Optician articles from June 2005

Optician archives from June 2005

Compliance in contact lens wear ; Part 2 - Improving compliance.
June 3, 2005... optician provides the answers to the multiple-choice questions for CET module C1142 (May 6) 1 Which of the following statements is incorrect with regard to patients wearing extended or continuous wear lenses: (A) They should daily ensure...

Performance evaluation of a toric daily disposable contact lens.(Toric daily disposables)
June 3, 2005... Toric daily disposables offer astigmatic contact lens wearers the many benefits of single-use lenses but are available only in limited parameters. Manja Grzesik, Wolfgang Sickenberger, Professor Peter Moest and Helmer Schweizer investigate how...

ReNu with MoistureLoc ; A literature review.(contact lens solutions)
June 3, 2005... Dr James Wolffsohn, in co-operation with Roya Borazjani, Sue Groeminger and Dharmendra Jani, reviews the literature regarding the performance of a multipurpose solution Approximately 90 per cent of care solutions prescribed for contact...

Enhancing comfort with a lubricating daily disposable.
June 3, 2005... Joachim Nick, Lynn Winterton and John Lally introduce a new development for a well known product, CIBA Vision's Focus Dailies with AquaRelease Comfort is vital when it comes to patient satisfaction with their contact lenses, and yet...

Glaucoma broadcast as road safety issue.
June 3, 2005... A global glaucoma charity will use an awareness week to drive home the message that sufferers of the disabling eye disease can endanger the lives of others through road accidents. The 'Glaucoma kills - other people' campaign will be broadcast...

Visual recognition ; in contact lenses; Part 1 - Silicone hydrogels.(silicone hydrogel material contact lenses)
June 3, 2005... Bill Harvey and David Ruston describe some clinical presentations related to silicone hydrogel lens fitting and follow up, indicating both their interpretation and how best to record them (C1471) The increasing use of silicone hydrogel...

Locum optometrist cleared at hearing.
June 3, 2005... An optometrist was found not guilty of serious professional misconduct by the General Optical Council's disciplinary committee at a hearing last week. Allan Shields, a locum who works for Adams Opticians in Nottingham, was accused of failing to...

Discount should go to the independent.
June 3, 2005... optician is absolutely correct to report that internet vendors sell contact lenses at rates which vastly undercut qualified opticians. It is true that the most extreme cases involve suppliers outside the UK, where currency fluctuations may...

Practitioners sample latest lenses at BCLA.
June 3, 2005... UK practitioners were among the first to trial Johnson & Johnson's new contact lens introductions today at the opening of the BCLA conference and exhibition. The opportunity followed J&J's CET presentation event last night at Brighton's...

Beaumont boost.
June 3, 2005... The Julien Beaumont range of eyewear by Dunelm Optical has four new additions for women. The 514 has 'distinctive' fretwork sides and comes in gold, brown and blue, while the lightweight 515 has 'clean simple lines' and comes in gold, silver...

Dublin's fair city is next for Eyecare 3000 idea.
June 3, 2005... Education-and-exhibition event Eyecare 3000 is to take place in yet another major city. This time Dublin will be the venue, and the new edition will take place early next year. Organiser Dr Scott Mackie said: 'I can confirm Eyecare 3000 is to...

Now it's Contacts Direct.
June 3, 2005... Just one week after optician revealed Tesco's plans to sell contact lenses from its pharmacies and online, James Murray Wells has launched Contacts Direct, a sister site to his Glasses Direct operation. With his new site,...

Coats and coating.(optical coatings)
June 10, 2005... optician provides the answers to CET module C1298 (May 13), on lens coatings, their manufacture, how they work and why they might be beneficial 1 Which of the following is true for a plastic lens with an anti-reflection coating? (A) The...

Better booking by computer.(Neil MacArthur Eyecare)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Neil MacArthur Eyecare has invested [pounds sterling]17,500 in a new computer system to store patient details and organise appointment bookings. The aim of the investment is to boost efficiency and enable staff to spend more time dealing with...

Vantage point.
June 10, 2005... The introduction of compulsory continuing education and training has been one of the hottest issues of the year. Chris Bennett spoke to optical scheme director at Vantage Technologies Tim Ray Tim Ray is by his own admission an outsider to...

Optical properties of lens materials.
June 10, 2005... In the third in our short series on dispensing matters, Dr Keziah Petre outlines the optical properties of lens materials and their influence on use in spectacles. CET module C1379 When dispensing a patient with a pair of glasses there are...

The use of selective contrast colour filters for eye disease.
June 10, 2005... Ian Pyzer describes the research about the use of colour filters in the management of visually impairing eye disease For some time the use of contrast enhancing colour filters has been identified as a way of attempting to improve visual...

A brief review of intraocular lenses.
June 10, 2005... As confidence in surgery and optical outcome of implants grows, Shelagh Hardy describes a brief history of their development Each year there are over 300,000 cataract operations in the UK alone, so an increasing number of practitioners have...

40 up for charity.(Fight for Sight)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Forty people from the profession parachuted from 10,000 feet to raise money for an optical charity celebrating its 40th year in existence. Fight for Sight, which was founded in 1965, received strong support from those who jumped - all had to...

Sight Care sets timetable for autumn.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Independents' marketing group Sight Care has released details of its autumn seminar timetable. Ten regional events will take place in the month of October alone, and training seminars are being scheduled by the marketing group. The schedule for...

New focus for CET ; in Northern Ireland.(Center for Educational Technology)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Two practitioners experienced in organising continuing education events are to launch a new CET provider in Northern Ireland. Optometrists Janice McCrudden and Professor Jonathan Jackson, both based in Dromore, have set up Insight Optometric...

Gage gears up for glaucoma week.(Alex Gage)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Sheffield optician Alex Gage is supporting National Glaucoma Awareness Week (June 6-12) by offering glaucoma field tests free of charge with every eye examination booked during this period. To mark the event, the company is encouraging anyone...

Specsavers aims to meet demand for hearing aids.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Specsavers has invested more than [pounds sterling]3m into its plan to become one of Britain's largest hearing aid providers by more than doubling its Hearcare business by the end of 2005. As well as expanding the Hearcare network to 100...

Keeler lightens Specialist load.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Keeler has launched a new version of its Specialist ophthalmoscope that it claims to be 50 per cent lighter than previous models. The new model has a slimline lithium battery handle and provides '30 per cent more illumination', which the...

Complete change.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has given its flagship brand Complete MoisturePlus solution a new look. The 'eye catching' foil packaging and global graphics have been designed to better communicate the moisturising benefits of the solution and...

Looking after baby.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Norville has introduced a soft plastic baby trial frame that is held in a secure, well-balanced position on the face by an elastic head strap, allowing for easy refraction and control of visual acuity. 'This is the only product of its kind...

Actman & Mico present Becard.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... New from Actman & Mico is a women's design named Becard, described by the company as a powerful creation that promotes individual expression. The Becard is a supra frame which features 'clever colour blending' to draw attention to the brow...

New Guess work.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Viva International has introduced three new frame collections for Guess? eyewear. Gone Wild is an animal print-inspired collection featuring snakeskin python patterns through to zebra black and white print designs. The GU1316 is described as a...

Haine & Smith raises [pounds sterling]20,000 for blind group.(Wiltshire Blind Association)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Haine & Smith opticians has raised [pounds sterling]20,000 in support of the Wiltshire Blind Association to mark its 30th anniversary. The group previously raised [pounds sterling]10,000 for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association during its...

US lens wearers get price comparison site.(Eyeglasses123.com)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... In a development which could catch on in Britain, US contact lens wearers have their first ever internet price comparison service. Eyeglasses123.com, based in Florida, which has been involved in online optical selling for over four years, has...

A very Large win.(Large and Large Opticians)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Rupert Large of Large and Large Opticians has won the [pounds sterling]500 Red Letter Day offer made by Rodenstock, Nidek and Relcon Software at Optrafair. Visitors to the show had to visit all three of the companies' stands, with the prize...

Comfort is ; way to grow says J&J.(Jack Rawle says comfort must come before cost of contact lens)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Comfort must come before cost in order to grow the UK contact lens market says Jack Rawle, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care sales director for the UK and Ireland. In his speech at the J&J Ultra Comfort evening, which coincided with the British...

Trouble down the high street.(retail activity)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... The high street remained depressed throughout May with London and the south east badly hit, says a consumer counting agency that works for the profession. Latest figures for retail footfall assessed by Solution Products Systems Limited (SPSL)...

Fight or flight.(optician)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... In nature animals react in different ways when an adrenalin rush kicks in. While some creatures come out all teeth and claws, others simply roll up into a ball hoping whatever-it-is will go away. Those who face up and fight soon sort out the...

Public 'let down' by CL rules.(contact lenses)
June 10, 2005... The impact of the new legislation on contact lens supply due to take effect on June 30 will depend, in part, on how the regulations are interpreted. This was the conclusion of 'Breakfast with Hodd', a special session at last weekend's BCLA...

BCLA attracts record delegate numbers.(British Contact Lens Association )
June 10, 2005... A record 1,200 visitors and 904 registered delegates attended the BCLA's 29th clinical conference and exhibition in Brighton last weekend. The figures were respectively 20 per cent and 16 per cent up on 2004's event, which recorded 782...

Parents of murdered OO go to High Court.(Optometrist )
June 10, 2005... Parents of murdered optometrist Giles Van Colle have launched their landmark High Court claim for unlimited damages against Hertfordshire Police. Van Colle's murder resulted in a Police Complaints Authority investigation into Hertfordshire...

New awards handed out.(British Contact Lens Association)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... The BCLA hosted its first ever awards ceremony at the Brighton conference last weekend. Around 1,000 people attended the Gala Dinner on Saturday June 4, where the BCLA Awards for Tremendous Achievement (Baftas) were presented. Associate...

Cooper confident of lens market potential.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... CooperVision, the giant US contact lens manufacturer which bought Ocular Sciences this year, claims it has 'the strongest product pipeline in the industry'. This is according to the chief executive officer of its parent company, Cooper...

Do you practise ; in a clone town?(Brief Article)
June 10, 2005... Britain is becoming a nation of 'clone towns' with retail multiples such as those in optometry taking over. This is the opinion of a think tank which has claimed 42 per cent of UK towns have succumbed to 'a monochrome strip of global and...

Chosen few.
June 10, 2005... Practitioner eager to learn more about the choose and book referral programme may be interested in attending a special conference on the system. Optometrists are now becoming more involved in the method, which has a deadline of implementation...

VIva poker specs.
June 10, 2005... Looking for that niche item to get your practice showroom to stand out from the crowd? A new global optical launch planned for Las Vegas on July 4 believes it has the answer. PokerSpecs (pictured) aims to capitalise on the growing popularity of...

Pop down to D&A.(Fight for Sight fundraiser)(Dollond & Aitchison Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... D&A in Above Bar, Southampton is running a fundraising event for Fight for Sight until the end of June. Customers are invited to pay [pounds sterling]1 to pop a balloon, each of which holds a slip of paper revealing a prize, from free sight...

Additives and extras.(eyeglass frame materials)
June 17, 2005... Following on from his A to Z of frame materials published throughout last year in optician, Dr Glynn Walsh begins a two-part series describing the raw materials and additives which suppliers use to make the frames It is normal practice for...

Viagra linked to vision loss.(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... A report in this month's Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology has linked the impotence drug Viagra with a serious loss of vision. A study by University of Minnesota Medical School has identified seven men who have lost vision through a non-arteritic...

Cardiff's tribute to Professor Drasdo.(Neville Drasdo)(Cardiff School of Optometry and Vision Sciences )
June 17, 2005... Cardiff School of Optometry and Vision Sciences hosted a festschrift last month to celebrate and honour the achievements of a highly respected member of the research community. Cameron Hudson reports Professor Neville Drasdo's...

Yes vote for harmonisation.(optometric and optical education in Europe )(meeting report)
June 17, 2005... Dr Shehzad Naroo reports on the latest meeting looking at a unified approach to optometry qualification in Europe The European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO), in conjunction with the Association of European Universities, Schools and...

The freedom of Texas.
June 17, 2005... As an enrolled member on the Ocular Therapeutics supplementary and level 2 prescribing course at the Institute of Optometry, Sandip Patel had the opportunity to visit the University of Houston College of Optometry, Texas to see a US system in...

Local heroes.(National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired people)
June 17, 2005... Not sure what services are available locally? Lance Clark describes a national body that provides information on locally available services for those with visual impairment at a time when such provision is still very variable and erratic ...

BSRS returns to Oxford.(British Society for Refractive Surgery)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... optician previews a conference that has grown steadily through the recent turbulent years in refractive surgery Practitioners already involved with or wishing to know more about refractive surgery will be pleased to hear that the annual...

Legg wins VIP tennis tickets.(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Graham Legg of iZone Opticians in Southampton won two VIP tickets to the Wimbledon tennis championships for winning the Sinclair Optical Services Serve an Ace Promotion. The three-month promotion gave the chance to win tickets to a day's...

The impact of the new GOS rules.
June 17, 2005... In a follow up piece to his article looking at the changes to GOC registration,2 Rakesh Kapoor discusses the new changes affecting all practitioners providing NHS eye care services In England and Wales the GOS paid for 10.8 million eye...

CL company attempts fastest charity golf round.(Contact Lens Precision Laboratories Ltd)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... A golf team from UltraVision CLPL will attempt to break the world record for the fastest round of golf by a four-man team at the Northumberland World Record Golf Challenge this month. The current record for the round of golf is one hour 32...

Optometrist raises [pounds sterling]3,500 with trek on the Great Wall of China.(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Optometrist Nigel Robinson has raised [pounds sterling]3,500 for Fight for Sight by walking a 90km section of the Great Wall of China. Robinson runs N&J Opticians in Monkseaton, Tyne and Wear, with his optometrist wife Judith. 'It was the...

Val Kilmer to drive Serengeti sales.(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Hollywood star Val Kilmer is pictured in the latest design by Serengeti - Pisa, which also comes in Rx in conjunction with Barberini in Italy. Also new is model Corsa, a sporty and subtly curved model that combines style and technology. The...

Will pharmacists heed OTC eye drop advice?(over the counter)
June 17, 2005... The AOP has warned that in some cases pharmacists should consult a patient's optometrist before prescribing Chloramphenicol. Specifically, the Association is concerned that chemists do not have the appropriate equipment, which is readily...

Charitable boost at BCLA gala dinner.(British Contact Lens Association )(fundraiser)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Over [pounds sterling]4,000 was raised for Optometry Giving Sight as the chosen BCLA charity at the recent gala dinner in Brighton. Professor Brien Holden, chairman of OGS globally, presented a film on the dramatic impact of correcting vision...

Norway is next target for ambitious multiple.(new outlet)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Norway is the latest target of Specsavers Opticians' growing European empire. The Guernsey-based business will open its first outlet in the Nordic country next week (June 20), and this will be followed up by 20 other outlets by September....

CL students visit manufacturers.(contact lens)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... A group of first-year contact lens students from London's City & Islington College recently visited the Ultravision CLPL facilities at Leighton Buzzard, while a small group of second-year students (pictured left) went to No7 Contact Lenses at...

Lawyers defend police at Van Colle hearing.(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... No one could have predicted the 'appalling and drastic' action which resulted in the death of optometrist Giles Van Colle, London's High Court has been told. Lawyers for the Hertfordshire Chief Constable Frank Whiteley told Judge Wakerley at...

Eye care for diabetics falls short of standard.
June 17, 2005... The Government was this week handed a report which claims one in four eye examinations for diabetics falls short of nationally recommended standards. The report, commissioned by charity Diabetes UK, also showed that 41 per cent of people with...

Contact lenses can't be sold like baked beans, says CIBA.
June 17, 2005... Contact lenses cannot be retailed like tins of baked beans and the profession should not expect an exodus of contact lens sales to the supermarkets and the internet. This is the message from Howard Barnes, managing director of CIBA Vision,...

'More CET points than ever' at PAC.(Professional Advancement Committee )(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Details of this year's PAC conference are released today. The one-day Birmingham conference, which attracted over 1,200 delegates last year, promises attendees that they can earn 'more CET points than ever before', and up 14 CET credits are...

Victory in Europe.
June 17, 2005... The GOC has claimed victory in the European Parliament after a three-year battle against moves to allow EU health professionals to work in any EU state unchecked for four months. However, concerns remain about the exchange between countries of...

McShane takes helm at Boots Opticians.(Chas McShane)(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... Boots Opticians has beefed up its management following its presentations to staff of its new staff opportunities programme. Chas McShane, a Boots regional director, has been drafted in to oversee the 290- plus outlet chain. 'Chas has been...

Domiciliary guidelines ; are issued.(Association of British Dispensing Opticians )(Brief Article)
June 17, 2005... To counter an 'enormous amount of confusion' over new domiciliary regulations, three optical bodies have produced a working guidelines brief to help clarify the changes. Optometrists and dispensers are being advised by ABDO/AOP/FODO on the 2005...

Cazal marks 30 years worldwide.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... Cazal Eyewear is celebrating the 30th anniversary of distributing its eyewear worldwide, from Passua to Tokyo, Nice, Seoul and New York. The company said that the demand from a basic Cazal wearer for a special pair of glasses was the same the...

Scrivens to run TV promotion.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... Scrivens is to run a television advertising campaign in the south for the first time since it bought Melson Wingate. The promotion will be broadcast in ITV's Meridian region and is expected to reach nearly 2 million viewers across Dorset and...

Update on a hospital OO-led glaucoma assessment scheme.
June 24, 2005... A couple of years ago, Amanda Jones wrote about the glaucoma scheme in Manchester involving optometrists. Here she updates us as to the progress made The OLGA (optometrist-led glaucoma assessment) scheme was set up at Manchester Royal Eye...

Glaucoma pathways in Peterborough.
June 24, 2005... Sheila Urquhart and Keshma Rughani explain the Peterborough glaucoma pathway, a scheme that is extended to a total of eight practices this month The Peterborough glaucoma pilot was awarded in May 2004, and the scheme was started in January...

Review of the glaucoma care pathway.
June 24, 2005... Stephen Vernon explains the development of the glaucoma care pathway, which aims to take the care of glaucoma suspects away from the HES and into the community In January 2003, I was invited to join the then recently formed Eye Care...

Running a successful; optical practice.
June 24, 2005... Part 6 - Recruiting and rewarding staff Managing people can be a difficult task, even for the most experienced practice managers. Here Martin Russ considers how to recruit the best staff, with advice on interview technique through to...

MacArthur design is sure to grip.
June 24, 2005... Bolle has introduced a top-performance limited edition Ellen MacArthur signature sunglass model after the world-famous yachtswoman. The unisex Swisher design has injected polarised lenses to enhance vision by eliminating extreme glare and...

Happy cleaning from Centro Style.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... Italian accessories supplier Centro Style has added a new collection of designs to its Artu Pocket collection of themed microfibre cloths. The new designs - Happy Colours, Happy Hour and Cats & Dogs, come as a retail cloth or drawstring soft...

Millen sunglasses certain to dazzle.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... Glam is the theme of a new range of sunglasses from Karen Millen, available through Andrew Actman. The eyewear is embellished with diamante features for 'a glittering fashion statement', said the company. It added that the decoration on the...

CET: Visual field interpretation ; in glaucoma.(Common Entrance Test )
June 24, 2005... As part of this final issue dedicated to the eye care pathway initiatives, Dr Robert Cubbidge reviews the field loss associated with glaucoma and how it may be measured and interpreted. CET Module C1472 The role of the optometrist in the...

Neither dipped nor spun.
June 24, 2005... Having recently completed a CET article on lens coats and coatings (Module C1298) (optician May 13), I was surprised to find an omission. The article in question refers, in part, to methods of applying a hard coat to a plastics lens. The author...

Short but sweeter.(Eye examination)
June 24, 2005... Although there has been a general decline over the past year, results for May all improve over April, with AR coats above average for the year Two bank holidays in May make it a short month, but practitioners have seen an increase over...

CooperVision gets message across.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... CooperVision is offering a free CD-Rom of its BCLA presentation, the 'Practice management symposium', containing tips to help promote and differentiate your business. The company is a platinum sponsor of the BCLA event and its stand featured a...

Eyesite's high achievers.
June 24, 2005... Recruiting the best people is no problem for the Berkshire-based Eyesite group, which has a highly structured approach to employing and retaining staff. With four branches, in Reading, Brighton, Oxford and Winchester, the group has expanded...

Teflon adds in-store merchandising.(Teflon EasyCare )(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... Practitioners can now make more music this summer after the launch of the 'Best just got better' promotion, with the introduction of a range of Teflon EasyCare merchandising materials to support their push for an iPod music player. The new...

The publicity of oxygen.
June 24, 2005... Jayne Schofield reports on a recent education symposium on silicone hydrogel lenses The De Vere Belfry Hotel near Birmingham was the venue of The European Symposium on Silicone Hydrogels on 26th May 2005. Ron Loveridge, professional...

The framework for best practice.(General Optical Council)
June 24, 2005... This week, optician begins a regular series aimed at familiarising all practitioners with the core competencies specified by the GOC Eye care professionals now have to be familiar with the core competencies specified by the General Optical...

'Independents Day' hits target audience.(Brief Article)
June 24, 2005... Over 100 independent practitioners will take advantage of a new, dedicated CET event which also boasts a package of discounts and free items worth more than [pounds sterling]2,000. Independents have just over a week to book for the inaugural...