Optician articles from November 2001

Optician archives from November 2001

Conjunctival pigmentary lesions: (Primary acquired melanosis, caruncular naevus, conjunctival melanoma, conjunctival naevus, ocular melanocytosis, freckle).(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Description The conjunctiva is anatomically subdivided into bulbar, forniceal and palpebral areas. In addition two specialised areas exist medially, the plica semilunaris and caruncle. Pigmented substances such as drugs and foreign bodies...

Rodenstock Corp. extols benefits of partnership.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... British independent practices are under greater threat than their counterparts in Germany or Italy, Randolf Rodenstock, chairman of the Rodenstock group said this week. Speaking at the Rodenstock Club lunch and prize-giving in London on...

Multi-centre comparative evaluation of a new one-day disposable lens.
November 2, 2001... table 1 Details of study lenses Test lens: New 1-Day Acuvue Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Material: etafilcon A, 58% water, FDA Group 4 BOZR: 8.50, 9.00mm Diameter: 14.2 mm Tc:...

How can I avoid Contact Lense drop-outs?
November 2, 2001... Continuing our series aimed at helping practitioners develop their contact lens business, Nicola Pritchard examines the reasons why patients discontinue contact lens wear and discusses some strategies for dealing with drop-outs ...

Personal development plan in contact lens practice.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... The biggest barrier to undertaking an effective personal development plan (PDP) is usually a failure to identify accurately any areas in clinical practice that might benefit from further learning, training or practical guidance. The use of peer...

Ciba Vision Corp. and Sola ADC Lenses Ltd.campaign together to build business.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... u Sola and Ciba Vision have joined forces to create an alliance they believe will help practitioners to upgrade consumer lens choices and increase eyewear sales. The four-month campaign starts on November 1, offering patients buying any...

Marketers to discuss ways to boost growth.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Marketing conference will focus on how optics can increase consumer spending A one-day national conference on marketing optical products is to be held after Christmas. Directors from Boots Opticians, Rodenstock and Bausch & Lomb will speak...

Rugby players give Flexon a try.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Bristol practice plays host to radio station A popular Bristol radio station recently broadcast its morning show from Sight Centres' new Clifton practice. The three-hour breakfast show, hosted by Howard Taylor, Joe 'The Fridge'...

nemowrites.(Editorial)
November 2, 2001... Help at hand Recent events, to which I will refer shortly, brought to mind the ophthalmic optical profession's fiercely declared opposition in the mid-1980s to increasing public calls for the general sale of ready-glazed reading glasses....

Independent stars in best practice video.(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... An independent practice has been featured as the main case study in a new Department of Trade & Industry video on business training. Turners Optometrists of Bridgwater in Somerset was featured in the DTI's Connect series which highlights...

Court fines student for posing as qualified DO.(dispensing optician)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... 'Go and get the qualifications' Magistrates Court tells ex-Vision Express employee A City & Islington College student nearing the end of her dispensing optician course posed as a qualified DO and worked at a multiple a court heard last...

Has the tide turned?(extended wear contact lenses)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
November 2, 2001... After several years of decline, new contact lens fits are beginning to improve (see optician Index October 26). Reduced prices, easy availability and high-profile advertising have all helped drive patients towards contact lenses while the range...

RNIB to campaign harder to improve children's eye care.(Royal National Institute for the Blind )(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Following its Eye Test Action Day this week the Royal National Institute for the Blind will continue to lobby government for improvements in children's vision screening. The charity was 'very pleased' with the interest in this year's...

NHSpays for 9.6m sight tests.(National Health Service, statistics on sight tests in United Kingdom)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 2, 2001... The Department of Health confirmed last week that the number of sight tests paid for by health authorities in England has more than doubled in the past decade. In the latest ophthalmic statistics for the NHS, the DoH stated 9.6m tests were...

One in five fail to return to Silmo.(Silmo exhibition, Paris, France)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Official figures from the Silmo exhibition organisers reveal that more than 20 per cent of the visitors who attended last year's event failed to visit this year. Initial estimates for the event - the first major European optical fair since...

Costs investigation at GCU causes concern.(Glasgow Caledonian University's optometry department)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Glasgow Caledonian's vision sciences department subject of costs analysis study An investigation into the costs of Glasgow Caledonian University's optometry department is yet to decide the future of the resource. The university has...

VATcases go to court.(optics industry fights value added tax)(Brief Article)
November 2, 2001... Optics' representatives are confident of strength of arguments against C&E's claim Optics' big week in court starts on Monday and both sides involved in the VAT tribunal have said they are confident that the profession will be successful....

Conjunctival scarring classification; (Conjunctival cicatrisation, ankyloblepharon, symblepharon).(causes, diagnosis, management of scarring of eye's mucous membrane)(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... Description Scarring of the conjunctiva can be a visually devastating end-point of several diseases. It can result in combined dry-eye syndrome from a reduction in aqueous tears from scarring of the lacrimal ductules and a loss of the...

Anterior segment and the ageing eye.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... Scott Mackie gives details of the next DOCET-supported course at the Glasgow Hilton in January Scottish Continuing Optometric Training, organiser of the forthcoming Eyecare 3000, the largest two-day continuing education and training course...

Use of the slit lamp ; Part 5 - Examining the lens and anterior vitreous.(examination of eyes, disease diagnosis)
November 9, 2001... In the final part of our series, Andrew Franklin goes beyond the pupil and discusses the examination of the lens and anterior vitreous The major slit-lamp biomicroscope is usually associated with the anterior part of the eye, yet with...

Marchon agrees new deal for Nike eyewear.(Eschenbach Optik, Marchon Eyewear Inc. form distribution agreement)(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... u Eschenbach Optik is to license Marchon Eyewear to distribute Nike with Flexon memory metal frames under the Nike brand. The new Nike with Flexon ophthalmic line joins the Nike with Flexon sunwear and the Nike sports sunwear collections...

Mersona invests heavily in new prescription plant in Halesowen.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... u Birmingham-based optical manufacturing firm Mersona has made a substantial investment in its business with a [pound]750,000 move to new premises. The company, which is the manufacturing arm of optical retailing group Scrivens, has moved...

Sweet revenge for spectacle wearers.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... The recipients of this year's Spectacle Wearer of the Year awards said winning was sweet revenge for having been teased at school for wearing spectacles. Radio personality Nicholas Parsons presented the awards, which celebrated their 10th...

Relief for clinical dilemmas.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... Ranna Rai reports from this year's Specsavers conference in Birmingham where over 800 delegates attended The current practitioner is faced with a vast array of vision management options. It was with this in mind that this year's theme was...

moneowrites.(opinion on College Guidelines on Professional Conduct; Rodenstock's acquisition of chain of opticians)(Brief Article)(Column)
November 9, 2001... Mixed response By now everyone will doubtless have received the new College Guidelines on Professional Conduct. It will not have escaped notice that, once again, the guidelines have evoked a mixed response. Moneo felt that this being the...

Rodenstock tests the market with retail entry.(Rodenstock Corp. acquired 15 practices from Allders Opticians)(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... Purchase of Allders practices gives Rodenstock direct exposure to consumers Rodenstock has confirmed that it will use the 15 practices it bought from Allders Opticians last month as a test-bed for new products and services. Speaking...

Evans verdict triggers new fraud questions.(optometrist Gwyn Evans received suspended sentence for fraud)(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... OO escapes jail but Counter Fraud Services claims actions were 'far from altruistic' Government fraud officials were quick to end speculation that the suspended sentence handed down to fraudulent optometrist Gwyn Evans could become...

Culture clash.(optical profession, mainstream society disagree on glasses for children)(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... Why does thinking within the optical establishment on many issues remain so out of step with mainstream society? The gaping chasm between the popular zeitgeist and the optical establishment's view of the world was thrown into stark contrast at...

VAT tribunal hears the profession's evidence.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... VAT controversy reaches court with optical witnesses on both sides of the argument Professional witnesses took opposite sides in court this week as the 'Optics versus Customs & Excise' VAT tribunals took place. The FODO-funded...

Industry jobs are under threat, research claims.(Brief Article)
November 9, 2001... Plimsoll report warns optical industry that salary increases are outpacing sales A research group has claimed that the optical industry will suffer around 2,000 job losses next year as salaries outstrip sales. Plimsoll Publishing...

Brochure offers a personal touch.(marketing opticians)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... u The Independent Marketing Partnership has introduced a personalised practice brochure aimed at increasing appointment rates and patient loyalty. The 12-page, colour brochure provides a detailed explanation of the eye examination,...

Les grandes lunettes.(Silmo, exhibition)
November 16, 2001... Last month's Silmo offered more exhibition space than ever. Rory Brogan and Rob Moss report from Paris on a show that was big in more ways than one After years of rapidly diminishing eye sizes in the frame market, the Silmo show in Paris...

A problem shared.(combining retailers and optometrists)
November 16, 2001... Alison Ewbank reports on the differing views on shared care presented at a recent one-day seminar organised by Allergan in Ireland Shared care offers greater opportunities for optometrists to achieve a wider role in the health care team...

Conjunctivochalasis and chemosis ; Conjunctival chalasis, conjunctival oedema.(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... Description Conjunctivochalasis refers to a chronic degenerative loosening and redundancy of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva remains largely aligned with the ocular surface and so the subconjunctival space is not significantly expanded....

FreshLook gives patients their choice of lens colour.
November 16, 2001... u Ciba Vision (UK) has introduced FreshLook Fusion, a new FreshLook promotion pack designed for patients who require a different look every day and for those patients who cannot make up their minds. FreshLook Fusion allows customers to...

Developments in low vision.(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... Marek Karas of the RNIB reports from the first National Low Vision Conference which took place recently in Birmingham This was the first such national meeting since the Low Vision Consensus Forum was held in 1998 which in turn led to the...

nemowrites.(Brief Article)(Column)
November 16, 2001... Fact and fiction The record shows how, flushed with success at the unexpected achievement of an Opticians Act, elated ophthalmic optical visionaries set about creating their own highly individualistic version of professionalism. Their...

Profits rise gives Boots a feeling of well-being.(Boots Opticians)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 16, 2001... Sales fall but operating profits soar as Lasik centres perform above expectations Sales performance at Boots Opticians continues to be sluggish but its new management team have recovered the group's operating profits after a period of...

Staff celebrate at Haine & Smith.
November 16, 2001... u Members of staff at Haine & Smith have been celebrating their 10th anniversary with the practice group. Manager of the Business Services Division Jenny Sinclair has celebrated 10 years with the company. She joined the Wootton Bassett...

GOC review rules out comparative publicity.(General Optical Council)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... Publicity should be encouraged but not be of a 'comparative nature', says think tank Comparative advertising should not to be allowed in the profession, a working group looking into optics' publicity rules has concluded. The General...

Profession must wait for VAT case verdict.(value added tax)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... Decision on Customs & Excise VAT tribunal hearings to be announced in December The Customs & Excise VAT hearings concluded on Friday and now the profession faces an anxious wait to see if VAT is to be added to dispensing services. The...

Compulsory CET may be imposed next year.(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... GOC asked to approve timetable to implement mandatory programme next year The start of a compulsory CET scheme for both optometrists and dispensing opticians could be less than a year away. A timetable included with proposals tabled at...

Plano contact lens regulation delayed until end of next year.(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... More than a year since recommendations were made in the public interest to regulate the sale of plano contact lenses, efforts to implement the move remain unsuccessful. The latest indications from the Department of Health regarding the...

Opinion split on disposable lens price rise.(Johnson & Johnson)(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... Johnson & Johnson's plans to position its new 1-Day Acuvue at the prestige end of the daily disposable market have drawn mixed comment from practitioners. Johnson & Johnson is currently visiting its clients to discuss the benefits of the...

Newsletter accused of undermining case.(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... The immediate aftermath of last week's VAT tribunals was characterised this week by some publicly voiced recriminations in the profession. With tensions running high as the waiting begins for December's verdict, witness for...

Scottish Executive plans urgent diabetes initiative.(Brief Article)
November 16, 2001... Scotland's optical profession will be called upon to develop a major screening programme for diabetes-related sight problems which is aimed to be in place by September 2003. Next week a public consultation on retinopathy will be launched to...

Keeler improves tonometer.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... u Keeler's latest non-contact tonometer, the Pulsair EasyEye, has been redesigned, making it much lighter and easier to use than previous models. The EasyEye has a new viewing and targeting system which lets the user see through the...

Picture perfect.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Ever had a tiff over a bit map? Received a jpeg when you wanted a gif? Douglas Clarkson answers typical questions on digital imaging What is a bit of data? This is the basic information unit of a digital computer. It can either have...

Conjunctivitis classification.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Description This is an overview of the many different forms of conjunctivitis which are covered in more detail in the individual sections of this A-Z series. Conjunctivitis is a non-specific term signifying inflammation of the conjunctiva,...

Visual standards for driving.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... The Medmont field screener has been re-approved by the DVLA for use in the assessment of a patient's visual field as suitable for driving. Bill Harvey gives a brief revision as to what these standards are Most people remember having to...

Tonic accommodation and the manual dexterity of a microsurgeon.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Urological surgeon Jyoti Shah describes an interesting application of the Nvision-K 5001 autorefractor There have been many technological advances in surgery over the past few years. Laparoscopic or keyhole surgery is the one advance that...

nemowrites.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Fact and fiction Despite having periodically crossed swords with Bill Carlyle, I have no hesitation in joining him in deriding the bizarrely named Tubal Cain's theory that successful optical business relies for support on freemasonry...

Lightweight styles added to Mono Japan range.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... u Orange Eyewear has added the Nana Deux frame collection to the exclusive Mona Japan range. The company states that the minimalist range features 99 per cent of parts made of b-titanium. This flexibility allows for all the rimless screws,...

China shows its potential.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Despite the uncertain economic future, Hong Kong's Optical Fair achieved a marginal increase in visitor numbers this month. The event, which was held at Hong Kong's convention and exhibition centre, attracted 6,636 buyers, with 4,142 of...

OO representatives elected to Council.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Mystery over spoilt ballot papers in Scotland after Harley Street declarations Last week's declarations of results at the GOC saw 11 people elected or re-elected to the Council - and threw up one bizarre mystery. In England, Judith...

Reform Bill alterations 'will need monitoring'.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... NHS reorganisation seen as a promising development for the optical profession The Government's latest changes to the Health Service via the NHS Reform Bill include promising developments, but the alterations will require monitoring,...

Profession continues publicity rule debate.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... The optical bodies may be enlisted to draw up guidance on advertising, including price comparisons. At last week's GOC meeting recommendations were tabled by the working group on publicity (News, November 16). However, further details...

GOC acts to speed up disciplinary procedure.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Clear timetable of case procedure to be established at new plea directions hearing Efforts to speed up the protocol prior to disciplinary procedures in the profession are under way, the GOC heard last week. Ewan Page, chairman of the...

Optics studies detail of NHS reform plans.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Government has announced plans to change the GOS system, abolish two thirds of health authorities in England by 2003 and set up a new body to oversee health professionals. Samantha Dalton looks at what it means for optics The NHS Reform...

A right turkey.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... The European Union's highest court has this week given Tesco the blues by siding with Levi's in the jeans maker's battle to stop the goods being imported and sold at a discount by the supermarket chain. This is expected to be a landmark ruling...

Calling all innovators.(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... The hunt is on for the most innovative introduction to optics. The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers has announced details of its 2002 Innovations in British Optics awards. It follows the success of the inaugural competition which...

Landmark ruling over designer brand sales.(Tesco vs. Levi Strauss over designer jean prices)(Brief Article)
November 23, 2001... Decision over cheap jeans may influence supermarkets' interest in optical goods The defeat of Tesco by jeans manufacturer Levi Strauss in the European courts has set an important legal precedent for those who are selling branded products,...

Contact lens-related conditions; Vascularisation, GPC, papillary conjunctivitis.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Description Soft contact lenses are the most common type of lens, accounting for around 90 per cent of fittings. Rigid lenses typically have a smaller diameter (9-10mm) and are more commonly used for high prescriptions, astigmatism or...

The fall in October.(eyewear industry statistics for October 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
November 30, 2001... Index figures for October are a negative grouping, although averaged over the year, results do show improvements October was a long month consisting of 27 working days (excluding Sundays). The Index compares each month on an equal 25 days...

Identifying and reporting of ocular adverse drug reactions.
November 30, 2001... In the first of a quarterly series looking at therapeutics issues in optometry, Dr John Lawrenson gives an update concerning the role of optometrists in reporting adverse reactions An adverse drug reaction (ADR) is any unwanted or...

Visual field analysis - Part 3 Common errors in field assessment.
November 30, 2001... In the third part of our series on visual fields, Andrew Franklin takes a look at some common errors in field assessment (C4006c) Perimetry is not an entirely straightforward process. In addition to the genuine detection of anomalies a...

The Eye Clinic opens latest practice in Milton Keynes.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... u The Eye Clinic has launched a new practice in Milton Keynes, with the creation of 20 new jobs. The two-storey branch at Silbury Arcade, The Centre, is the 16th practice to date and will offer laser consultations, with on-site laser...

Oakley fanatic opens lifestyle outlet in Dublin.(Insight Opticians' store)(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... u Irish group Insight Opticians opened a new store in Dublin's Temple Bar area that specialises in Oakley clothing, footwear and ski-wear, along with top brand sunglasses. The new outlet was visited by Miss Ireland, Catriona Supple, prior...

Medicines Update; for optical practitioners - Part 9.(eye products now available)
November 30, 2001... Professor Michael Doughty provides an overview of eye medicines and other eye care products, introduced in the last three months This update is designed to keep the UK optometrist up to date with all aspects of eye medicines and other eye...

Japanese RGP giant targets UK market.(Menicon expands contact lens business)(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Trials of RGP lens show advantages over soft extended wear lenses, says Menicon Menicon, the Japanese contact lens maker, is hoping to provide a fillip for the UK RGP market with the introduction of its Menicon Z-a 30-day continuous wear...

Getting started in continuous wear.(silicone-hydrogel contact lenses now available)(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Bill Harvey recently attended one leg of an intensive roadshow aimed at increasing practitioner confidence in prescribing the new silicone-hydrogel contact lenses Two Sunday seminars took place recently, sandwiching a week of shorter...

omenwrites.(opinion on UK eye care services)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
November 30, 2001... given this further thought, perhaps he does represent the typical British spectacle wearer, unable to come to terms with the natural progression of time and more concerned about his visual image than his health and well being. However, further...

Everyone's welcome.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Entries will soon be opening for the optician Eye Care Awards 2002. Over the years these awards have established themselves as the most prestigious accolade available to the optical community. A roll call of past winners reads like a who's...

Visioncare wins service award.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Contact lens manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Visioncare has won the large organisation award in the manufacturing category of The Daily Telegraph/Energis Customer Service Awards 2001. The company went on to win the overall award for large...

FODO to forge closer links with the College.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Chairman Carroll outlines strategic intention to co-operate on legislative change Employers optical body FODO has promised to work closely with the College of Optometrists to increase the scope of professional practice. In his keynote...

[pounds sterling]30m project launched to fight blindness.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... A multi-million pound effort to recruit more scientists to fight blindness was unveiled this week. Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science at the Department of Trade and Industry, announced the start of a [pound]30m research project at the...

OOs earning more for shortest working week.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Most professionals want to work in independent practices, says optician survey A salary survey conducted for optician last month has found that a full-time optometrist today earns an average of [pound]43,974, and a dispensing optician...

Fielmann's warning.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Acquisitive giant German optical retailer Fielmann has announced its 2001 performance will fall below previous expectations. Following the terrorist attacks in September the Hamburg-based business forecasts sales of 770m euros and profits...

College seeks the views of its members.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... The College of Optometrists is to poll its members on how well it is serving them. The 'extensive three-part research programme' has started with qualitative interviews with the secretariat of the College involving a consultation company....

Poor women more at risk.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Nearly two thirds of the world's blind are women, The British Journal of Ophthalmology (November 29) has reported. The paper's authors studied 10 years of global surveys in poorer countries, where much of the blindness, they conclude, is...

Thefts lead to Filos appeal.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... Following two thefts from Filos sales representatives, the company's UK director John Johnson has made a personal appeal to the profession. 'It would help the whole industry if opticians, when asked to glaze spectacles without actually...

Pioneering LV course set for 2002 repeat.(Brief Article)
November 30, 2001... The final part of a pioneering new low-vision course took place at City University last weekend (November 17-18). The course has been organised by the university and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). It is designed to help...