Optician articles from September 2004

Optician archives from September 2004

A different retail focus.(20/20 Optical Store )
September 3, 2004... The 20/20 Optical Store saw off competition from the multiples to win the optician Award for Large High Street Practice of the Year 2004. Samantha Dalton talks to owner optometrist Stephen Isaacs Stephen Isaacs believes in 'seeing things...

Soft toric lenses - Part 2.
September 3, 2004... In Part 1 of this series, Elizabeth Hill and Dr Philip Morgan examined the incidence of astigmatism, the options available for its correction and the current trends in contact lens prescribing. This article aims to address the procedures...

Horn.(horn rimmed spectacles)
September 3, 2004... Dr Glyn Walsh continues his series on commonly held beliefs about frame materials Horn spectacles used to be called horn rims This is a yes and no. They did, but many of us will also remember older generations still describing frames...

lumenwrites.(General Optical Council)(Glasgow Outcome Scale )
September 3, 2004... With all the various consultation documents flying around concerning the GOC and GOS and their potential impact on our profession, it is interesting to note the similarities and differences in the challenges facing the professions of others....

Corporate business is the target for new Haine & Smith team.(Haine & Smith)(Clearlab International)
September 3, 2004... u Regional group Haine & Smith has appointed a new team for its corporate eyewear business. Business Services is now managed by Catherine Wallace, who joined the partnership in 2000 as manager of the Faringdon practice. Karen Shead is...

Contact lens research.(Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology )
September 3, 2004... The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology conference which took place earlier this year presented much of interest to contact lens practitioners. Bill Harvey summarises some of the research As always, the amount of research...

Firms ill-prepared for employment reforms.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Small firms in the profession need to consider their existing disciplinary and grievance procedures to meet the new Employment Act (2002) regulations which come into force next month. All companies in the UK, regardless of their size, will...

Message to parents: 'After eight is too late'.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Seven out of 10 parents in this country are neglecting their children's vision. This is the message of next week's National Eye Week, and as it highlights the decline of vision screening in schools it promises to be the most hard-hitting...

Laser sector suffers latest media scare.
September 3, 2004... The safety of laser eye surgery was under the spotlight again last week after a story on the front page of The Times claimed equipment used by Boots Opticians was faulty. The August 28 report claimed Boots' patients were at risk of...

Face of the campaign.(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... The story of young Harry McAlister will play an important role in this year's National Eye Week. He and his parents have made themselves available to press enquiries after the youngster was diagnosed with amblyopia four years ago when he...

Glaucoma roadshow.(Glaucoma diagnosis )(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Glaucoma diagnosis and management for optometrists will be the focus of a five-venue roadshow next month. The educational series follows the DoH's Eyecare Services Steering Group's recommendation earlier this year to involve optometrists...

Patients prepared to pay for extra comfort.(CooperVision)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... CooperVision claims a new survey shows that contact lens patients can be traded up to accept more expensive and 'better performing lenses'. The business which bought Ocular Sciences this summer investigated patients' feelings through 30...

Distributor denies link to Glassesdirect.co.uk.(Optical Service)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Optical Service has categorically denied that it is supplying Visage frames to Glasses direct.co.uk and has instructed its solicitors to contact the cut-price internet supplier regarding breach of copyright. The Cornwall-based frame...

BCLA presidential address to focus on media scare stories.(British Contact Lens Association)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... Media scare stories will provide the theme of an annual professional presidential address later this month. 'Have I got news for you' is the title for the yearly presidential address to the British Contact Lens Association, to be delivered...

DoH issues new advice on two-year rule.(Department of Health)(Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians)(Brief Article)
September 3, 2004... FODO has warned practitioners about patients on benefits who present for an eye examination before the recommended two-year frequency. As previously, the clinical decision to carry out the test is up to the practitioner, the Federation has...

The Diploma in Orthoptics - Part 8.
September 10, 2004... Having described the content of the syllabus for Certificate B, Professor Bruce Evans looks at the examination of this part of the higher qualification. He offers useful tips on binocular assessment applicable to all in everyday optometry...

Post-Lasik glaucoma Preventing an epidemic.
September 10, 2004... Michelle Hanratty discusses the limitations of conventional tonometry in measuring IOP after Lasik and considers other methods available to the optometrist when screening patients at risk of glaucoma Laser refractive procedures are now...

New kid on the block.
September 10, 2004... It is rare for the main market players to suddenly be faced with another competitor with might and muscle comparable to themselves. New entrants usually grow from relatively small beginnings to steadily secure their portion of the market. ...

Leather.
September 10, 2004... Dr Glyn Walsh continues his series on commonly held beliefs about frame materials Leather isn't used any more for spectacles There are a couple of small-scale suppliers of replicas of historical frames and quite a few people who make...

Who should succeed Hunter?
September 10, 2004... The AOP's selection committee is to meet soon to shortlist candidates for the Association's chief executive role. Next month they will choose a successor to Ian Hunter who is to retire next year after almost 20 years in the job. A shortlist...

BMX jumps into the fray.
September 10, 2004... u Emporium Eyewear has launched the BMX range of frames for children and teenagers, having secured the licence to the name for eyewear. BMX stands for bicycle motocross, a sport featuring races on sandy and hilly tracks and tricks and...

moneowrites.
September 10, 2004... where in the primary care arena NICE saw the role of optometrists in hypertension management. After all, optometrists play a very important role in detecting patients with hypertension and referring them for treatment. The document starts...

Find out more about Lasik.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... Following its summer tour, laser eye clinic Ultralase has announced more dates for optometrists to find out more about Lasik treatment. The company will host seminars at four of its clinics at the end of this month and the start of the...

Profession argues for domiciliary reforms.
September 10, 2004... The profession's representatives are to hold a key meeting with the Department of Health next week on domiciliary eye care services. It will be put to government officials that increasing the number of sight tests carried out at a...

Ryder results.
September 10, 2004... u Eight winners of Hoya's latest promotion will be jetting off to Detroit in the US to watch the Ryder Cup Tournament. Beginning in May, registered customers were entered into a prize draw each time they ordered Hoya's Hi Vision ViewProtect...

Leukaemia linked to light levels.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... The increase in light at night was being discussed this week as a possible cause of the rise in the number of cases of childhood leukaemia. An Imperial College professor told delegates at a London conference that our visual senses could...

Policy advisers warn against PCT reform.(Primary Care Trusts)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... A group of health policy advisers has cautioned against the widely expected restructuring of the primary care trust system which is expected to follow the next election. There is discussion that the system created two years ago, which...

ABDO prepares for crucial council vote.
September 10, 2004... hopes that the new slimmed-down council will provide a stronger voice on matters affecting DOs, including the dispenser's place in the GOS review, and payments for CET. However, writing in optician this week (page 15) Rosalind Kirk says...

Israel-based firm buys Cambridge Optical.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... The future of the company which helped launch the Harrods Luxury Eyewear brand in 2000 has been secured by an Israel-based company. Cambridge Optical, the UK prescription house, is expected to benefit from its purchase by a global optics...

Specialist firm fits the profile.(Optimec)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... Contamac, provider of contact and intraocular lens materials, has bought lens inspection instrumentation specialist Optimec. Optimec, which was established in 1979 and has gained a reputation for its lens measuring and inspection...

Response to Eye Week is 'phenomenal'.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... A record number of practitioners are reported to be taking part in this year's National Eye Week. Organiser the Eyecare Trust said that coverage, such as last week's report in optician (News, September 3), had boosted interest in the...

GOS review in motion.(General Ophthalmic Services)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... The General Ophthalmic Services review has begun in earnest with a meeting of the optical bodies with the Department of Health. During the summer the profession's representatives were given the opportunity to respond with written comments...

Show 'three-quarters booked'.(Optrafair 2005 will take place from April 16-18)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... Three quarters of the exhibition space has now been booked for for Optrafair 2005 say organisers and 'will feature the strongest ever showing of new technology'. Delighted with the early reservations, FMO chairman Malcolm Polley said: 'The...

Rimless edger ; launch on tour.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... Birmingham Optical Group is inviting practitioners to join the launch of the first rimless edging system by Nidek at three locations next month. Attendees will see the Nidek- ME-1000 Multifunction Edger in operation at the following venues...

Last-minute warning on disability deadline.(Disability Discrimination Act)(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... Local optical groups and committees are giving their members last-minute guidance before the Disability Discrimination Act comes into force next month. As well as making 'reasonable' changes to premises, including retail outlets for...

Oakley signs exclusive deal with Fox Racing.(Brief Article)
September 10, 2004... Eyewear brand Oakley has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Fox Racing, the well-known motocross name, for sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. As exclusive licensee, Oakley will be responsible for the design,...

The Fab four.(sunglass business)(Company Profile)
September 24, 2004... million Fabris Lane has moved to a new [pounds sterling]1m headquarters in Surrey, close to its current base, to allow it to expand on the dominant position it commands in the UK sunglass business. But this relocation may also help it to...

Demand leads to upgrade at lab.(Eschenbach Optik)(Pro Optic)(Vision Aid Overseas )
September 24, 2004... u The impact of Specsavers' national advertising campaign and promotional offers has meant one of its major production labs has had to make some changes to accommodate demand. VisionLabs in Kidderminster has 'significantly' increased...

Paediatric Optometry.(Book Review)
September 24, 2004... Dr Kamlesh Chauhan reviews a welcome and timely publication on children's vision Eye care for children in the UK varies according to geography. Often the eye care that should be provided to children is ingrained in and confused by...

Quirk originals.(Frame designer)
September 24, 2004... In this month's interview with a British frame designer, Samantha Dalton catches up with Jason Kirk and asks him about the frame industry and his latest designs prior to Silmo Jason Kirk is working flat out getting his new collection ready...

Metals ; an overview.
September 24, 2004... Dr Glyn Walsh continues his series on frame materials with a look at the broad category of metals A metal spectacle frame does not consist of just one material. This applies to all metal frames on the market, even those claiming to be 100...

The Mallett Unit revisited - Part 3.
September 24, 2004... In the final part of this series, Dr Frank Eperjesi describes a clinical approach based upon Mallett's recommendations for dealing with common comitant deviations that may present in practice Exophoria The symptomatic patient with an...

Standard bearers.(Sunglasses)
September 24, 2004... Bill Harvey and Rob Moss conduct a trial of sunglasses on the market to see if they fall within the specifications of the current British Standards. Henri Obstfeld carried out the measurements Despite a somewhat erratic British summer, and...

'Poor stock control' at practice led to fine for Vision Express.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... A branch of Vision Express has been fined nearly [pounds sterling]13,000 after a patient was supplied with a contact lens kit which was seven months out of date. 56-year-old patient Carol Morris was left with 'acid in her eyes' according...

Over a barrel?(CR39 lenses )
September 24, 2004... Rodenstock said the recent hikes in fuel costs had forced it to put up prices, and delivery company DX cited oil as one reason for its price increase last month. Market analyst Mark Mackenzie tells Samantha Dalton about the effect of the price...

Hardy leaves D&A.
September 24, 2004... Dollond & Aitchison boss Russell Hardy has left the company and commercial director Andy Ferguson has replaced him as chief executive from today (September 17). Hardy has been in charge of the Birmingham based group - which has nearly 400...

Best Hugo Boss window will win [pounds sterling]250 voucher.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... u Hugo Boss has launched its new eyewear collection with a window display competition. The prize for the practice that comes up with the most original and eye-catching window is a John Lewis voucher worth [pounds sterling]250. Charmant,...

Ireland debates CET points for graduates.(The board of the Association of Optometrists Ireland )(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... The question of newly qualified optometrists in the Republic of Ireland, and how many points they have to achieve before CET becomes compulsory, will be raised on Monday. The board of the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI) is to...

Later start and finish planned for Optrafair.(Federation of Manufacturing Opticians)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... Do you want longer opening hours for Optrafair? Today (Friday, September 17) is the final day for members of the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians, the show hosts, to respond to a questionnaire which proposes to lengthen the event. ...

Open house at the College.(College of Optometrists)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... Ever wanted to see inside the College of Optometrists? Now's your chance, when the doors of the Craven Street building open up to the public on Sunday September 19, as part of the annual Open House London event. Open between 1pm and 5pm,...

Ted mixes a cocktail of colours.
September 24, 2004... u Ted Baker is launching a new women's range of ophthalmic models - a range of 20 new designs in distinctive shapes, featuring smaller eye styles and in a choice of three colours. The new collection comprises hand-made acetate and metal...

Clubbers risk eyesight.(National Radiological Protection Board )
September 24, 2004... The vision of partygoers is being put at risk by lasers used by people with no experience of the technology or its safety at discos and in the home. The warnings came this week at the Health Protection Agency's annual conference from a...

Laser downturn leads to Boots' about-turn.
September 24, 2004... The decision by Boots to exit its loss-making laser eye business was revealed to be part of a [pounds sterling]55m departure from its extended health services. Although the Nottingham-based business emphasised its pull-out from the retail...

Mobile locum system shows early promise.(Locum, mobile service)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... A new locum service, which utilises mobile phone texts to alert employers of registered optical professionals, has taken off, its founder has claimed. Launched last month by two former Vision Express franchisees (News, August 13), LocumRx...

Tailor-made by Essilor.(multifocul lenses, launching)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... A bespoke progressive lens tailored to the visual habits of the wearer and finished to suit their viewing habits marks the next generation of multifocal lenses, claims Essilor. The Varilux Ipseo lens will be introduced to the UK next month...

'We had turned the corner' claims Rosen.(laser surgery clinics)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... On the day of Boots' laser announcement Professor Emanuel Rosen - who helped launch the service as its medical director - told optician of his disappointment of the decision. The Boots laser eye surgery clinics, he commented, had 'turned...

What the newspapers said.(about optical industry)
September 24, 2004... The broadsheets turned to City analysts to get the juiciest quotes on Boots' latest retreat to its core businesses. The corporate message - that the exit decision would not 'impact the well-established and profitable Boots Opticians' -...

Optoms plan Prague party.
September 24, 2004... The Northern Ireland Optometric Society is to travel to Prague for its conference next month. The capital of the Czech Republic will provide the venue for a weekend of activities including a welcome reception on October 8, and a Gala...

Laser team at the cutting edge.(Centre for Sight, Queen Victoria Hospital equipped with Femtosecond laser )(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... The UK's first Femtosecond laser has been installed at the Centre for Sight, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, West Sussex. Manufactured by Intralase, it creates the corneal flap for Lasik surgery, which until now were cut with an...

omenwrites.
September 24, 2004... sion of Boots to cut its losses and depart from a market that has not shown the expected growth and profit. A walk past its Wigmore Street premises, plastered with posters offering [pounds sterling]500 off laser surgery, a few days before...

Conversion students win first class honours.(BSc Honours in Optometry)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... In what is believed to be a unique occurance in the profession, a dozen dispensing opticians have each gained a first in optometry. The graduates took part in the new career progression extension of a BSc Honours in Optometry, all of them...

Green light for ABDO to streamline council.(Association of British Dispensing Opticians)
September 24, 2004... ABDO members voted decisively for a change to the structure of its council last weekend. More than 90 per cent of the 767 votes cast were in favour of the proposal to separate business and professional representation. The issue has been...

Vision Express boosts designer collections.(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... Vision Express hosted an evening dedicated to Ted Baker eyewear last week. It included a preview of the brand's sunglass collection for 2005 and the launch of a new women's collection. Speaking at the event, Vision Express managing director...

Extreme range for kids still popular.(spectacles, information)
September 24, 2004... u The recent X Games extreme sports competition generated renewed interest in Marchon's X Games range for children. This year's competition was the 10th annual event and its profile helped attract buyers to the range, which was launched...

Hoya finds the progressive edge.(Hoya Corp.'s Hoyalux iD )
September 24, 2004... u Hoya is launching the Hoyalux iD progressive, an integrated double-surface design described by the company as a 'world first'. Rather than following the principles of front or back-surface progressives, Hoya concentrated on integrating...

Metals.(composition , spectacles)
September 24, 2004... Magnesium Where do we get magnesium in spectacles? Magnesium is normally a minor constituent of some alloys. Is it safe? This is one of the few metals for which the answer is so far an unreserved 'yes'. Is it heavy? ...

A year in decline?
September 24, 2004... August's results show improvements over July, but new contact lens fits and turnover aside, 2004 is not the year that 2003 was Most benchmarks increase favourably compared to July. Figures still lag behind results seen in the summer of...

Cheek tissue used on eyes.(corneal transplants)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... Corneas damaged by allergies and disease can be replaced by thin sheets of cheek tissue. The finding, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (September 16), could open up the potential for engineering other types of tissue...

[pounds sterling]11.5k raised on Golf Day.(Fight for Sight)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... A Golf Day has raised [pounds sterling]11,565 for an optical charity. The event, held at Stoneleigh Deer Park, Warwickshire, was for Fight for Sight, the charity based at the Institute of Ophthalmology in London. Over 120 golfing...

Laser success in paediatrics.(excimer lasers)(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... What is claimed to be the first study to document the use of excimer lasers to treat eye disorders in children over several years has been published. The study, performed at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Masaryk University...

A new hand-held pachymeter - the Pachmate DGH55.(Pachmate - DGH55)
September 24, 2004... Much attention is being paid to the significance of corneal thickness in interpreting tonometry readings. optician clinical editor Bill Harvey tries out a new hand-held ultrasound instrument Pachymetry (or 'thickness measurement') has been...

A soft landing?(hike in employee insurance )
September 24, 2004... The Government is considering raising National Insurance and/or tax contributions to fund higher state pensions. Tax specialist Marc Bennett talks to Samantha Dalton about cushioning the blow to a practice's profits Less than 18 months...

Heroes of vision science.(Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers)
September 24, 2004... Bill Harvey attends a thoroughly entertaining day of internationally renowned speakers celebrating the 375th anniversary of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers As part of the celebrations marking the 375th anniversary of the...

Data protection rules agreed for pre-regs.(optometrists, new scheme)
September 24, 2004... The steering group of the pre-registration pilot scheme has agreed data protection guidelines that allow College assessors to access records of patients examined by trainees. Representatives from FODO, the AOP and the College on the...

GOC hearings.(General Optical Council )(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... Three optometrists will face GOC disciplinary committee hearings next week. Harin Bhupatrai Chohan is facing a charge that, while a registered optician, he was convicted of a criminal offence. Romford-based Chohan, who registered in...

LOC leads boycott of cataract referral pilot.(Croydon LOC)
September 24, 2004... An independent optometrist is encouraging practitioners in his local area to boycott a new cataract pilot because he says it disadvantages the profession. Chris Kerr, who is also the chairman of the Croydon LOC, is leading the campaign...

Sulley reveals scale of health scare stories.(Anna Sulley, British Contact Lens Association )(Brief Article)
September 24, 2004... Health concerns are a barrier for as many as one in five people who are considering trying contact lenses and adverse and inaccurate reports in the lay media are likely to be a factor. British Contact Lens Association president Anna Sulley...