Optician articles from November 2003

Optician archives from November 2003

Punctal stenosis (Lacrimal punctal atresia, punctal agenesis).
November 7, 2003... DESCRIPTION A single lacrimal punctum is located medially in both the superior and inferior eyelid margins. Progressive constriction of the puncta is called stenosis whereas congenital absence is termed atresia or agenesis. Punctal...

In-practice assessment of an RGP multifocal contact lens.(rigid gas permeable contact lenses)
November 7, 2003... Fitting RGP multifocals has traditionally been viewed as a difficult and time-consuming process. Here Ron Loveridge describes an independent evaluation of the Astrocon Multifocal RGP which finds that the lens is a simple and effective option...

Why I joined the BCLA.(British Contact Lens Association)
November 7, 2003... The BCLA is a unique organisation representing contact lens professionals from all disciplines. Here contact lens optician Shelly Bansal describes how becoming a member has benefited him and his practice in Pinner, northwest London I...

Correcting presbyopes with soft contact lenses - can we do better?
November 7, 2003... Frequent replacement soft multifocals have the potential to grow the presbyopic contact lens market, yet prescribing rates in many countries remain low. In this large-scale European study, Keith Edwards and Gary Orsborn compare patient and...

Aussie rules.(British Contact Lens Association meeting highlights research from Australia)
November 7, 2003... The latest BCLA education course had a new format and an international flavour with delegates and speakers travelling from overseas to attend. optician reports on some of the highlights of the day's presentations Delegates from Ireland,...

Europe's educators set date for global event.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... A major conference dedicated to optical continuing education in Europe will take place in Germany next year. The meeting, organised by three continental bodies, will be the first CET gathering overseen by the European Chapter of the...

How Owl got wise to contact lenses.(Owl Optical)
November 7, 2003... Continuing our series on successful contact lens practice, optician visits Stratford-upon-Avon to talk to Dr Ian Moss of Owl Optical, a 13-practice group with locations from Guernsey to County Durham When contact lens sales increase by 60...

nemowrites.(Column)
November 7, 2003... which I would add the further question of whether the ophthalmic optical profession is becoming too medically orientated. Or, to put it in materialistic terms, what are they actually paid to do? Is not the ophthalmic optician's raison...

Children in Surrey offered faster service.(Croydon Local Optometric Committee, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Croydon Local Optometric Committee has started a paediatric screening service aimed at making optical services for children more efficient and delivering quicker access. The screening pathway will allow parents whose children fail their...

Boucheron enters profitable niche.
November 7, 2003... u Italian eyewear company Safilo and Gucci Group have announced the launch of a new line of eyewear from the Boucheron brand. Boucheron, famous for its jewellery, watches and perfumes, was bought by Gucci in 2000. The sunglass collection,...

ABDO president to step down.(Chris Packford, Association of British Dispensing Opticians)
November 7, 2003... Association of British Dispensing Opticians' president Chris Packford has stood down because of ill health. Packford has undergone two operations since taking office, and in an Association statement this week he said he expected to undergo...

Chairman dies.(Alexander Georgevic, Scrivens Group)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Chairman of the Scrivens Group, Alexander 'Sasha' Georgevic, has died. He was 69. As well as being a leading figure in the Birmingham-based optical retailer, Georgevic was instrumental in the development of the company's hearing aid offer...

Specsavers Opticians loses Dutch lawsuits.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Multiple retailer Specsavers Opticians has lost a number of lawsuits brought by its Dutch competitors for 'misleading' price-comparative advertising campaigns for its 61-outlet 'Specsavers Opticians' chain. The company, the third largest...

Pioneers demonstrate eye care of tomorrow.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Efforts to find the 'holy grail' of countering the eye's biological clock will be discussed by specialists Emanuel Rosen and Professor Roger Buckley at a special lecture this month. Implanting permanent contact lenses, and other...

Research into Acanthamoeba highlighted during royal visit.
November 7, 2003... A researcher studying new approaches to dealing with the Acanthamoeba infection, which can develop when contact lenses are misused, met The Princess Royal earlier this week. Dr Naveed Khan, lecturer in microbiology at Birbeck, University of...

Retail rivals put optical practices in the shade.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... A European study of sunglass buying trends has shown that Britons are less likely to buy their 'shades' from an optical outlet than from a department store or chemists. France tops the league table for the nation that owns the most pairs...

Optometrist to face committee.(Michael Barfield)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... An Oxfordshire optometrist, charged with serious professional misconduct, will face a disciplinary hearing later this month. Michael Barfield is scheduled to appear before a GOC disciplinary committee on Monday November 17 at the General...

Fitting courses.
November 7, 2003... A 'unique learning experience' on solving contact lens problems is being offered by educational group OEL. The company has organised half a dozen presentations covering 'the gamut of lens fitting and aftercare' starting in Birmingham on...

Optom airs low vision concern.(Optometrist Nick Rumney)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Optometrist Nick Rumney discussed the problems in provision of low vision aids on national radio this week, pointing out that the system was failing users in some cases. Rumney appeared on Radio 4's In Touch programme, and highlighted his...

Prices cut for independents.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2003... Electronic marketing company Opticianet has joined forces with Ultravision, the supplier of contact lenses, to come up with a preferential pricing deal on lenses for the independent practitioner. Opticianet, which made its debut at...

Pyogenic granuloma.
November 14, 2003... Description A pyogenic granuloma is a proliferative fibrovascular tissue reaction to a break in the epithelial surface with exposure of deeper tissue. It typically occurs on the conjunctiva following superficial trauma with exposure of...

Birmingham unveils robot.(Birmingham Optical Group)
November 14, 2003... Birmingham Optical Group has unveiled its next step forward in Nidek Industrial Lens Edging Technology, with the official launch of the RHU1000 Automated Robotic Handling Unit and SE9090 Express edger. The automated unit uses a robotic arm...

Success in the City.(sunglasses outlet)
November 14, 2003... David Clulow has a new stand-alone sunglass store concept, offering dispensing only and a new store design. Rory Brogan dons his City suit and visits London's Jubilee Place A visit to the Canary Wharf complex proves that the Docklands site...

Playing the brand.(eyewear firm Mondottica's Michael Jardine)
November 14, 2003... Branding in the eyewear market is more important than ever. Michael Jardine of Mondottica explains to Rory Brogan his involvement in branded eyewear Although eyewear company Mondottica has recently launched the Ted Baker line on to the UK...

Seven secrets of paediatric examination.
November 14, 2003... Alex Buller and Gerald Naylor describe some ophthalmic paediatric examination techniques that are not often included in textbooks but which are helpful in overcoming the challenges that can be encountered when examining children please...

Material whirl.(Trivex lens material)
November 14, 2003... Trivex is a lens material you may have never heard of but its makers are already claiming it as the successor to CR39. Chris Bennett reports from a meeting of manufacturers in Paris last month Chemists and lenscasters are talking about a...

Supra market.(eyeglass frames)
November 14, 2003... Supras are an increasingly popular frame choice with both patients and practices. Historically it has been the more mature, conservative spectacle wearer that has opted for a frame above the lens but not below. However, these days the variety...

EVERonwards.(European Association for Vision and Eye Research annual meeting, October 2003)
November 14, 2003... The 2003 annual meeting of the European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) was held in Alicante in the Palacio de Congresos from October 8-11. Richard Allen reports EVER's main aims are to disseminate knowledge about eye...

Causes of non-tol.(non-tolerances in eyewear)
November 14, 2003... Jim Farrell discusses four areas of dispensing that can lead to non-tolerances and gives some tips on how to avoid them The role of the dispensing practitioner is to ensure that the patient is dispensed with an optical correction that...

Turn up the base.(curved lens technologies)
November 14, 2003... Plano sunglasses with minimal tints and wrapped shapes have proved a fashion hit in recent years, so could ophthalmic eyewear follow this trend and use 8.00D base curves? Rob Moss reports on curved fashions and the curved lens technologies that...

Methods of assessing visual acuity.
November 14, 2003... Rabiah Narband argues that a logMAR acuity reading has many advantages over Snellen Vision and visual acuity are the traditional ways of measuring visual performance. Visual acuity measurement provides important information about the...

Visual demands and risks in sport.
November 14, 2003... In the last of our series on sporting issues, Peter Smith reports the need for greater awareness among sports players for eye protection There is a tendency to assume that a high level of visual skill and performance is needed for sport....

The patient's story.(optometry practice)
November 14, 2003... Nita Odedra describes how best to give early support to newly diagnosed people with visual problems Imagine that you are a 75-year-old whose sight has been deteriorating. Your GP has referred you to an eye clinic at the hospital for an...

Brand bonanza.(Luxottica, Sola Optical, Hoya, Advanced Eyecare Research)
November 14, 2003... u Luxottica recently presented its 2004 collection of sunglasses at London's Le Meridien Grosvenor House on Park Lane and the Holiday Inn near Leeds, including the new Prada collection. The Prada sunglasses are produced by Luxottica from...

CET providers to meet GOC.(Continuing Education and Training, General Optical Council)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Providers of CET will travel to the GOC next month for a special meeting with the Council and the preferred provider for the management of a future mandatory CETscheme. It is hoped that the development of the scheme, due to be introduced...

Which? on the attack.(Consumers' Association criticizes optometry practice)
November 14, 2003... The Consumers' Association has once again criticised the profession, this time finding that some optometrists are failing to spot or warn patients about eye health problems. CA's Which? magazine claims this month that some practitioners...

Obituary - James Leslie Boyle.(Obituary)
November 14, 2003... u A memorial service took place in Lisburn, Co Antrim, last month to celebrate the life of optometrist James Leslie Boyle who died on October 5 aged 92. The service was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Lisburn, just yards away from...

Rodenstock injects [pounds sterling]1m into Kent plant.(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Lens supplier Rodenstock UK has announced a [pounds sterling]1m expansion programme at its Northfleet plant in Kent. The company confirmed the investment would help create dozens of new jobs for optical technicians. The first phase of the...

Boots sales fall 10% in first half.(Boots Opticians)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Restructuring, market competition and the negative image of laser eye surgery were last week blamed for the 10 per cent fall in sales for one of retail optics' big players. Boots Opticians has seen sales tumble to [pounds sterling]100.4m, 8...

Which? hunt.(Consumers' Association provides valuable information on optician services)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Should the profession be worried or angry about the Consumers' Association's latest attack on optometry? Neither, in the view of optician. Which? has managed to achieve something that has left the profession and its supporting industry...

Plano publicity.(contact lenses)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Further publicity against the unregulated sale of cosmetic contact lenses emerged this week. optician understands that BBC TV's news programme for children, Newsround, is researching an item on the matter after warnings to teenagers, some...

GOC leads discussion on European Diploma.(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... The General Optical Council hosted a seminar for EU member states in Rome last week to discuss their ongoing efforts to make the European Diploma the definitive Continental optical qualification. Although the number of professionals taking...

Dispute delays new scheme for registration.(optometrists)(Brief Article)
November 14, 2003... Disagreement over detail has delayed publication of the new scheme of registration of optometrists. The lead body for the new scheme, The College of Optometrists, agreed to delay publication of the proposals following calls from the other...

Professional bodies face new independent insurance rival.(UK Special Risks)
November 14, 2003... A dedicated alternative medical malpractice insurance scheme, independent of any professional optical body, has been launched this week by specialist broker UK Special Risks, in time for the end of year renewals. Designed 'by optometrists...

Luxottica reveals 50% stake in Clulow group.(Optika Clulow Group, doing business as David Clulow Opticians)
November 14, 2003... The Optika Clulow Group is now 50 per cent owned by Luxottica, optician has learnt. The Italian frame giant and the Optika Clulow group have managed to keep the deal quiet in the UK, despite details being published earlier this year in...

Recurrent corneal erosion syndrome.
November 21, 2003... Description Instability of the attachment of the basal corneal epithelium to the underlying stroma through its normal adhesion structures results in a collection of signs and symptoms known as recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES). It...

DoH to unveil details of new care pathways.
November 21, 2003... The Department of Health's National Eye Care Plan will be launched in January via four high level meetings. The initiative, which will influence future treatment of cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and low vision...

Co-management of refractive surgery.
November 21, 2003... In the last of his discussions of the implications of new ophthalmological treatments for co-management with optometrists, Professor Charles McGhee focuses on the still popular Lasik technique and argues why clear protocols are essential to...

The dangers of Lasik.
November 21, 2003... Consultant surgeon William Jory recently caused a stir when he expressed his concerns about Lasik in a letter published in The Lancet. Here, he expands his argument for optician It is surely time to warn both eye care professionals and the...

Vision 2005 outlines conference themes.
November 21, 2003... Preparations for one of the most prestigious conferences on vision to be held in Britain are well advanced, with the profession now invited to submit abstracts for proposed presentations. Vision 2005 is billed as the world's premier event...

directory of laser clinics that took part in the optician 2003 survey.(Directory)
November 21, 2003... u Advance Vision Care 77 Harley St London W1G 8QW 0870 755 9810 www.advancevisioncare.co.uk All Clear Eye Laser Clinics www.allclearlaser.com The Gatehouse, Maris Lane Trumpington Cambridge CB2 2DL ...

Trends in laser refractive surgery in the UK 2003.
November 21, 2003... 2003 has been a year of controversy and consolidation for the laser eye surgery market. Alison Ewbank reports on the findings of optician's third annual survey of the UK's clinics, conducted jointly with the British Society for Refractive...

Case settled out of court.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2003... A 56-year-old man has received a five figure sum after his optometrist allegedly failed to diagnose a retinal tear, it has been reported. Barry Bisseker visited Birmingham practitioner Balraj Singh Johal after noticing a black object on...

Journey of an Irish optom.
November 21, 2003... Unlike the UK, Ireland has no tradition of optometrists and ophthalmologists working side by side. Declan Hovenden describes how he became the first optometrist in the Republic to be employed by a laser refractive surgery clinic Nine years...

Which? replies to profession's comments.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2003... A senior researcher involved in the latest Which? investigation on the profession has hit back at optics' response to its article, which claimed optometrists were failing to spot eye problems. Answering points made by Paul Carroll, chairman...

nemowrites.
November 21, 2003... Nanny rules, OK? Recent examples of publicity elsewhere in the professional world prompted a reference to new draft Publicity Rules approved by the GOC in June, which curiously I appear so far to have overlooked. My instant impression was...

Indemnity, implants and instrumentation.
November 21, 2003... In another of optician's occasional updates from the British Society of Refractive Surgery, Dr Catharine Chisholm reports on bad press, insurance hikes and improved ocular measurement instrumentation Refractive surgery has suffered from a...

u The Independent Marketing Partnership is launching a new direct mail programme for its member practices that is designed to increase patient demand for better quality and higher-value spectacles.
November 21, 2003... The campaign's overall objective is to protect and increase practice income through higher value dispensings. The Independent Marketing Partnership says that as spectacles account for around 75 per cent of the average independent...

Refractive surgery platforms.
November 21, 2003... Sunil Shah discusses the latest excimer system from Nidek, recently installed at his clinic, and explains why he believes it to be state of the art Technology within the field of excimer laser refractive surgery advances at a frightening...

Lasik for children - not as startling as it sounds.
November 21, 2003... Bill Harvey describes the development of a branch of refractive surgery that has received little attention and yet may offer a new method on intervention for amblyopic children Cataract extraction techniques have developed so rapidly over...

Laser clinics confident of better year ahead.
November 21, 2003... In the week optician publishes exclusive research showing the decline of the previously buoyant UK refractive sector, the laser eye treatment providers' trade body is confident of a better 2004. Two key findings have emerged from the...

GOC appoints fitness to practise guardians.(General Optical Council)
November 21, 2003... The newly appointed members of the General Optical Council fitness to practise group - which will replace the disciplinary committee and handle performance matters - have been named. They will take over the guardianship of individual...

Disciplinary hearing adjourned.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2003... An Oxfordshire optometrist accused of professional misconduct had the case against him adjourned after a day of legal argument behind closed doors this week. Michael John Barfield was due to have his case heard before the General Optical...

Profession invited to therapeutics summit.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2003... The profession will be introduced to the opportunities of its soon-to-be-granted prescribing responsibilities at a special meeting next month. Hosted by the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) and the General Optical Council, the meeting...

15% fee rise recommended.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2003... A rise of 15 per cent in GOC annual registration and renewal fees was recommended yesterday (November 20). If accepted, the annual cost will go up from [pounds sterling]115 to [pounds sterling]135 per year for 2004-2005. The rise was...

Shake-up for pre-reg year.(Brief Article)
November 21, 2003... Pre-registration year written exams are to be scrapped, students supported more and logbooks introduced in an effort to make the pre-reg year more effective in equipping practitioners with the skills needed for modern optometric practice. ...

Refractive surgery signs: Lasik.
November 28, 2003... Description Corneal refractive surgery has evolved from radial and astigmatic keratotomy (RK and AK) through to current techniques including photorefractive and photoastigmatic keratectomy (PRK and PARK), laser in situ keratomileusis...

Minister praises independent.(Optometrist Christine Bull)(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... An independent optometrist was given a commendation by a government minister this week for making her practice more accessible to disabled patients. Optometrist Christine Bull, who owns J H Peters in Romford, was one of only three...

Ocular nutritional supplements- are they safe?
November 28, 2003... Hannah Bartlett and Dr Frank Eperjesi examine the function, recommended doses and adverse effects of nutrients thought to be beneficial for ocular health The Food Standards Agency published a report on safe upper limits for vitamins and...

The human factor.
November 28, 2003... Insuring the staff who make your practice tick is a wise move. Statistics show that one in three people have at least six months off at some point in their working lives due to ill health. Lesley Owen and Martin Bell report Most if not all...

Ocular therapeutics - Part 1; Gross anatomy of the orbit.
November 28, 2003... Professor Gordon Ruskell begins a major new 13-part CET series on therapeutics looking at the gross anatomical features of the orbit. This module will enable practitioners to understand the structural basis of orbital disorders (CET Module...

Seasonable falls.
November 28, 2003... Eye examinations fell in October by 4 per cent compared to this time last year. But in spite of a drop from September, turnover showed a healthy increase on October 2002 It is not unusual to see a fall in performance during October....

Moving CET forward.(continuing education and training )
November 28, 2003... Clinical editor Bill Harvey looks ahead to 2004 and beyond and explains how the provision of CET needs to develop to meet the needs of the UK optometrist. The process begins this week with the start of a major new series on ocular therapeutics...

Germans rush to buy before health reforms.(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... German patients are hurrying to make their optical purchases ahead of costly new year changes to health service benefits. Fielmann, the massive German optician and a barometer of the country's retail market, reports that in the first week...

The big thank you.
November 28, 2003... u Manager Jane Norman (left) recently celebrated her fifth anniversary at Specsavers Opticians in Redhill in style, with a trip to New York. Optometrist Prashant Patel treated Norman and her best friend to a five-day trip to thank her for her...

Essilor extends Varilux range.
November 28, 2003... u Essilor is extending its Varilux range to include Varilux Comfort Stylis 1.67 and Varilux Comfort Airwear Transitions Brown and Grey. The company says that patients want high-index lenses because of their cosmetic appeal and comfort and...

Fewer kids are attending tests.(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... Fewer children in England are attending GOS sight tests, new Department of Health statistics reveal. In all, 2.28 million under-16s were given NHS sight tests in the year to March 31, the lowest annual figure since 1995-96. At that time,...

omenwrites.(Editorial)
November 28, 2003... Negative spin There seem to be few occasions in recent months when the General Optical Council has been out of the news. Its disciplinary committee has generated concerns from members of the profession about the nature of the charges being...

Average cost of specs up 13%.(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... The average retail cost of a pair of spectacles is [pounds sterling]144.52 - up [pounds sterling]17.43 - according to a survey which uses a quarter of all annual sights tests as its source. Optics at a Glance, FODO's yearly research...

Win a digital camera.
November 28, 2003... optician and Keeler have teamed up to run a fundus photography competition in the new year. A Canon Coolpix camera, two other digital cameras and two Kowa spotting scopes will be awarded to the entrants submitting the best images. The...

Bradford recruiting for second fast-track year.(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... Bradford University's fast-track optometry course is now recruiting for next year's entry following its claim that the degree has been given provisional approval by the General Optical Council. The aim of the course is to allow dispensing...

Vital ingredients.(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... Concocting codes of conduct is a bit like baking a cake. There is a consensus on what should go into it, everyone has a general idea of what the final product should look like. The real skill of coming up with a truly excellent result lies in...

New falls report calls for more screening.
November 28, 2003... Elderly people undergoing a falls assessment should be automatically screened for visual impairment. This is one of the conclusions of a new report on minimising falls among elderly people, which also recommends a mechanism be established...

Long-serving optom retires.(Brief Article)
November 28, 2003... Optometrist Russell Cropman, who has practised for almost 50 years, will retire tomorrow (Saturday November 29). Cropman, who established his practice - H S Cropman - in 1965 when the Elephant and Castle shopping centre first opened its...