Optician articles from September 2005

Optician archives from September 2005

Anger marks launch of minister's GOS review.(Rosie Winterton )
September 2, 2005... Health minister Rosie Winterton fired the starting pistol for the long awaited GOS review this week - and immediately enraged the profession's representatives. The review, which will be completed early next year, has been touted by the...

The nine themes.
September 2, 2005... The review will consider: The aim and scope of increasing work undertaken in primary care to reduce pressure on secondary care and inappropriate referral to secondary care and the role of primary care professionals in diagnosing and managing...

DO does triathlon.(dispensing optician Karen Ward )(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Dispensing optician Karen Ward of J C Bird opticians in Sheffield completed a triathlon last month in Hilly Hathersage, near Sheffield, in aid of Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation. Her sponsors included J C Bird, Luxottica,...

Jennifer retires after 19 years.(Jennifer Pickett)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Optometrist Jennifer Pickett has retired after 19 years with Broadhurst Optometrists in Preston, Blackpool and Lytham-St-Annes. Pickett, pictured left at a company celebration to mark her retirement, graduated from the University of Wales'...

Celebrations for OO at Haine & Smith.(Paul Compton)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Optometrist and professional development manager Paul Compton recently celebrated 10 years with Wiltshire-based opticians Haine & Smith. Compton tests across the group's 18 practices and is responsible for planning and implementing the CET...

Practitioner and patient acceptance of a new silicone hydrogel contact lens.
September 2, 2005... Anna Sulley reviews the results of a study to gain feedback on Acuvue Oasys May 2005 saw the launch in the UK of a new spherical silicone hydrogel lens, Acuvue Oasys with Hydraclear Plus from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. With over 50 per...

Pachymetry - Part 2; The possibility of correcting tonometry measures for corneal thickness.(application Pachymetry to measure intraoccular pressure in open-angle glaucoma)
September 2, 2005... Professor Michael Doughty and Donald Montgomery consider the application of pachymetry to routine measures of IOP in screening for and management of patients with open-angle glaucoma, and discuss some of the current ideas on further...

Proven's track record impressive at Butterworths.(Butterworths Lenses)(George Proven )(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Production director George Proven of Butterworths Lenses in Edinburgh has celebrated 50 years of service at the company he joined in July 1955. Having started as a glazing technician hand-edging glass lenses, he moved to surfacing preparation...

Joining the refractive evolution.(12th Annual Congress of the British Society of Refractive Surgery)
September 2, 2005... Emma Firmager outlines some of the highlights from the 12th Annual Congress of the British Society of Refractive Surgery, starting with aberrometry and taking in developments in technology Many readers will be familiar with the term...

Pachymetry 1: Defining corneal thickness and normal IOP measures.(Questions and answers)
September 2, 2005... optician provides the answers to CET module 1805 from the August 5 issue 1 A pachymeter is usually used in clinical practice to obtain a measure:(A) Of the average thickness of the entire cornea; (B) An estimate of the thickness at the...

Dispensing subject 2 ; Professional conduct.
September 2, 2005... Last week we began to consider the second competency area for dispensing opticians; the core subject 'professional conduct' includes various aspects of patient management, referral, record-keeping and awareness of legal responsibilities. The...

German giant beats recession.(Fielmann)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Fielmann, Germany's giant opticians, continues its improvement in a difficult domestic market, latest financial figures reveal. Its revival has led to the business planning to create hundreds of new jobs in the profession later this year....

College takes director to task in Foster review.(Manchester Business School)(Kieran Walshe)
September 2, 2005... In its response to the far-reaching Foster review, the College of Optometrists defended the status quo in the profession's regulatory framework - and used optician research to help its argument. Last week the General Optical Council responded...

Talk to the hand.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... It wasn't just the poor souls at Lloyds TSB who were working last Bank Holiday Monday, there was also a flurry of activity at the Department of Health's press office. It was sneaking out health minister Rosie Winterton's missive on the review...

Top names offer CL advice.(contact lens)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... CIBA Vision will sponsor 'The silicone hydrogel experience' later this month. The seminars will be held during the last two weeks of September at Gatwick (19th), Dublin (20th), Manchester (21st), Leeds (22nd), London (26th) and Glasgow (27th)....

Boots the Chemists to sell CLs over the pharmacy counter.(contact lenses)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... Boots is the latest company to be preparing to sell contact lenses via its pharmacy outlets. In an internal newsletter for its Boots Opticians staff, the plc said it intended to start trial sales over the pharmacy counter in the near future....

Time to worry - and fight back, says Provis.(introducing new disposable contact lenses)
September 2, 2005... Provis, the Scottish maker of low-cost daily disposable lenses, has introduced a new contact lens it says will help the independent sector fight off the threat from supermarket sales. Founder Ron Hamilton said the daysoft UV 58 per cent daily...

APU professor wins award.(Anglia Polytechnic University )(Shahina Pardhan receives Asian Jewel Award )(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... An optometry professor at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge has been awarded an Asian Jewel Award for her contribution to healthcare and education in the UK and overseas. Professor Shahina Pardhan, professor of optometry and ophthalmic...

The facts on ; CL rules and therapeutics.(contact lenses)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... The British Contact Lens Association has prepared a factsheet on the new UK regulations governing contact lens supply and the optometric use of therapeutic drugs which took effect this summer. It is available free of charge to all BCLA members....

Safilo success.
September 2, 2005... Safilo posted turnover up 8.9 per cent to U561.7m in the six months to June 20 and second-quarter growth of 10.3 per cent. There was a 34 per cent rise in operating profit at U80.2m compared to the same period last year, with net profit up six...

DoH data reveals rise in testing of diabetics.(Department of Health)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2005... The latest statistical six months' snapshot of the profession from the Government has revealed a drop in spectacles being reimbursed by vouchers in England and Wales. The data also discloses the profession's reliance on PCTs/LHBs, with 4,043...

Worth a punt at these odds?(opticians-management)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Okay, anyone out there of a gambling persuasion? The GOS review stakes has begun, but it's a long race so we can still take bets: 2/1 on Big Brother; Evens on Save Face; 50/1 Golden Opportunity; 100/1 Joe Average Patient. Big Brother is a huge,...

Animal magic for Animal Eyewear.
September 9, 2005... Trendy hard black cases and point of sale material are supplied with the latest Animal Eyewear ophthalmic collection for girls. The fun and affordable range features a flower logo on some frames or the word 'Animal' down the sides of others....

Disc closures - Part 1.
September 9, 2005... In the first of two articles looking at presentations of unusual disc appearances, Kirit Patel describes retinal coloboma and morning glory syndrome CASE STUDY 1 A 75-year-old patient who suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure as...

Measure of quality.
September 9, 2005... Chris Bennett charts the rise of Essilor's Ipseo, the winner of the Optical Product of the Year category at the optician Awards When optician introduced the Optical Product of the Year category into its annual awards it knew the...

A recipe to help eye research.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Winchester OO Rachael Smith is raising funds for the Gift of Sight Eye Research Centre, in Southampton, by selling a charity cookbook compiled with the help of optician readers. The charity Gift of Sight has organised a Sahara Trek in November...

Optometry examines role in diabetes care.
September 9, 2005... One of the AOP's directors will outline the Association's views on optometry's future involvement in diabetic retinopathy screening at a specialist conference later this month. Trevor Warburton, who is chair of the AOP's professional services...

I'm looking for R&D not S&M.
September 9, 2005... I have just had a sample bottle of a new multipurpose solution sent to me by the manufacturer. The accompanying paperwork tells me about its excellent properties in removing contaminants, how wonderful it is with dry eyes, etc etc - 10 things I...

Options offers price war protection.
September 9, 2005... CooperVision has launched a new scheme to help small to medium-sized practices retain patients by offering a 'unique' contact lens brand. Options by CooperVision offers a range of lenses only available to independents, which it said 'means...

A recipe to help eye research.
September 9, 2005... Winchester OO Rachael Smith is raising funds for the Gift of Sight Eye Research Centre, in Southampton, by selling a charity cookbook compiled with the help of optician readers. The charity Gift of Sight has organised a Sahara Trek in November...

Two take early retirement from Robert Stanley Opticians.
September 9, 2005... Two members of staff at Robert Stanley Opticians have taken early retirement after 77 and a half years of service between them. Robin Welton, executive director, completed 47 years and six months, while Karen Welton, branch manager of...

Lotus adds six frames to Eyewear line.
September 9, 2005... Six new Lotus Eyewear frame styles focus on 'technical excellence' and cool looks. Three of the styles have contrasting compatible materials merging at the temple and are endorsed with the Lotus logo. The lightweight frames have angular lenses....

Hoya expands Eynoa lens range.(Eynoa 1.67 Suntech)(Hoya Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Hoya has expanded its high index Eynoa range of lenses to offer Eynoa 1.67 Suntech. Suntech is Hoya's photochromic treatment and, when combined with Eynoa 1.67, offers wearers a thin, light and durable variable tint lens. Hoya said the lens...

Rupp+Hubrach offers Sports lens.(Sports Selectal Top progressive)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Prescription lens specialist Rupp+Hubrach is launching a 'world first' Sports progressive lens in the UK this month. The Sports Selectal Top progressive comes in a range of clear and tinted lens options including its Brilliant...

Reading ability among the; prison population in the UK.
September 9, 2005... Many approaches to prison reform have highlighted the need for a comprehensive education programme as part of a push towards rehabilitation. The UK prison population as of August 26, 2005 stood at 77,025 (72,413 of whom are male).1 Some 84 per...

Low vision with a Hendrix lyric.(Birmingham Focus on Blindness organises a conference to rehabilitate the blinds )(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... A special conference to update practitioners on the skills low vision patients require to continue to drive will be held in November. Organised by Birmingham Focus on Blindness, which helps with advice and rehabilitation services to partially...

through a lens quickly.
September 9, 2005... UK automation and robotics specialist Barr & Paatz has developed what it believes to be the world's first fully-automated contact lens manufacturing machine. The machine has been designed for Clearlab, the Plymouth-based maker of daily...

Optometrist core subject 3; Visual function.
September 9, 2005... So far in this weekly look at GOC core competencies for eye care professionals, we have looked at core subjects 1 and 2 which have been the same topics, albeit with slightly different emphasis in their sub-categories, for both optometrists and...

Cigarettes could carry sight-loss warnings.
September 9, 2005... Smoking's link to sight loss will receive the highest profile yet in a new heavyweight advertising campaign. New research published this week revealed that only 7 per cent of people know that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the...

Smart thinking wins funding for CL firm.(Scottish Executive)(OcuTec Corp. )(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... An optical manufacturing business has won a share of a [pounds sterling]900,000 pot in a prestigious research and development funding project. In the third 2005 'Smart' financial awards selected by the Scottish Executive, Glasgow-based Ocutec...

OMP is struck off for falsifying NHS forms.(Dr Abdur Razzaq)
September 9, 2005... An ophthalmic medical practitioner has been removed from the GMC's register after defrauding the NHS. Dr Abdur Razzaq was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by a General Medical Council fitness to practise panel after signing two...

Wanted - eye care help for the homeless.
September 9, 2005... An ambitious eye care charity plans to open clinics in Birmingham and Leeds in 18 months, and wants professional volunteers. Vision Care for Homeless People celebrated its second birthday by announcing its expansion goal within three years. It...

All set for Eye Week.(National Eye Week)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Screen fatigue, dry eye and children's vision will dominate this year's National Eye Week which starts on Monday. The annual spotlight on the nation's eye health organised and run by the Eyecare Trust is this year being sponsored by Optrex. In...

UK top of European lens sales league.(ophthalmic lenses)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... More ophthalmic lenses were sold in the UK last year than any other country in Europe according to figures released this week to optician by consultancy Strategy with Vision. An estimated 29.2 million lenses were sold in the UK, compared to...

CET claims error by DoH.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... The Department of Health has acted to clear up an inconsistency between the guidance on CET claims and the claim form. The error concerns claiming for an assistant. The DoH has advised optical body FODO to follow the guidance and that the claim...

Argos withdraws CLs on advice from optician.
September 9, 2005... Argos stopped the sale of all its plano contact lenses this week following optician's intervention. The giant retailer listened to this journal after we informed it that there had been a change in the law this summer, and that it could be...

smokers welcome for eye tests.(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... New research linking smoking to AMD received blanket press coverage this week. Optical body FODO responded quickly to the RNIB campaign publicity (pictured) urging the public to get their eyes tested regularly. Brian Collison, chairman of FODO,...

Efron steps in at the BCLA.(british contact lens association)(Nathan Efron)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... With BCLA president Dr James Wolffsohn suffering from pneumonia, Professor Nathan Efron has stepped in to give next Tuesday's annual presidential address. Professor Efron, a past president of the Association, will present 'A contact lens...

Disney frames recalled in US.
September 9, 2005... Thousands of children's sunglasses have been recalled in the US. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 120,000 Sesame Street items as the lens can separate from the frames, posing a choking hazard. Although no incidents have...

D&A hailed as star performer by parent.(Dollond & Aitchison Ltd.)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2005... Dollond & Aitchison continued to improve its finances in the first half of this year, Italian parent De Rigo has revealed. The Birmingham-based multiple made large strides in its profitability and is fighting back after the business made all 90...

A course in low vision practice Part 2 - The effects of low vision.
September 9, 2005... Visual impairment has far-reaching effects on a person and their lives. In this module, Barbara Ryan and Tom Margrain outline the effects on visual function and touch on the social and psychological effects it can have. CET Module C1814 ...

A softer focus.(anniversary celebrations of Hoya Lens UK)
September 16, 2005... As part of its 25th-year anniversary celebrations in the UK, Hoya has revamped its prescription business and is looking to get even closer to practitioners Hoya's focus has shifted and it is aiming to become the most successful...

Calvin Klein shows flare for zyl.
September 16, 2005... The Slimfold range from Calvin Klein comprises three Japanese titanium styles. CK561, CK562 and CK563 are designed with flared zyl temples, formulated to expose a metal core inlay and are engraved with the Calvin Klein logo. The frames come...

Nikon in transition.(Nikon Optical's Presio Fi-13 1.6-index Transition lenses)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Nikon Optical's Presio Fi-13 1.6-index Transition lenses are available in single-vision and progressive designs. The lenses come in brown and grey with HCC Ikon and HCC original coatings. Nikon's lenses are designed for the 'presbyope who...

Optical coherence tomography findings in high myopia.
September 16, 2005... Myopia is a major cause of eye disease. Emma Sharples looks at some features of the disease and a modern method of evaluation able to detect changes earlier than traditional methods Myopia is one of the most common eye disorders worldwide,...

Polarisation and polarising lenses.
September 16, 2005... optician provides the answers to CET module C1841 (August 12) 1 With reference to the manufacture of a polarising lens, which of the following statements is most correct? (A) Polarisation is achieved by a process of surface coating; (B)...

Pure vision for a sports car.
September 16, 2005... The lucky winner in Bausch & Lomb's PureVision promotion has been presented with his Mazda RX-8 sports car. Neil Connor (right) was picked from thousands of entrants following B&L's PureVision's sponsorship of two of the racing cars in TV's...

Eye essentials 4; Psychological factors ; in visual impairment.
September 16, 2005... Jane Macnaughton describes the often overlooked area of psychological impact of visual impairment and argues that an understanding of how sight loss affects an individual is essential for every eye care practitioner if they are to meet the...

So what's new at the BCLA?
September 16, 2005... Following this week's British Contact Lens Association presidential address, the Association has revealed details of its forthcoming winter courses and lectures. 'So what's new in contact lens practice?' will take place at Aston University,...

Supporting our students.
September 16, 2005... When around 700 optometry students embark on their first year of studies later this month, each will become a student associate member of the College of Optometrists. Richard Gott explains why the College is promoting itself directly to...

Cyclists brave the weather.
September 16, 2005... Twenty fundraisers from Black & Lizars raised [pounds sterling]2,000 earlier this month by completing a gruelling cycle ride. The [pounds sterling]2,000 will be added to Black & Lizars' efforts to raise [pounds sterling]70,000 for four chosen...

The Essence is a free-standing display.(Essence from Top Vision )(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Essence from Top Vision is a range of free-standing display stands designed for the presentation of designer eyewear. The displays can be arranged as a wall or a sunglass corner, even in the middle of the store. Talle XT lockable columns are...

A massive mask.(Inland UK introduces HydroOptix Mega 4.5 Dive Mask)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Inland UK has added the HydroOptix Mega 4.5 Dive Mask to its Sports Vision range. The 'revolutionary' mask has been designed to deliver panoramic views to eliminate the blurring and shape distortion associated with traditional flat masks. The...

Communication is the only option.
September 16, 2005... In response to Mark Darling's letter published in last week's issue, CooperVision has always supported the optical profession and we will continue to support the optical profession within the laws set out by Section 60. We believe in...

The secret ingredient.
September 16, 2005... Having read Alan Donnelly's letter (September 9) regarding his free sample bottle of a new multipurpose solution which provides no clinical information on which to decide if he should recommend it to his patients, I feel exactly the same...

GOC warns students they must register.(General Optical Council)
September 16, 2005... Thousands of students are yet to fulfil their legal obligations following this summer's changes to the Opticians Act. The General Optical Council has spoken to optician about its serious concerns regarding student registration after the Council...

Apathy over CET site may mean higher fees.(www.cetoptics.com)
September 16, 2005... Practitioners may end up paying the bill for their colleagues' apathy towards registering on the profession's CET scheme website. The warning has come from the General Optical Council, which expressed its concern that so many have not logged on...

Optical courier posts solid performance.(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... A preferred supplier deal with the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians helped a solid performance for the parcels business of DX Services in the year to July. Reporting its first full-year figures as a publicly listed company DX Services said...

The going rate.
September 16, 2005... How far can salaries fall before pressure is brought to bear on the optical bodies and the universities to stem the flow of newly qualified optometrists? Market forces are the driving force behind salaries and five years ago when optometrists...

New disciplinary procedures will be 'fairer to registrants'.(Wigan practitioner in General Optical Council)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... A piece of optical history will be made at a London hearing later this month, when a Wigan practitioner aims to be restored to the Opticians Register. The September 26 GOC inquiry will be the first in which a hearing panel is drawn from a new...

Practitioner to face charges at hearing.(Hugh Ross accused of professional misconduct)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... A dispensing optician will be accused of serious professional misconduct at a hearing of the General Optical Council's disciplinary committee later this month. Airdrie-based professional Hugh Ross will face a disciplinary panel regarding...

optician surveys laser trends.
September 16, 2005... optician will publish its fifth annual survey of laser refractive surgeries this winter. The survey, again being conducted with the British Society for Refractive Surgery (BSRS), aims to identify the trends within the refractive sector, as well...

College offers more scope for trade fair.
September 16, 2005... As there is no longer the prospect of an Optrafair-style show in 2006, optical companies looking to exhibit next year might take advantage of the College of Optometrists' expanded trade exhibition. For the third year running the exhibition will...

Ultravision clpl swing into action for the rnib.
September 16, 2005... A four-man golf team from UltraVision CLPL has beaten the world record for the fastest medal round. The achievement was made at the Northumberland World Record Golf Challenge, and the team beat the previous record of one hour 32 minutes by a...

Bosses could do more to cut screen fatigue.(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Employers were called on to review their occupational health policies this week after a new survey claimed that British industry loses [pounds sterling]1.5bn annually due to eyestrain and headaches from VDU use. Bosses could take the lead in...

Ireland's top optom earners are named.
September 16, 2005... Ireland's top optometrist earners in the Republic's Primary Care Reimbursement Service have been published. Of the 373 optometrists named, Specsavers Opticians figures six times in the top 10. During 2004 the service formerly known as the...

Dispensing opticians core subject 3; Visual function.
September 23, 2005... The third of the core competency subjects from the GOC, as relevant to practising dispensing opticians, reads very much like the early curriculum for the optometry course. Refractive management embraces the basics of refraction and correction,...

A progressive approach.
September 23, 2005... Bill Harvey reports from this year's Essilor University and College Symposium in Gloucestershire As always, Essilor invited lecturers, tutors and researchers from UK universities and colleges with an interest in lenses and optics to a...

Independent way to a better salary.
September 23, 2005... What have we done to our young professionals? [pounds sterling]16k for a newly qualified optom (Comment, September 16), little more than an optical adviser is outrageous. I started 20 years ago on [pounds sterling]18k, when you could buy a...

Treating trachoma.
September 23, 2005... Trachoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. The disease induces blindness through repeated infection of the causative organism Chlamydia trachomatis, writes Dr Iain Phillips Chlamydia trachomatis There are three main...

Comparison of pachymetry and ultrasound in the determination of corneal thickness.
September 23, 2005... Douglas Clarkson discusses the various methods available to the optometrist for measuring corneal thickness The increasing requirement to measure corneal thickness, for example as a screening protocol for the refractive laser procedure such...

AMO sponsors triathlon season.(Advanced Medical Optics contracted with European Triathlon Union)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Advanced Medical Optics has signed a sponsorship agreement with the European Triathlon Union, making it title sponsor for this year's triathlon season. Proceeds from the sponsorship will ' double the prize fund for the top 10 male and female...

Charmant extends rimless range.
September 23, 2005... Charmant has added three new rimless frames to its collection. The CH8330, CH8331 and CH8332 beta titanium models offered light, comfortable and reliable quality eyewear, said the company. Customers can choose from eight to 10 colours ranging...

Slit-lamp advantages are clear to see.(Grafton's new Shin Nippon )(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Grafton's new Shin Nippon XL1 hand-held slit lamp uses a high luminance white LED for high definition images that the company said were bright and clear. Easy-to-use and weighing only 700 grams including a battery pack, the XL1 also includes a...