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7 DAYS facebook.com/opticianonline Health inquir y recognises primar y care optometr y Primar y care optometr y gained recognition in a year-long inquir y by the Times Health Commission, with evidence from 600 witnesses, including 10 former health secretaries, a former Prime Minister and public health officials. The repor t recognised the role of optometr y in tackling conditions early like glaucoma and noted Specsavers’ suggestion that patients could be discharged from hospitals to community ser vices if funding streams were updated. Also highlighted was the need for a national minor eye care ser vice and the recommendation to create a digital health account for ever y NHS patient so anyone treating them can access their records. Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical ser vices director, said: ‘Specsavers is committed to working with colleagues in both primar y and secondar y care to develop care in the community.’ Edmonds accompanied shadow health minister Karin Smyth, on a visit to Specsavers Kingswood in Bristol, pictured, on Januar y 26, following Labour’s commitment to negotiate with high street opticians to deliver outpatient appointments. The Labour MP for Bristol South said that high street opticians would be at the centre of Labour’s plans to beat the backlog of patients waiting for treatment: ‘We will get high street opticians across the countr y delivering more routine appointments, allowing patients to be seen faster.’ the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, against which many commonly prescribed antibiotics have become resistant. Nominations open for AOP Council positions The Association of Optometrists (AOP) invited nominations from eligible members for its 2024 Council elections across elected and designated posts. The 33-strong AOP Council comprised 13 members elected to represent geographical constituencies across the UK and 20 designated positions, representing various membership groups and modes of practice. Emma Spofforth, AOP chair, said: ‘Representing your profession at AOP Council presents a key opportunity to influence national AOP policy and guidance that is key to shaping the future of optometric practice across the UK.’ The term of office for elected and dispensing optician posts was three years, for newly-qualified and early career optometrists it was two years and undergraduate student and pre-registration optometrist positions, one year. Virtual Tr y On 3.0 BlooBloom launches virtual tr y on ser vice Eyewear brand BlooBloom has launched Virtual Try On 3.0, which it said enabled patients to see online exactly how frames look on their faces and made eyewear shopping simpler and better. The technology utilised the camera function on a tablet, laptop or mobile and integrated augmented reality technology so that customers could view frames with a digitally generated overlay on an image. Abbas Manai, co-founder at BlooBloom, said: ‘We’ve developed our virtual try on feature to be photorealistic, seamless and easy to use. This will make it easier for customers to buy glasses online without trying them on and we’re also really excited about it as a tool 6 OPTICIAN 16 Februar y 2024 for people to narrow down their home try-on choices.’ Ellis and Killpartrick hosts teaching retreat Independent group Ellis and Killpartrick, with practices in Bath, Cheltenham and Tetbury, held its second annual retreat conference on February 4 near the Westonbirt Arboretum. Director and optometrist Mike Killpartrick said: ‘We would like to thank our partners EssilorLuxottica for sponsoring this event again and all our fantastic team. ‘This was a great morning of teaching followed by a splendid roast dinner, which made the whole experience enjoyable for all the team.’ Topics covered included the latest Varilux designs, myopia management and an update on Ellis and Killpartrick retreat EssilorLuxottica’s Leonardo teaching platform, expanded from product information to management, team leadership and general business topics. IAPB launches Young Systems Leader Awards The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) called for entries to its new Young Systems Leader Awards to celebrate ‘professionals who embody critical systems thinking’. The initiative focused on IAPB’s ambitions in the 2030 In Sight Strategy – calling on individuals and organisations to embrace a holistic systems approach and integrating eye care within health systems. Caroline Casey, IAPB president, said: ‘The IAPB Young Systems Leader Awards celebrates the brilliance, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit that will define the future of eye health and change the lives of so many for the better. By investing in these inspiring young professionals IAPB wants to empower them to champion systems change and ensure everyone, everywhere has access to quality eye care.’ opticianonline.net
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Follow us on X @opticianonline IN FOCUS Communication gap identified in macular research Andrew McCarthy-McClean reports on patient and ECP sur veys carried out by the Macular Society Agap in communication between eye care professionals (ECPs) and patients has been identified when diagnosed with, or considered at risk of developing, macular disease. The Macular Society carried out two surveys – one with patients and one with ECPs – to gain a better understanding of how macular disease affects patients and evaluated the communication of necessary information between ECPs and patients. Results, which were published in science journal Nature, highlighted a difference in what ECPs thought they said to patients and what was actually remembered by patients. Cathy Yelf, chief executive at the Macular Society, said: ‘It’s vital people with macular disease are helped to understand their diagnosis, what their treatment will be, if there is any, and that they are effectively directed to support outside their clinical care.’ DIAGNOSIS DELAYS The survey of 122 ECPs included 53 (43%) from primary care and 69 (57%) from secondary care. Sixtyeight percent of respondents said they always gave patients information about macular disease at the point of diagnosis. However, only 21% thought they provided information to patients at risk of developing the condition while 59% said they did this ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ and 20% who ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ did. The Macular Society said these findings raised concerns about late diagnosis due to inconsistency in information because many patients were unaware of the symptoms of macular disease. The report highlights the difference between what ECPs think they say to patients and what patients actually remember It noted that early treatment was crucial and delays have been shown to result in worse outcomes for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular oedema. Among ECPs, 75% either agreed or strongly agreed to the importance of providing information about a patient’s condition and the available support services at the point of diagnosis. Yelf added: ‘We are pleased that ECPs are generally aware that their patients need emotional support, and we, as a charity, are continuing to work closely with them to ensure people know where to turn to in the aftermath of their diagnosis. ‘We also know the earlier patients are told about their risk of developing macular disease, the earlier we can be there to support them. Whether they have a treatable condition or not, the practical and emotional support that organisations like the Macular Society offer make a significant difference to the patient’s ability to manage their condition and safeguard their emotional wellbeing.’ SIGNPOSTING SUPPORT The patient survey included responses from 214 people who either had dry or wet AMD or diabetic macular oedema, and the majority (78%) had low awareness of the Macular Society and its services. Sixty-three percent of respondents said they did not know their symptoms were due to macular disease and 25% did not think these symptoms were important. Additionally, only 17% of patients were able to recall being signposted to support. The Macular Society said this information gap meant many people, who later received a diagnosis, were not informed of the importance of regular eye examinations to detect the initial signs of the condition. It also noted that guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists recommended signposting patients to available support services. The Macular Society said its study highlighted a disparity between patient recall of information provision compared with ECPs signposting perceptions and stated behaviours. It cited similarities to a recent study that looked at mental health and support services for those with eye disease, which also found a lack of signposting for patients. The charity speculated there could be many factors involved, such as patients forgetting or not being able to take in all the information provided. It noted there could be barriers faced by ECPs in relaying information effectively, such as time restraints or fear of overburdening patients with information. The Macular Society concluded there was a clear need to optimise ECP communication around diagnosis, as well as more effective signposting of services provided by patient support organisations. • opticianonline.net 16 Februar y 2024 OPTICIAN 7

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facebook.com/opticianonline

Health inquir y recognises primar y care optometr y

Primar y care optometr y gained recognition in a year-long inquir y by the Times Health Commission, with evidence from 600 witnesses, including 10 former health secretaries, a former Prime Minister and public health officials.

The repor t recognised the role of optometr y in tackling conditions early like glaucoma and noted Specsavers’ suggestion that patients could be discharged from hospitals to community ser vices if funding streams were updated.

Also highlighted was the need for a national minor eye care ser vice and the recommendation to create a digital health account for ever y NHS patient so anyone treating them can access their records.

Giles Edmonds, Specsavers clinical ser vices director, said: ‘Specsavers is committed to working with colleagues in both primar y and secondar y care to develop care in the community.’

Edmonds accompanied shadow health minister Karin Smyth, on a visit to Specsavers Kingswood in Bristol, pictured, on Januar y 26, following Labour’s commitment to negotiate with high street opticians to deliver outpatient appointments.

The Labour MP for Bristol South said that high street opticians would be at the centre of Labour’s plans to beat the backlog of patients waiting for treatment: ‘We will get high street opticians across the countr y delivering more routine appointments, allowing patients to be seen faster.’

the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, against which many commonly prescribed antibiotics have become resistant.

Nominations open for AOP Council positions The Association of Optometrists (AOP) invited nominations from eligible members for its 2024 Council elections across elected and designated posts.

The 33-strong AOP Council comprised 13 members elected to represent geographical constituencies across the UK and 20 designated positions, representing various membership groups and modes of practice.

Emma Spofforth, AOP chair, said: ‘Representing your profession at AOP Council presents a key opportunity to influence national AOP policy and guidance that is key to shaping the future of optometric practice across the UK.’

The term of office for elected and dispensing optician posts was three years, for newly-qualified and early career optometrists it was two years and undergraduate student and pre-registration optometrist positions, one year.

Virtual Tr y On 3.0

BlooBloom launches virtual tr y on ser vice Eyewear brand BlooBloom has launched Virtual Try On 3.0, which it said enabled patients to see online exactly how frames look on their faces and made eyewear shopping simpler and better.

The technology utilised the camera function on a tablet, laptop or mobile and integrated augmented reality technology so that customers could view frames with a digitally generated overlay on an image.

Abbas Manai, co-founder at BlooBloom, said: ‘We’ve developed our virtual try on feature to be photorealistic, seamless and easy to use. This will make it easier for customers to buy glasses online without trying them on and we’re also really excited about it as a tool

6 OPTICIAN 16 Februar y 2024

for people to narrow down their home try-on choices.’

Ellis and Killpartrick hosts teaching retreat Independent group Ellis and Killpartrick, with practices in Bath, Cheltenham and Tetbury, held its second annual retreat conference on February 4 near the Westonbirt Arboretum.

Director and optometrist Mike Killpartrick said: ‘We would like to thank our partners EssilorLuxottica for sponsoring this event again and all our fantastic team.

‘This was a great morning of teaching followed by a splendid roast dinner, which made the whole experience enjoyable for all the team.’

Topics covered included the latest Varilux designs, myopia management and an update on

Ellis and Killpartrick retreat

EssilorLuxottica’s Leonardo teaching platform, expanded from product information to management, team leadership and general business topics.

IAPB launches Young Systems Leader Awards The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) called for entries to its new Young Systems Leader Awards to celebrate ‘professionals who embody critical systems thinking’.

The initiative focused on IAPB’s ambitions in the 2030 In Sight Strategy – calling on individuals and organisations to embrace a holistic systems approach and integrating eye care within health systems.

Caroline Casey, IAPB president, said: ‘The IAPB Young Systems Leader Awards celebrates the brilliance, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit that will define the future of eye health and change the lives of so many for the better. By investing in these inspiring young professionals IAPB wants to empower them to champion systems change and ensure everyone, everywhere has access to quality eye care.’

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