Optician articles from July 2002

Optician archives from July 2002

Epithelial and fibrous ingrowth; (Epithelial and fibrous downgrowth).(eye disease)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Description Growth of epithelial or fibrous tissue into the eye frequently results in the progressive destruction of intraocular structures. Both are destructive to the eye but epithelial ingrowth is usually a more aggressive disease....

Lens system for dyslexia wins funding from DTI.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Cambridge-based company Diverse has won a DTI 'Smart' Award worth [pound]45,000 to develop a diagnostic system which will allow practitioners to prescribe accurately coloured lenses to alleviate visual dyslexia. The product, called...

No rub, no rinse: a new line in multipurpose solutions.(contact lenses)(Statistical Data Included)
July 5, 2002... Multipurpose solutions for soft contact lens disinfection are now available with 'no rub' and 'no rub, no rinse' indications. But what do the labels mean? Chris Amos and Ron Loveridge review the currently available products and describe the...

Safilo sponsors motorcycle team for second year.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... u Following its success in last year's motorcycle racing season, Safilo is again principal sponsor of a team, Safilo Oxydo Race - competing on Aprilia bikes in the 125cc and 250cc classes. Safilo states that it wanted to continue acting as...

nemowrites.(opticians' practice and law)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Yah boo! Readers may recall that in my last column I supported fellow scribe Omen's call for the formation of a strategic group to progress the creation of a comprehensive eye care service. I developed the theme by advocating a more...

How to decide what products to stock and supply.(contact lenses)
July 5, 2002... In the third part of our series aimed at encouraging practitioners who currently fit few or no contact lenses to develop their business, Jonathan Walker looks at some of the factors to consider when first stocking and supplying lenses ...

Visual recognitionin CL practice: Part 3.(eye examination and contact lenses)
July 5, 2002... Bill Harvey and David Ruston discuss the importance of accurate interpretation of the clinical appearance during the aftercare visit. Prompt intervention when recognising anything untoward is essential for continued success with contact lenses...

A premier fixture for Birmingham.(British Contact Lens Association conference)(Statistical Data Included)
July 5, 2002... This year's British Contact Lens Association conference scored highly with delegates, with an impressive mix of education and research sessions. Alison Ewbank and Bill Harvey report on the highlights of the event, which took place in Birmingham...

The wheel of fortune.
July 5, 2002... Tonight (July 5) sees the culmination of Ciba Vision's search for the Eye Care Practice of The Year. The 14 lucky finalists will be ferried to the London Eye for a champagne reception and then on to a glittering black tie awards dinner at The...

LOC launches eye test drive for parents.(Local Optical Committee)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Croydon's Local Optical Committee has launched a campaign to promote free eye examinations for school children up to the age of 19. The campaign, which has the support of the Croydon Primary Care Trust, will see 40,000 leaflets and 1,000...

Study urges pre-school screening.(early detection of amblyopia)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... A new study has re-opened the debate as to whether the Government should provide comprehensive eye screening for pre-school children. The research, published in the British Medical Journal (June 29), found that children with amblyopia who...

Franklin offers new models and collections.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... u Franklin Frames has a number of new styles available, following their launch at the recent Mido show in Milan. The Hart Schaffner & Marx collection has three new titanium frames, which combine classic and modern styling. The company...

PDP in contact lens practice.(professional development plan)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... As the year for our PDP project draws to its close, the time has come to assess the progress and look to future developments At the start of this programme, readers were invited to use the template provided in a short booklet as a means to...

ACLM year book is online.(Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... The Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers has opened an online version of its year book. The year book provides details on all of the contact lenses, care products and materials available from members of the ACLM. The database is fully...

GPs show support for OO prescriber status.(ocular therapeutic drugs; optometrists)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 5, 2002... Nearly nine out of 10 GPs believe that optometrists should be allowed to prescribe ocular therapeutic drugs. However, opinions among Britain's ophthalmologists are more divided, with just over half in favour of optometric use of...

Health Clinic reveals pre-tax loss of [pounds sterling]800k.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 5, 2002... Health Clinic, the optical and healthcare group, revealed a pre-tax loss of [pound]800,000 in its delayed preliminary results for the year to April 30 (2001: [pound]1.2m). The announcement of the company's finances was postponed for a week...

Exhibition specialist to organise Optrafair.(Federation of Manufacturing Opticians)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... The Federation of Manufacturing Opticians has contracted out the running of Optrafair to an event-organising company called Centre Exhibitions. The deal means that Centre - the show organising arm of the National Exhibition Centre where...

UK low-vision groups in the global spotlight.
July 5, 2002... Low-vision experts from across the world will gather in Sweden later this month for the seventh international conference on the subject. Organised by the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation, the conference...

The time is right.(optometrists' prescription writing)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... There can be no doubt that there is a move within optometry and the wider medical profession to see prescription rights granted to optometrists. The findings of optician's research into the subject (see page 5) shows the near unanimity of...

GOC affirms aim to regulate plano CL sales.(General Optical Council may regulate plano contact lenses)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... Contrary to last week's report the General Optical Council has not dropped regulating plano contact sales from its list of legislative changes it aims to see completed in future. At last week's Council meeting members discussed the...

Milan show reverts to May date.
July 5, 2002... The organiser of Italian optical event Mido has announced that it will return to its traditional date of the first weekend in May. Next year's show had been moved to the earlier date of April 26-28 (News, May 17), to become a three-day...

CET compulsory for registration 'in 2004'.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... The GOC is preparing for CET to be mandatory by 2004. The education committee's chairman, Professor Mike Salmon, presented to last week's full council meeting a series of proposals to move the matter forward, given that the GOC's efforts to...

Profession pushes case for prescribing role.(Therapeutics Steering Group lobbies for optometrists' prescription rights)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2002... The profession's Therapeutics Steering Group is to continue to lobby government to allow optometrists to become 'independent prescribers'. One member of the group this week said that it was 'entirely unacceptable' that optometrists had...

Epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD); (Map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy, Cogan's microcystic corneal dystrophy).
July 12, 2002... Description This common corneal dystrophy affects the corneal epithelium leading to characteristic cystic and whorl-like opacities. It shows no particular gender preference and inheritance is very variable. Histology reveals several unique...

Independents take on multiples at own game.(marketing strategies)(Company Business and Marketing)
July 12, 2002... Independent practices are increasingly turning to sophisticated marketing strategies to improve their retail competitiveness. Some are now hiring professionals to handle their branding, or producing literature to get their message across....

Focus on Germany.(eye care provision and standards in Germany)
July 12, 2002... Wolfgang Cagnolati starts a new series of articles examining eye care provision in Europe with a look at its most populous nation state Eye-care provision in Germany is the responsibility of 'optometrists' and 'ophthalmologists'. The scope...

The Tear Film.(book review)(Book Review)
July 12, 2002... Sudi Patel reviews a book that looks at the structure, function and clinical examination of the tear film Written by some of the leading figures in the field of tear physiology, The Tear Film is a thorough and readable textbook. Its...

The Kanski tapes.(ophthalmologist Jack Kanski interviewed)(Company Business and Marketing)(Interview)
July 12, 2002... Optician's clinical editor, Bill Harvey, talks to renowned ophthalmologist and author Jack Kanski, and hears some strong and candid views about the role of optometrists T he phrase 'learn Kanski' before an ocular disease exam is...

Lightweight satin and shades of milky blue.(DKNY sunglasses from Marchon and Marcolin Eyewear Inc.)(Kodak lens "Kloths")(Product Information)
July 12, 2002... The new collection of DKNY sunglasses makes use of featherweight metals and sculpted plastics, with lenses in gradient colour options. DKNY 7406S is a modern rimless with a plastic temple, moulded nose bridge and logos on both endpieces....

New employment law will hit independents.(Employment Bill changes)(Government Activity)(Industry Legal Issue)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Independents have criticised proposed changes to employment legislation, including introducing statutory procedures for disputes and an extension to parental leave, as disruptive and costly. The changes to the Employment Bill are set to...

Aspheric lenses in practice.(dispensing)
July 12, 2002... In his fourth article on dispensing, Trevor White discusses various decisions a practitioner should make regarding aspheric lenses The nature of an aspherical surface may be considered somewhat confusing from a practical point of view. The...

Scrivens turns on the corporate style as it increases high street presence.(Company Business and Marketing)
July 12, 2002... u Scrivens has topped off an intensive two-year pound sterling1m plus investment programme in its retail estate with the addition of a new uniform. Around 25 per cent of its 64 branches throughout the UK have relocated to more highprofile...

Top four dominate but still room for growth.(Industry Trend or Event)(Industry Overview)
July 12, 2002... The 'big four' multiple retailers now account for more than half of the UK optical market, with the highest sales figures from the top 106 companies, a new report has revealed. The Ariadne report, UK Optical Industry - Business Ratio,...

Paediatric optometry; Part 5 - Introduction to the assessment and management of binocular vision problems.
July 12, 2002... In the first of two articles on binocular vision problems, Dr Alison Finlay describes the aetiology and management of primary concomitant and incomitant deviations (Code C5025e) Binocular Vision can be defined as the system of sensory motor...

moneowrites.(eyewear costs and marketing practices)
July 12, 2002... Reality or perception I read an email on the optometry mail base the other day and felt that in my column this week I would like to share it and discuss the implications for us as practising optometrists. The gist of the message was that...

cK rolls out rimless range in Ibiza.(cK Calvin Klein sunglass collection)(Lindberg eyewear products)(Company Business and Marketing)(Product Information)
July 12, 2002... The new three-piece sunglass collection from cK Calvin Klein was launched at the 'In-Shades' event at the Pacha club in Ibiza last month. The rimless sunglasses for men and women are in a metal-free design that is lightweight and...

Lens swapping at US beach resort causes 'epidemic'.(cosmetic contact lenses)(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... An 'epidemic' of ocular injuries and problems has arisen in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US as a result of teenagers swapping cosmetic contact lenses. Optical professionals working at Myrtle Beach, a resort in South...

Coating firms reflect on shared benefits.(Carl Zeiss )(Satis Vacuum)(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Carl Zeiss Optics has teamed up with Swiss ophthalmic lens coating systems specialist Satis Vacuum in the development of anti-reflection coating systems for ophthalmic lenses. The systems are part of Zeiss Brand Optics Division's...

UltraVision shuts contact lens facility.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... UltraVision, the international contact lens company which has a major presence in the UK, has closed its disposable lens facility in Quebec 19 months after it opened. The Canadian facility failed to obtain alternative sources of finance...

Instrument firms share marketing resources.(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Pro-Laser has teamed up with Topcon to exploit each other's strengths in the practice equipment business. From this week, Topcon will act as a sub-distributor for the Henson range of visual field screeners. In return, Pro-Laser is to start...

Specsavers aims [pounds sterling]3m at Scottish expansion.(Specsavers Opticians)(Company Business and Marketing)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Specsavers Opticians is to spend over pound sterling3m in an attempt to secure its position as Scotland's largest optical group. The company announced this week it is to open 10 new practices in the next 12 months, taking its total number...

Vision Express just ahead at half-year.(Grandvision sales figures)(Company Business and Marketing)(Company Financial Information)
July 12, 2002... The French parent of Vision Express has reported sales ahead for the UK and Ireland multiple by 2 per cent (excluding joint venture stores) in the half-year to June 30 to E115m. 'In the UK and Ireland sales are up 1 per cent in local...

Scots celebrate sales growth.(Black and Lizars)(Company Business and Marketing)(Company Financial Information)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... Black & Lizars, the Scottish optical retailer, improved sales by 10 per cent in the first six months of its financial year. The company, which was formed from a merger three years ago of C Jeffrey Black and Lizars (News, March 19, 1999),...

Optoms are 'under-utilised'.(College of Optometrists leaflet highlights possibility of expanded role for optometrists)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... In an effort to highlight the possibility of optometrists expanding their responsibilities, the College of Optometrists has circulated a leaflet, Primary Eye Care to primary care organisations (PCOs). The publication has been endorsed by...

Now for the good news.(outlook for optical retailing business)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2002... After years of being told that there were too many multiples in the optical retailing business those crazy guys in the market report business have suddenly decided that there is room for growth after all. A report from Ariadne entitled UK...

GPs want OOs to take on more responsibility.(general practitioners' views on role of optometrists in prescribing drugs, treating eye diseases)
July 12, 2002... Many general practitioners would be happy to see optometrists handle a range of specific eye conditions. The survey carried out for optician and supported by AMO (News, July 5) shows 89 per cent of the 512 GPs who responded stated their...

Exposure keratopathy; (Lagophthalmos).(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Description The eyelids are critically important in maintaining the tear film and consequently the health of the ocular surface. They act to both contain the tears within the palpebral fissure and to spread the tears across the cornea and...

Whiplash and damage to the visual function.
July 19, 2002... Nicholas Phelps Brown discusses damage to the visual function that can result from a whiplash injury and describes the examination of the patient for evidence of vitreous detachment The optometrist is quite commonly the first person to see...

Focus on the Netherlands.(optometry regulations)
July 19, 2002... Feike Grit describes the development of the optometric profession in the Netherlands Since November 2000 optometrists in the Netherlands have been allowed the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents for examination of patients for...

A label of love.(Dolce & Gabanna eyeglasses)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Dolce & Gabanna's upmarket Black Label clothing range has been emulated by its new eyewear collection. optician looks at how the company went to great lengths to mould it to its target market Just as Dolce & Gabbana clothing has a Black...

nemowrites.(GOC legislative proposals for optometry profession)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... New ball game The GOC has described its recently approved package of legislative proposals as professional self-regulation in a modern context. Self-regulation, however, has now acquired a new meaning. The reality is that the days when...

Stars in their eyes.
July 19, 2002... This month, McGovern Opticians in Cookstown, Northern Ireland was named Ciba Vision Eye Care Practice of the Year. Chris Bennett reports from the awards ceremony that marked the event Earlier this year more than 700 practices entered the...

Unusual tests - Part 1:NSUCO Oculomotor Test.(Northern State University. College of Optometry)
July 19, 2002... Dr Frank Eperjesi begins a five-part series by looking at the North State University College of Optometry Oculomotor Test. The series aims to highlight some of the less familiar assessment methods that have been developed in optometry The...

Current theories of primary open-angle glaucoma.
July 19, 2002... optician/City University prize winner Bina Patel concludes her two-part assessment of modern thinking on primary open-angle glaucoma with a discussion of the theories behind the vascular related signs described in Part 1. There then follows a...

Bushnell offers coated binoculars.(new products)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... u Bushnell Performance Optics has launched an exclusive range of binoculars with fully multi-coated optics to optical practices. The patented features include Rainguard, a hydrophobic coating for clearer images when looking directly into...

Conference season gives airing to compulsory CET.(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... With important legislative changes - including mandatory CET - on the horizon, optical professionals have a number of national conferences and meetings at which they can discuss the issues. The GOC is moving ahead with plans for compulsory...

Asda reveals locations for major expansion.(into the optometry business)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Supermarket Asda has named the 17 towns and cities where it plans to open new in-store opticians this year, making it the sixth largest optical chain in the UK. By the end of 2002, the retail giant, which is owned by US conglomerate...

Eye care training key to helping the elderly.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 19, 2002... Training health professionals to look after the optical needs of elderly people is a key factor in their long-term care, an open forum organised by a domiciliary eye care provider concluded this month. The forum, held in Manchester, was the...

Charman gets own conference.
July 19, 2002... A special conference will be held in the autumn to celebrate Professor Neil Charman's contribution to optometry. The two-day conference, which will be held at UMIST on September 11-12, will involve a number of international speakers...

US agency allows myopia reducing lens.(Paragon Vision Sciences to introduce overnight corneal reshaping lens, U.S.)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... US-based contact lens supplier Paragon Vision Sciences has received formal approval for its new lens aimed at overnight corneal reshaping for the temporary reduction of myopia. The approval from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) was...

Government thinking.(health care and optometry)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Anyone who failed to notice the healthcare provision in Chancellor Gordon Brown's [pound]61bn giveaway earlier this week could be forgiven. The Spending Review actually included [pound]19bn in extra money for health over the coming three years,...

ABDO to hold first ever 3-day refresher.
July 19, 2002... ABDO is to host its first ever three-day refresher course which will cover all aspects of dispensing work next month. The event - which will be held twice at two different locations during August - is aimed at those returning to the...

Therapeutics study sent out.
July 19, 2002... Copies of optician's research on attitudes in the optometric and medical professions regarding the use of ocular therapeutic drugs by optometrists have been distributed to a wide range of professional organisations. The report, Should...

Mail delivery charge plan causes concern.(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Concerned practitioners are considering whether to widen their use of specialist mail providers or pay extra charges for early deliveries, following Consignia's decision to trial fees for pre-9am post. The scheme, in which small businesses...

Press advert 'denigrated' rivals.(Specsavers Opticians wins false advertising case, UK)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... A complaint by Specsavers Opticians to the Advertising Standards Agency against Blackburn-based Crown Eyeglass (trading as Direkt Optik International) has been upheld this week. The complaint was over a regional press advertisement, and the...

Date set for UK low vision conference.
July 19, 2002... The second national low vision conference will be held in October in central London. Organised by the RNIB, the first conference was held in Birmingham last year. Aimed at developing more comprehensive models of practice in low vision...

Elderly need exercise as well as vision tests.(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Elderly people's vision improvement is important to prevent falls, but significant reductions in accidents is achieved when older people are also aware of home hazards and involved in regular fitness programmes. This is the conclusion of...

DVLAadjusts standards for visual fields.(Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... The DVLA has announced changes in the application of visual field standards used to decide if an individual with a visual defect can hold an ordinary driving licence. A DVLA statement said: 'There has been growing awareness that...

Scrivens buys Wingate chain of 40 practices.(Melson Wingate optical practices)(Brief Article)
July 19, 2002... Scrivens has purchased Melson Wingate, the Bournemouth based group of optical practices this week. The purchase gives Scrivens a national presence, adding 40, primarily southern based branches to its own 64 based in the Midlands, the north...

Eyelid trauma; (Laceration, haematoma, canalicular laceration, lid contusion).(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Description Eyelid trauma is typically either caused by a blunt or sharp injury. Blunt injuries result in a haematoma (black eye) while sharp injuries lead to an eyelid laceration. Both may be associated with significant ocular or...

Evaluation of the anterior segment from a glaucoma perspective - Part 2.
July 26, 2002... In the concluding part of this series (Part 1, June 28), Dan Rosser describes a systematic approach to the evaluation of the anterior segment and at each stage of the examination explains the clinical signs relevant to the diagnosis and...

Up for review.
July 26, 2002... Specialist adviser Robin Mitchell explains how practices can prepare for a rent review, suggesting some steps the proactive practitioner can take to keep rises to a minimum T he owner of an established optical practice, situated in the...

Focus on Spain.(optometry)(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... In the third of our series of articles looking at optometry in Europe, Juan Carlos Mart[degree sign]nez-Moral reports from Spain where optometrists are broadening their role in primary care In Spain the teaching of optometry and optics has...

Tax brakes.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Recent changes to the way the Government taxes company cars could mean that practitioners will get a rude awakening when they receive their next tax demand. But it's not too late to act. Adrian Waters reports Changes to company car tax...

Making hay as the sun comes out for summer.
July 26, 2002... June proved to be a favourable trading month, seeing increases in most areas not only over last month, but against last year as well June was a short month of 23 trading days and results have been pro-rated up to 25 days for comparison...

Letting in the light.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Two New Zealand-based professors are soon to tour the UK dispensing advice on inter-professional communication Building on the success of four consecutive years of involving top international speakers in multi-venue roadshows throughout the...

Three OOs to face GOC's disciplinary committee.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 26, 2002... Three optometrists are scheduled to appear before disciplinary committee hearings of the General Optical Council next month in three separate cases, the GOC has revealed. All three have been charged with having been convicted by a UK court...

Benefits of CAPS.(clinical audit patient survey)
July 26, 2002... In the last of the series of articles on the College of Optometrists' Clinical Audit Patient Survey programme, Dale Harris and Bob Hutchinson look at some of the results gained by practitioners who have participated What has been...

The making of a modern practice.
July 26, 2002... In the third part of our series following the transformation of the Jackson Cox practice in Cambridge, Rob Moss reports on plans to change the company's name Naming a company or product can be a fraught exercise. Branding experts are...

omenwrites.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Muddled thinking Historically, there have been a number of contentious areas of eye care that could be guaranteed to raise the hackles of the purists in ophthalmology and optometry. Thankfully most of these differences have been resolved...

Lenstec wins [pounds sterling]90k grant for expansion.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Optical laboratory Lenstec is to expand both its production facilities and its workforce after receiving a funding grant from the Welsh Assembly earlier this month. The Caerphilly-based company, which primarily makes lenses for independent...

AOPurges College to withdraw guidelines.(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... Criticism of the College guidelines on children's eye care intensified this week after the Association of Optometrists called on the College to withdraw the document. The controversial guidelines have been derided in the AOP's members...

WHO promotes health benefits of sunglasses.(World Health Organisation)(Brief Article)
July 26, 2002... The World Health Organisation and other global groups have launched a major project aimed at reducing cataracts caused by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation by promoting protective eye wear. As well as reporting the incidence of skin cancers,...

Shock horror!
July 26, 2002... It is tempting for the profession to scoff at flawed exposes in the national press (see News page 5) but it should be under no illusions as to the damage done by this kind of coverage. The Silly Season story, which took up the whole of page...