic and toxic responses In the 10th part of our series on contact lens care, Professor Michael Doughty describes local allergic and toxic responses to contact lens solutions and topical drugs (C3004j) In assessment...

Contact lens safety to be debated this month.
January 11, 2002... BCLA to hear views on 30-day continuous wear at the Royal Society of Medicine The latest BCLA debate will discuss whether 30-day continuous wear silicone hydrogels are safe. The debate, which will take place later this month, will...

nemowrites.
January 11, 2002... Blunt words The one good thing to be said about what passed for entertainment in the Christmas TV schedules was that it served to remind us of the joys of reading. For the first time in ages I was able to peruse newspapers from cover to...

Victory on VAT - but will Customs appeal?(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Optical bodies celebrate tribunal verdict as Customs & Excise considers next move Attention has turned to HM Customs & Excise's reaction to its defeat after optics won the VAT tribunal. Customs spent the Christmas holidays licking its...

2002: year of change and opportunity.(Association of British Dispensing Opticians)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Leading figures of the professional bodies reveal their hopes and aspirations for the New Year The College of Optometrists' communications chairman Bob Hutchinson believes practical help for its members will be the focus for the year to...

B&L restructure leads to job cuts worldwide.(Bausch & Lomb)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Company aims to reduce operating costs. Details of layoffs yet to be announced Global optical group Bausch & Lomb is cutting hundreds of jobs worldwide in an effort to reduce 'ongoing operating costs'. The cost of the layoffs, however,...

A Happy New Year.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Just a few short weeks ago before the turkey, trimmings and New Year celebrations, optometrists along with the rest of the world were bracing themselves for a dismal New Year. But how fortunes have altered in such a short space of time. On...

ABDO strives for more input from members.(Association of British Dispensing Opticians)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Efforts to get more people involved in the Association of British Dispensing Opticians have been stepped up with proposed changes to the body's Council and area representation. Following a review of the structure of dispensing opticians'...

Health Clinic is hot prospect in the City.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Shares in the Health Clinic, the optometry to complementary therapies high street chain, have been tipped as one of the best buys in the City for 2002. The predictions, made in The Sunday Times (December 30), said that 'given the...

Vision Express' sales move ahead by 5%.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Vision Express improved its sales by 5 per cent last year. GrandVision, the French parent company of the UK and Republic of Ireland high street name, said the performance was creditable against what it called a 'stagnant market'. ...

Multiples hang fire on euro.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Optical retailers wait for greater clarity on UK position before offering customers option of paying in euros UK optical retailers are not joining other British shops in taking the euro, despite the expansion of the currency on the...

Free seminar for independents.(opticians)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... ference in the spring is greater than previous years. The one-day conference, to be held in Solihull on March 4, is free to staff from indepen With several optical events cancelled for 2002, Sight Care, the marketing group for...

Management of the ageing eye.(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... The forthcoming OEL roadshows running throughout the country offer practitioners up-to-date information on eye care for the elderly T he boom in the numbers of the UK population of a 'more mature outlook' is of major significance to all...

Corneal infiltrates - classification ; Keratitis, contact lens associatedred eye, microbial keratitis.(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... DESCRIPTION Corneal infiltrates are focal areas of corneal stromal inflammation composed of accumulations of white blood cells (predominantly neutrophils), cellular debris and protein with associated oedema. If persistent they may lead to...

What if your next patient was deafblind?
January 18, 2002... National charities Deafblind UKand Sense are currently running a health campaign to raise awareness of the needs of deafblind and dual sensory impaired people when they require healthcare services. Fiona Todd reports There are an estimated...

Dyslexia and Vision.
January 18, 2002... Every eye care practitioner should have a copy of this book, writes Dr Simon Barnard. It a useful reference source for professionals and can be recommended to parents or interested lay readers This paperback book has been written by the...

Standards of protection.(quality of sunglasses)(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... Most sunglasses are sold with the claim that they comply with official quality standards. But what do these standards mean? Colin Fowler reveals some shortcomings in product labelling Sunglasses today are a universally accepted form of eye...

moneowrites.(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... cessful outcome but felt there was little else they could do. There were those who grasped the nettle and were prepared to take on Customs and Excise for the good of the public and fight for what they believed was right and proper. Well done to...

Sense and dispensability.(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... Last March, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians established its College of Education in the attractive surroundings of Godmersham Park, Kent. Rob Moss went for a look around Jane Austen once wrote in a letter to her sister...

Ocular embryology and development.
January 18, 2002... Dr Chris Wigham describes the development of the embryo concentrating on the events that form the eyes and their adnexa It is estimated that 5 per cent of births have a recognisable 'abnormality' arising from a failure of the normal...

Distance-learning lectures available on CD-Rom.(from NetLectures and College of Optometrists, UK)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... u NetLectures and the College of Optometrists have announced the full rollout of the new CD-based distance learning CET program, and are currently offering a free CD-Rom worth one credit. NetLectures was founded in 1999 by Peter...

Boots' pre-reg optometrists on top form.(Boots Opticians on optometrists trained at College of Optometrists, UK)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... u Boots Opticians has announced that 78 of its pre-reg optometrists have achieved outstanding results in their first attempt at the College of Optometrists' professional qualifying exams this year. The trainees achieved a pass rate of...

Hilfiger's spring 2002 collection is a model of frame discretion.(Tommy Hilfiger )(ophthalmic eyewear )(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... u The latest collection of ophthalmic eyewear from Tommy Hilfiger for spring 2002 offers styling with a clean, smart and modern feel. The frames have been designed to maintain the Hilfiger image, without overpowering the wearer. There are...

Obituary - Martin Lynch.(College of Optometrists secretary dies)(Optometrists secretary)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 18, 2002... u Former General Optical Council and College of Optometrists secretary Martin Lynch has died. Mr Lynch was born in London and was a student of the London Oratory School before joining the Royal Air Force in 1942, where he served with...

Hundreds expected to attend Eyecare 3000.
January 18, 2002... Now in its third year, Scottish CET event will offer 16 lectures and eight workshops Eyecare 3000, billed as the UK's largest two-day CET course for optics, takes place on Sunday and Monday (January 20-21) in Scotland. Organisers expect...

Beware spin doctors, say NHS Plan critics.(UK Dept. of Health publication on cataract treatment)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... Progress made on cataract, but is it at the expense of less emotive treatments? Projects to reduce cataract waiting lists - trumpeted in a new Government report - have been dismissed as headline-grabbing by one senior ophthalmic source....

Are you at risk of contracting TB?(opticians might contract tuberculosis from patients)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... A study into whether practitioners are at risk of contracting diseases such as tuberculosis from their patients was launched this week. It coincides with plans by the College of Optometrists to update its guidance on cross-infection...

Something to shout about.
January 18, 2002... It should come as no surprise that the Government's efforts to reduce waiting times for ophthalmic procedures have been exposed as a sham. The profession has had serious reservations about the NHS Plan (News, August 4, 2000) since its...

Optometrists provide help to homeless.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 18, 2002... Crisis, the charity for the homeless, has reported that practitioners helped its five London Christmas shelters by carrying out more than 100 appointments with vulnerable, homeless patients from December 23-30. During the eight days the...

Biocompatibles sells eye care business.(to CooperVision)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 18, 2002... CooperVision to acquire sixth largest contact lens manufacturer in [pound]68m deal Events in the global contact lens market took another twist this week when CooperVision announced it would acquire Biocompatibles' eye care business for...

Boots Opticians told to moderate Lasik claims.(eye laser surgery)(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... Advertising Standards Authority says Boots Lasik surgery brochure was misleading Five out of six complaints levelled at a Boots Opticians brochure promoting Lasik surgery have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority. The...

Eyewear firm Bolle (UK) in receivership.(Brief Article)
January 18, 2002... KPMG Corporate Recovery have been appointed administrative receivers to safety eyewear distributors Bolle (UK) this week. Established in 1974, the Dorset-based company exclusively distributes safety eyewear and associated products for...

Corneal oedema - classification ; Endothelial decompensation, Microcystic epithelial oedema.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... DESCRIPTION The corneal stroma is composed of lamellar sheets of collagen interspersed with abundant osmotically active mucopolysaccharides. Without the pumping action of the endothelium, and to a lesser extent the epithelium, the cornea...

Maternity leave:know your rights and responsibilities.
January 25, 2002... Do you know your rights to maternity or paternity leave and pay? As an employer, are you up to date with your obligations to your staff? Samantha Dalton reports on the latest statutory regulations Getting the right balance between life at...

Cool on the Hill.(eyewear industry)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... What do you do when you want to stock hundreds of frames but keep those on display to a minimum? Rory Brogan visited a new practice in Primrose Hill to report on one solution Before Adam Simmonds came up with the design for his new practice...

Ebony harnesses magnetic power.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... u South African frame company Ebony Optical, which set up a European base in Rutland late last year, has launched its Ethix Magneteyz range of magnetic sunglasses. The patented line uses magnets to attach the sunglass to the prescription...

Revlon is cosmetically pleasing.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... u Revlon has launched a new eyewear collection featuring 12 ophthalmic frames and a sunglass model. The company, known worldwide for its cosmetic collections, has launched the new eyewear with a range of styles that are inspired by core...

Recovery position.
January 25, 2002... Despite mixed results for December, trends for 2001 as a whole showed a positive improvement over 2000 December was a mixed month with good results for new contact lens fits and eye examinations while dispensing fell to its lowest point for...

omenwrites.
January 25, 2002... Opportunity or threat RT Knight (Letters, January 18) returns us to the subject of compulsory continuing education and training. In a tortuous and lengthy letter he expresses a number of views on CET which leave me in some doubt as to...

Nautica releases Microgravity.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... u Nautica Eyewear is expanding its 'fashion with function' philosophy by integrating Japanese technological design in its new Microgravity collection of sunglasses and spectacles. Marchon UK, the company which distributes the range, says it...

Keeler takes its All Pupil II on the campaign trail.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... u 'Are UK optometrists getting enough fundus?' is the question instrument firm Keeler is asking in the promotion of its new All Pupil II indirect ophthalmoscope. The All Pupil II weighs less than 500g and has an adjustable headband to...

New shapes and colours for Exte 2002 collection.
January 25, 2002... u Italian frame company Allison has released the Exte spring/summer 2002 collection. It features large eye sizes with tinted lenses, circular cuts, linear motifs, wrap-around styles and interaction between materials and prints. A...

Oakley expands its prescription eyewear collection with Why1 and Why2.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... u Oakley has released two new prescription eyewear styles and a new performance lens coating in its latest move to capture a greater share of the global prescription eyewear market. The new Why1 and Why2 frames make a total of 16 models...

Tough on crimea.(security)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... As the frames and sunglasses on offer from practices become increasingly brand orientated they also become more desirable, and not necessarily just to those people wishing to pay for them. Rob Moss reports on methods of keeping frames secure...

Boots' results buoyed by demand for Lasik.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Performance of core optical business was less than satisfactory admits multiple More Boots Opticians practices may be used for post-Lasik services following the success of its year-old laser eye surgery venture. Currently, three...

Charity advertises low-vision services.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Partially sighted people are being targeted in a new drive to make sure they know what services are available to them. A free directory has been launched by the Royal National Institute for the Blind this month in the boroughs of Camden and...

Eye test confirmed cancer risk.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... As reported earlier this month, Margate optometrist Paul Day (pictured right) made a potentially life-saving discovery during a routine eye examination with patient Claire Collins (left). The Specsavers practitioner suspected a congenital...

Optical relief continues in East Timor.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... The latest optical relief mission to war-torn East Timor has been hailed as a success by organisers. Reports say the East Timor Eye programme fitted 900 people with spectacles last month, and 60 others had cataract surgery. Over four...

Expectations high for Scottish CL exhibition.
January 25, 2002... Edinburgh conference to discuss developments in therapeutics and extended wear Over 200 delegates are expected to attend one of Scotland's biggest contact lens exhibition and lecture events in the optical calendar. The Scottish...

Course accreditation now available online.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Optical course organisers who want to apply for College CET credits and DOCET funding for their events can now apply online. The College of Optometrists has online approval forms which are designed to speed up the application process. ...

Specsavers boasts of 'significant' sales rise.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 25, 2002... UK multiple claims it is firmly established as one of world's 'top five' optical retailers Specsavers Opticians grew its business significantly during 2001 in the face of stiff competition, its chairman and founder said this week. Doug...

Testing time for drivers.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Has the optical profession inadvertently found itself a powerful new ally? News that our bureaucratic friends in Brussels want to impose eye examinations every 10 years on car drivers over the age of 45 have surfaced once again. The plan...

AA backs ECtests for drivers.(Automobile Association, European Commission)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Eye tests for drivers over 45 years old could become compulsory under long-awaited proposed European legislation, the UK's biggest motoring pressure group said this week. The AA voiced its support for the proposal - a revision of the...

Profession finds new voice in Parliament.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Launch of all party group is seen as important step forward in promoting eye care The profession has a new voice in Parliament, it was announced this week. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment will...

Young OOs urged to build on knowledge.(optometry graduates)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Hundreds of young people received their diplomas during the annual College of Optometrists ceremony at London's Guildhall on Wednesday (January 25). Richard Broughton, president, told the audience that it was the first time in the...

Allergan plans to spin off eye care division.(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... Allergan, the global contact lens care and healthcare company, has announced plans to separate its pharmaceutical and optical businesses into two - and 'spin off' its eye care division to its shareholders so it can become a speciality...

Optical bodies at odds over costs of VAT fight.(Specsavers Opticians case)(Brief Article)
January 25, 2002... FODO issues writ against ABDO and AOPseeking 60 per cent unquantified costs Optical bodies ABDO and the AOP said this week they planned to contest a claim by FODO regarding the Specsavers Opticians VAT tribunal case. ABDO and the AOP...