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Expansion through acquisitions

Bayfields acquires Prism and Robert Stanley

Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists has acquired two multi-site optical practice groups in the North-West and Oxford, which expanded its total number of sites 41.

The group acquired Prism, which operated five practices in areas such as Macclesfield and Nantwich, and Oxford-based Robert Stanley, which also operated five practices.

Royston Bayfield, founder and CEO of Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome the Robert Stanley and Prism teams onboard – two excellent businesses that are well established, trusted and have strong brand recognition in their local communities, all of which are key elements that are vital to our future success.’

Dry eye symptoms linked in smartphone study A study exploring the effects of gaming on a smartphone concluded that the activity induces dry eye symptoms and reduces blinking in school-aged children.

Results, which were published in Eye, found symptoms worsened after one hour of gaming on a smartphone but tear film remained unchanged.

Researchers said blink rate reduced from 20.8 blinks per minute to 8.9 and interblink intervals increased within the first minute and remained unchanged throughout the hour.

It was concluded that smartphone use in children results in dry eye symptoms, as well as immediate and sustained slowing of blinking. The study recommended further research into longer term effects should take place given the ubiquitous use of smartphones by children.

Find the study at go.nature. com/3MFUC0t.

Retinal imaging could predict heart attack risk A study has found an individual’s risk of having a heart attack could be calculated during a routine eye examination by combining genetic data and retinal imaging.

Using UK Biobank data of over 500,000 people, researchers from the University of Edinburgh calculated a measure called fractal dimension and identified that lower fractal dimension related to coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.

A model combining traditional clinical factors, such as age, sex and systolic blood pressure, was developed to predict the risk of a heart attack by studying data of people who had experienced a myocardial infarction after collection of their retinal images.

Optometrist delivers care to Kurdistan orphans A newly qualified optometrist at Specsavers in Harlow has returned from a trip to Kurdistan where they provided free eye care to more than 80 orphans in two days.

Sara Sidik and her family founded their own charity, Al Sadaqah, and raised £3,500 to provide children with medicine, clothes and wash bags. The optometrist also prescribed over 300 pairs of spectacles that were donated by

Specsavers optometrist Sara Sidik patients in Harlow.

‘More than 85% of the children had poor vision and needed glasses with one particular boy being virtually blind. As a result, we’re continuing to fundraise so that we can provide him with the treatment that he needs,’ Sidik said.

Stepping up for charity To celebrate Braemar Finance’s 30th anniversary, an employee step fundraising challenge has been set to support charities such as Guide Dogs UK.

A group of 28 staff have split into teams of four to compete for the highest number of steps taken between May 29 and June 29 and the company will match donations up to £3,000.

Aileen Boyle, managing director at Braemar Finance, said: ‘To say we have a competitive team in Braemar Finance would be an understatement. There are already reports of team members walking the Munros mountains over the weekend, and some even ‘having’ to play more golf than normal to maintain those steps.’

Charity drives glaucoma message Glaucoma UK has urged the public to get a sight test as part of Glaucoma Awareness Week 2022

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