The president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), Kevin Gutsell, presented six special awards at the Association's recent graduation and prize giving ceremony held at Canterbury Cathedral. ABDO Life Membership was awarded to Fiona Anderson, SMC (Tech), BSc...
The College awarded new Fellowships at the annual Diploma Ceremonies in Westminster in November 2024. The College of Optometrists has recognised the outstanding achievements and contributions of 10 individuals working in eye health by awarding new Life and Honorary Fellowships...
Ophthalmology specialty trainees are required to pass the refraction certificate exam within the first two years of training. If one passes this exam before entering a training programme, this can add two points to the portfolio during applications. In this...
In a recent discussion with colleagues, someone recognised that many, when asked what they do, say, “I am a doctor”. Rather than “I work as a doctor”. This sense of belonging, pride and duty comes with responsibility. Becoming a surgeon,...
Acute angle closure is a true ophthalmic emergency that mandates timely diagnosis and treatment. The priority in initial management is to lower the intraocular pressure in an expeditious matter using medical treatments. The risk of irreversible glaucomatous optic neuropathy is...
A brand-new Boots Opticians store has now opened in Edinburgh St James Quarter offering a wide range of frames, from designer brands such as Tom Ford, Gucci and Ray-Ban, as well as sustainable ranges and stylish own brand frames.
Madagascar is a fascinating and culturally rich island which has an ‘exotic’ status in most people’s eyes. Yet it is among the poorest countries in the world. According to the World Bank, 92% of the population live on less than...
In the first of the two articles (see Part 2 here) on paediatric cataracts, Samuel Aryee reviews the aetiology of this condition. Cataracts arise from opacification of the natural transparent lens, which can cause partial or total blindness. Although the...
The National Treatment Centre-Highland opened its doors to patients in April 2023. At a cost of £48 million this represented a significant investment by the Scottish Government for the provision of modern eye care for the North of Scotland.
Liverpool is steeped in history, from its mercantile history, home to Cunard and the White Star line, to the Merseybeat and Derek Hatton. Not to be outdone at their annual meeting in the city, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists made...
A report from Monitor in October 2015 identifies good practices that will realise most of the potential productivity gain in elective care available to NHS hospitals. These include: stratifying patients by risk and creating low-complexity pathways for lower-risk patients (tailoring...
How the integration of service improvement technology, and health promotion will allow eye care professionals to overcome current and future challenges. The future of eye care in the UK is at a precipice. Hospital attendances are increasing year on year,...