Optician articles from November 2005

Optician archives from November 2005

Abseil duo raise [pounds sterling]1,000 for RNIB.(Royal National Institute for the Blind)(Association of Optometrists )(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... Two employees from the Association of Optometrists have abseiled 400 feet down the landmark Centre Point building in London and raised over [pounds sterling]1,000 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the process. Head of business...

Modern technology, traditional standards.
November 4, 2005... Steven Wright tells Chris Bennett why Batemans Opticians has decided to make Ortho K available from its practices Technology is the key to the decision by Batemans Opticians to make Ortho K available from its practices, explains Steven...

Silhouette turns heads in Cheam.(Gordon Turner Optometrists promotes Sun 2006 collection )(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... Gordon Turner Optometrists in Cheam, Surrey has held a Silhouette promotion including a huge billboard of the new Silhouette sun 2006 advertising campaign. The practice is holding the company's full range of frames and sunglasses for a month,...

Zesty new range from Orange.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... Orange Eyewear has expanded its range with over 25 new looks. Contessa for women in the 40-plus age group is manufactured in Italy and features delicate details such as pearls and filigree edging seen in model OR129. Orange Eyewear described...

Beholden to the cause.
November 4, 2005... According to Professor Brien Holden, one billion contact lens wearers worldwide is an achievable target if lenses are developed for all ages and prescriptions. optician reports on his recent lecture to the contact lens industry Described...

The Provis process.
November 4, 2005... If you thought Provis was just another contact lens company you would be wrong. Chris Bennett travels to Scotland to talk to the company's founder, Ron Hamilton As chairman and founder of Provis and inventor of the daily disposable lens,...

BP900 slit lamp from Haag-Streit.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... The BP900 slit lamp from Haag-Streit offers magnifications of 10X, 16X and 25X and can utilise either video or digital cameras dependent on the chosen beam splitter. A push button at the top of the joystick for illumination control gives the...

Comparison of soft contact lens markets in Europe.
November 4, 2005... Dr Philip Morgan looks at recent research on the differences to be found between the soft contact lens markets in Europe Previous reports have demonstrated marked difference in the nature of contact lens markets around the world, in terms...

Contact lens material properties.
November 4, 2005... PART 2 - Mechanical behaviour and modulus In Part 2 of our series on the material properties of contact lenses, Dr Karen French looks at mechanical properties and how they are increasingly being viewed as significant to contact lens wear...

EFCLIN scales new heights.
November 4, 2005... Caroline Christie reports from the 33rd congress of the European Federation of the Contact Lens Industry Congress The EFCLIN Congress was held in Vienna from October 6-9 under the theme of 'Our business in 2010'. Over 220 delegates from...

Columbia sports eyewear hopes to grip the UK.
November 4, 2005... Columbia Sportswear has launched a new eyewear collection designed to mirror the 'durability, superior comfort, quality and function of its outdoor clothing range'. The largely male and unisex range offers 90 different frames in contemporary...

Festivities from Silhouette.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... Silhouette has launched a special collection of Titan Minimal Art frames for Christmas. Described by the company as the 'ideal present for someone who has always yearned for something original' the special edition comes in gold, silver, brown,...

Record-breaking PAC.(Professional Advancement Committee )
November 4, 2005... Nigel Best, Ian Dunning and Bill Harvey look back at this year's Professional Advancement Committee conference which was the best-attended yet Around 1,600 delegates packed the International Convention Centre in Birmingham on 16 October to...

Centrostyle offers Xmas in a basket.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... Italian accessories supplier Centrostyle has introduced festive practice display material for the Christmas season. 'Cheeky snowmen' and 'Jolly santas' are the latest themes to feature in Centrostyle's range of 'Artu' microfibre cloths and...

Charmant shines.(Charmant Eyewear Inc. receives 2005 Good Design Award for its Super Duralumin Collection)(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... The Super Duralumin Collection from frame firm Charmant has won a 2005 Good Design Award. Using ultra-light materials and distinctive colours the models have an appearance of solidity and a sense of volume, according to the company. With...

Enhancing the fluorescein view.(slit lamps from Topcon )
November 4, 2005... Bill Harvey reports on an advance in excitation filters available on the latest slit lamps from Topcon Assessment of the eye using fluorescein under a blue light source is a routine part of the examination. From contact lens assessment,...

Cazal introduces new style of supra.(Brief Article)
November 4, 2005... A new model from frame manufacturer Cazal is 709, a lightweight men's supra in a distinct design. The company describes it as understated, yet discerning, in a colour palette that ranges from classic-elegant shades to a fashionable silky-matt...

Our fees in the north.
November 4, 2005... David Challinor reviews the historic GOS contract north of the border The agreement in Scotland on the GOS contract must be viewed as a leap of imagination by ministers and government officials. Can England and for that matter Northern...

Core subject 4; Optical appliances.
November 4, 2005... The core subject for both dispensing opticians and optometrists is the same. However, as may be seen by the categories below, there is a different emphasis for each of the professions. The dispensing of optical appliances is specifically noted...

'Sophisticated, stylish and glamorous'.
November 4, 2005... Exalt Cycle is a 38-frame collection of 'modern and captivating' designs distributed by Eyewear Europe and produced by VidiVici Italia. The rectangular eye shapes which feature variations including 'clean and linear lines, sharp cuts and...

Fendi takes to the slopes in style.(winter ski goggle launch )(Brief Article)
November 11, 2005... Luxury Italian brand Fendi has launched the FS353 winter ski goggle. Designed for the style-conscious winter sports enthusiast, the goggle features the Zucca logo pattern and has an easily adjustable strap and clasp, said Marchon. Designed to...

Naevi or not nevi? ; Now that's a question.
November 11, 2005... In the second of our case studies highlighting the advantages of the Optomap scanning laser ophthalmoscope system, Simon Falk describes how it may help with choroidal pigmented lesions Irrespective of how one arrives at the correct...

Overall winner: ; Andrew Matheson.(Brief Article)
November 11, 2005... Prize: High-specification digital camera There were clearly several contenders for this category as is probably evident from the article so far. However, for scope of submission and quality of image capture, a majority of the judges...

Photographic skill.(eye images)
November 11, 2005... Winner: Kirit Patel, Radlett Prize: Digital camera One of the more competitive categories, there were many images here of conditions often very difficult to capture well. Tim Wooley, Maidstone, showed excellent skills in capturing a retinal...

Top Vision captures design Essence.
November 11, 2005... Essence is a new range of secure, freestanding displays, from Top Vision, designed for the presentation of designer eyewear. The company said that the different combinations of format and capacity facilitated the creation of a wall or sunglass...

Two-tone trend.
November 11, 2005... The latest practice shopfits are mixing off-the-shelf solutions with bespoke items, combined with clean lines, recessed displays and back-lit panels. Rory Brogan gets design conscious The European influence on practice design is filtering...

Unusual conditions.(eye images)(Brief Article)
November 11, 2005... Winner: Brid McMorrow, County Down Prize: Spotting telescope One of the more heavily contested categories, this section of the competition is enough to make one a hypochondriac. Jonathan Bourton, Institute of Optometry, sent in an...

Whiter than white.(David Clulow practice)
November 11, 2005... Rory Brogan casts his eye over the new-look David Clulow practice in London's Canary Wharf, recently revamped by Portland Design, and featuring modern materials, sharp lines and a new logo Large graphics of spectacle-wearing models are a...

Clinical management.(eye images)
November 11, 2005... Winner: Peter Beaton, Glasgow Prize: Digital camera An important category attracted excellent images. Some showed appearances which warranted emergency referral, such as the papilloedema captured by Paul Shimmell of Swindon (Figure 1) and...

Core subject 5; Ocular examination.
November 11, 2005... The core subject 5 differs for optometrists and dispensing opticians. The latter have contact lenses as their competency subject, while for optometrists it is ocular examination, a subject at the heart of much current CET The subject is...

Stop computer vision syndrome.
November 11, 2005... Enhanced reading glasses from Norville are designed to solve the problem of eye strain, blurred vision and tense shoulders caused by extended time at the computer. The lenses, sometimes referred to as office or degressive lenses, provide...

A way to avoid surface slip-ups.(lens pads)(Brief Article)
November 11, 2005... A Surface Improvement Pad is a thin, clear film applied to the lens before the edging pad, to prevent damage by slipping and rotation. The pads, slightly larger than a normal edging pad, can be removed easily and cleanly, with a 'fingerlift'...

Hoping for an ethical supply.
November 11, 2005... An increasing number of my patients request frames which are not made in China, because of the terrible human rights abuses there - routine use of torture, mass executions, and forced abortion are all well documented by Amnesty International....

Safire 2 coating takes over at Siltint.
November 11, 2005... Siltint Industries has launched a new high-performance ophthalmic reflection-free coating in Safire 2. The company said this came after extensive research and development that involved major investments in new machinery and process technology....

Net loss.(Monoptica)(College of Optometrists)(NetTalk)(Brief Article)
November 11, 2005... It's a bizarre irony of modern life that despite rapid travel, mobile phones, blackberries, laptops, broadband and the internet, it is harder to talk to a real person than it has ever been. That job of communication has, arguably, become even...

Busby writes.(Brief Article)
November 18, 2005... ' the sooner we can move to an arrangement that recognises business reality and allows PCTs to contract directly with dispensing optician and lay practice owners the better. Primary legislation is not available to Departments every year (the...

Flower power.
November 18, 2005... Rory Brogan gets closer to nature with Kenzo's latest eyewear at Silmo Artcol.216, the subdivision of L'Amy that distributes Kenzo eyewear, was celebrating after a successful Silmo exhibition, as winner of the Silmo D'Or Press award for...

Looking to Australia.
November 18, 2005... After having qualified as an optometrist in the UK, Rabiah Narband moved to Australia. Here she describes the structure of the profession Down Under and what she had to do in order to practise there The UK practitioner who wants to apply to...

Style for the people.
November 18, 2005... Style should be for everyone, not just the well-heeled. At least, that's the thinking behind the new Oscar+Fitch range of couture spectacles If you didn't go to Optrafair you can be forgiven for not knowing Oscar+Fitch. It might sound like...

Dispensing core subject 7; Ocular examination.
November 18, 2005... Core subject 7 for dispensing opticians is not dissimilar to subject 5 for optometrists dealt with last week in that it too is related to ocular examination. The emphasis is, however, somewhat different as may be seen by the breakdown into...

Uganda trip for optometrist.
November 18, 2005... A Specsavers optometrist has recently returned from a three-month trip to Uganda where she tended to visually impaired patients. Sue Matthews from Specsavers in Poole travelled to Lira in Northern Uganda with a local church-based project called...

VAO benefits from marathon debut.
November 18, 2005... Emily Dennis, an optometrist at Broadhurst Optometrists in Preston, raised over [pounds sterling]400 last month for the charity Vision Aid Overseas after completing the Dublin Marathon. She ran the marathon, her first, which took place on...

City runners ; raise [pounds sterling]1,000.(Brief Article)
November 18, 2005... Three colleagues at the Fight for Sight Optometry Clinic at City University have raised over [pounds sterling]1,000 for the optical charity after running an 8K race in Windsor. Clinic director Tina Romanay, MSc director Charlotte McAllister and...

Batemans marks staff retirements.(Batemans)(Brief Article)
November 18, 2005... Optometrists Buddy and Elaine Shapiro are pictured celebrating their retirement with Batemans' boss Nicholas Bateman. The couple ran their own practice in Oxted, Surrey, before selling it to Batemans in 1989 and then remaining with the company....

Error limits CIBA's lens care supply into 2006.
November 18, 2005... Giant contact lens company CIBA Vision has stopped making several of its lens care lines 'until at least spring 2006' due to human error which could have possibly contaminated production. The error, which has taken place at CIBA's Canadian...

Independents dial marketing hotline.
November 18, 2005... The dedicated marketing support group, Independent Marketing Partnership, has been 'inundated' with calls following our exclusive story of its promotional offer to independent practitioners (News, November 4). Under the offer, independents can...

technicolour Magnetic fields.
November 18, 2005... Scientists from the University of Manchester have captured vibrations of magnetisation on camera for the first time. The nanofabricated material, created partly in collaboration with Aston University, could be the precursor of a perfect lens by...

GOS campaign gets helpful DoH pledges.(United Kingdom. Department of Health)(General Ophthalmic Services)
November 18, 2005... The profession has received encouraging written signals from the Department of Health on the future of General Ophthalmic Services following its meeting with health secretary Rosie Winterton. Concern was raised in the summer following...

Hundreds contribute to the CET debate.(General Optical Council meeting)(Brief Article)
November 18, 2005... Work towards possibly changing the rules on CET began in earnest at yesterday's GOC meeting. The discussion was held after hundreds of practitioners expressed their views in an online survey. The present rules, which came into force in July...

Web refuseniks could attract extra CET fees.
November 18, 2005... A minority of practitioners might spoil a recommendation that next year's GOC fees will not increase. The dilemma emerged this week at the latest GOC meeting in London. Renewal fees will not rise provided there is no last minute rush of those...

AMD campaign voiced in the House of Commons.
November 18, 2005... Optometrists can help thousands of AMD sufferers through referrals, a Westminster meeting was told this week Professionals must refer AMD patients immediately and directly to retinal specialists to cut the estimated 3,000 sufferers who are...

DoH head attends FODO event.(Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians dinner saw head of dentistry and ophthalmic services Ben Dyson)(Brief Article)
November 18, 2005... New head of dentistry and ophthalmic services, Ben Dyson (centre) attended a FODO working dinner earlier this month at London's Durrants Hotel. The event gave FODO members the chance to quiz Dyson about the future of optometry in the UK. He is...

Eye screening scheme to hit DoH targets.
November 18, 2005... A South Yorkshire diabetes eye screening service involving optometrists has been enhanced with practitioners taking a larger role. Health bosses in Sheffield have launched the new service to stricter targets imposed by the Department of...

CL challenge.
November 18, 2005... A war of words has broken out between two on-line contact lens providers in North America. The saga was started by a Federal Trade Commission letter to 1-800 Contacts which pointed out potential violations of the fairness to the US Contact...

People skills; Part 2 - Communication.
November 25, 2005... Anthony Collinge gives advice to front-of-practice staff on communicating effectively, including listening actively to your patients It is impossible not to communicate. Even if you sit behind a desk refusing to speak you are sending out a...

Assessment of macular; function in practice ; The Amsler Chart.
November 25, 2005... In the first of a regular series looking at all aspects of macular disease, examination and treatment, Priya Dabasia discusses the familiar Amsler chart, its use and limitations. CET Module C2735 A patient presents to the practice...

Choose and Book cataract surgery; The patient pathway.
November 25, 2005... Michelle Hanratty describes the latest venture for Aston Academy in Birmingham which nicely reflects the patient experience in modern cataract management The launch of the Choose and Book Policy Framework in August 2004 by the Department...

Delivering the knowledge.
November 25, 2005... Mark Korolkiewicz reports on the latest happenings in refractive surgery, from 'femtosecond' technology to the US experience of the ReSTOR lens, as discussed at September's ESCRS Conference The European Society of Cataract and Refractive...

Unlucky for some.
November 25, 2005... The 13th anniversary of the optician Index is marked with a few positive figures but mostly ones in decline October marks the end of the 13th year of the optician Index, perhaps an unlucky year, but certainly one that depicts a general...

Core subjects.
November 25, 2005... Ocular abnormalities Ocular abnormalities are the basis of core subjects 6 for optometrists and subject 8 for dispensing opticians Optometrists are required to have a comprehensive knowledge of the causes, indication, assessment,...