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EDITORIAL 020 7501 6745 Editor-in-chief Chris Bennett 020 7501 6660 chris.bennett@markallengroup.com Editor Simon Jones 020 7501 6667 simon.jones@markallengroup.com Deputy editor Mike Hale 020 7501 6670 mike.hale@markallengroup.com Clinical editor (Optometr y) Dr Manbir Nagra manbir.nagra@markallengroup.com Clinical editor (Dispensing) Tina Arbon Black tina.arbonblack@markallengroup.com Content editor Andrew McCarthy-McClean 020 7501 6788 andrew.mcclean@markallengroup.com Online editor Lucy Patchett 020 7501 6663 lucy.patchett@markallengroup.com Production editor Gar y O’Connell 020 7501 6706 gar y.oconnell@markallengroup.com Ar t editor Sara Challinor 020 7501 6666 Repor ter Alice Thebault alice.thebault@markallengroup.com ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP Associate publisher Darren Ward 020 7501 6668 darren.ward@markallengroup.com Key account manager Joseph Lever 020 7501 6708 joseph.lever@markallengroup.com RECRUITMENT & CLASSIFIED Recruitment solutions manager Daniel Doherty 020 7501 6686 daniel.doherty@markallengroup.com Managing director Anthony Kerr 020 7501 6726 anthony.kerr@markallengroup.com Group production manager Kyri Apostolou 020 7501 6779 kyri.apostolou@markallengroup.com Production director Richard Hamshere Chief executive officer Ben Allen Chairman Mark Allen EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Will Ayliffe PhD FRCS FRCOphth DO; Sally Bates FBDO; Dr Frank Eperjesi PhD BSc MCOptom FAAO; Professor Bernard Gilmartin PhD FCOptom FAAO; Graham Hutchison MBA; Professor Mo Jalie SMSA FBDO FCGI MIMgt; Dr Lyndon Jones PhD FCOptom DCLP DOrth FAAO; Geoff Roberson BSc FCOptom; Dr Steve Taylor PhD MSc FCOptom; Graeme Young MPhil FCOptom DCLP FAAO SUBSCRIPTIONS 0800 137201 Subscribe or renew 01722 716997 subscriptions@markallengroup.com BACK ISSUES 01722 716997 REPRINTS 020 7501 6790 ISSN 0030.3968 www.markallengroup.com Par t of Optician is published ever y Friday © 2024 MA Healthcare Ltd St Judes Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB. Telephone 020 7738 5454 Website: www.opticianonline.net ISSN 0030.3968 Printed in Britain by Pensord Press, Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, Gwent, NP12 2YA Please read our privacy policy at privacypolicy.markallengroup.com. This will explain how we process, use and safeguard your data 4 OPTICIAN 11 October 2024 facebook.com/opticianonline 7 DAYS To read the full stories and keep up to date on the latest news and views visit opticianonline.net Optician launches myopia sur vey Optician has invited eye care professionals and practice owners to respond to a survey about myopia management, with the opportunity to win £100 in Amazon vouchers. Results of the survey will appear in Optician’s upcoming supplement, The Myopia Guide, which will be published on January 24. Andrew McCarthy-McClean, content editor of Optician, said: ‘Recent research has highlighted that the prevalence of myopia has increased, which makes the work done by optical practices even more vital. ‘Optician is calling on the profession to respond to a survey that will highlight the ways patients are being managed, what products are being offered and how many patients are being seen.’ To respond to the survey, visit shorturl.at/jWzBo. WCSM appoints new master Optometrist Mike Harris has been made master at the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) and succeeded orthoptist Liz Tomlin, who became deputy master. Harris would be supported by dispensing optician Fiona Anderson, who took on the role of upper warden, and optometrist David Baker, who became renter warden. Speaking at his first court luncheon, Harris said he had a long-term connection with WCSM and enjoyed every moment of being an optometrist. ‘My style has been to have a conversation with patients while meeting their visual and eye health needs. My message to the Livery today is have those conversations, engage, contribute and help me to deliver the Company’s strategic WCSM Master Mike Harris goals of supporting better vision for all and making sure that nobody is left behind by poor vision,’ he said. AOP responds to GP research The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has urged the government to address primary care pressures, citing figures that show GPs in deprived areas manage nearly 2,500 patients each. That number is almost 300 more than in affluent areas and the RCGP has warned of dangerously high workloads. Dr Peter Hampson, optometrist and clinical and policy director at the Association of Optometrists, said: ‘Optometrists have the capacity to do more. But we need the political vision to ensure primary care optometry is utilised, allowing patients to access more eye care in their community, which can help tackle the NHS backlog.’ Asda Opticians partners with RNIB A new partnership between Asda Opticians and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) will increase access to support, information and advice for people living with sight loss. Dr Louise Gow, head of eye health, optometry and low vision at RNIB, said: ‘By partnering with Asda Opticians with more than 150 locations nationwide, this will be a springboard to reaching more people and providing timely information and support services to make a difference.’ The partnership will enable those with existing or new eye conditions to self-refer to the charity, and the RNIB has delivered educational sessions for optometrists at Asda Opticians to support this process. Hoya’s new financing options Hoya Lens UK has entered an agreement with Birmingham Optical and Nidek to supply a range of ophthalmic equipment to their independent customers. The lens company said the partnership would provide exclusive pricing and financing options to eye care professionals across the UK and Ireland. Martin Batho, director of Hoya Lens UK, said: ‘Nidek and Hoya share a common goal to help eye care professionals provide the best patient care through innovative, practical and cost-effective technology. By uniting our organisations’ optical expertise, we create one seamless solution for Hoya customers, enabling them to expand their service offering and to attract new patients.’ Covid-19 impacts gender inequity A report from the Fred Hollows Foundation and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) suggested the redeployment of resources to contain the spread of Covid-19 may have exacerbated gender inequity in eye health. The report, which reviewed data on eye health systems in 26 countries, found the pandemic’s impact led to significant cataract treatment backlogs that could take years to resolve. Amanda Davis, director of strate- opticianonline.net
page 5
Follow us on X @opticianonline NEWS IN BRIEF Julian Davies Opticians celebrates teams at away day A summer event held by Julian Davies Opticians celebrated the individual achievements of staff, delivered product training and provided a business update to teams. ‘She is ver y impor tant to the business and is a great team player. Hayley is ver y well liked, hardworking and organised as well as being respected by ever yone in the team,’ he said. The independent held the event at New House Hotel in Caerphilly with employees from each of its seven practices in Wales attending. Young star ted as a receptionist and soon became an optical assistant before being made practice manager of the Newpor t practice and then operations manager for the wider business. Chris Tannorella, director of Julian Davies Opticians, said: ‘The main thing about these away days is how people feel at the end of the day. What’s really lovely is that the teams mix up; they speak regularly on the phone but these away days give them the oppor tunity to meet up and socialise.’ During an awards evening, Hayley Young was voted Team Member of the Year by her colleagues and was described as a ‘superstar’ by Tannorella. Optical assistant Monika Kucharczyk won the Happiness award three months after joining the Newpor t practice and the Unsung Hero award went to dispensing optician Jen Viggers. Viggers was recognised for going above and beyond and always looking to help her colleagues, while Blackwood manager Samantha Gadd won the Kindness award for her caring approach to colleagues and patients. gic initiatives at the Fred Hollows Foundation, said: ‘Our review of cataract services found the pandemic may have exacerbated existing inequities, particularly with women and girls. In every country the study surveyed, there was a reduction in the proportion of women and girls accessing eye health services.’ Results of NaturalVue study published Data from a clinical study exploring the extended depth of focus (EDOF) design of Visioneering Technologies Inc’s NaturalVue Enhanced Multifocal 1 Day contact lens has been published in Clinical Ophthalmology. VTI said the study represented its highest evidence of presbyopia visual function, patient satisfaction Charmant partners with NEG and supported its universal ADD claim for presbyopia. It analysed the range of functional vision and subjective feedback on patients aged 50 years and older living with presbyopia. Patients demonstrated improvement in visual acuity with NaturalVue Multifocal versus single vision correction from -1.50D through -4.00D optical vergence demand, simulating reading material from 66cm to 25cm. Charmant partners with NEG Charmant and PK National Eyecare Group (NEG) have signed an exclusive partnership agreement to supply the UK and Northern Ireland independent optical market with Charmant products. The collections of Charmant, Line Art, Elle, Aristar, Minamoto, Ad Lib and Esprit were made available exclusively to NEG members. Chris Beal, chief operating officer and executive vice president at Charmant Europe, said: ‘We are very excited about this partnership. Having worked with National Eyecare Group for many years in the past it makes absolute sense to join forces and it will be a welcome return for our brands in the UK & NI independent optical market.’ Optegra’s ad campaign Optegra highlights ser vices in new ads Optegra has launched a regionally targeted campaign across direct mail, local print and TV to raise awareness of its NHS cataract surgery options. The advert started on October 7, running between 9am and 7pm Monday to Friday on Loose Women, This Morning, Pointless and Emmerdale. Developed by creative agency Kitchen, the campaign visually captured the difficulty for people suffering with cataracts to engage with everyday life and how Optegra was helping make patients’ lives ‘clearly better’. It aimed to reassure people about the eye hospital group’s results, patient satisfaction and its surgeons, emphasising that patients could be seen within just two weeks of referral. Specscart makes 2024 Wired trailblazer list Specscart has been selected as a 2024 Wired trailblazer, recognising it as one of the UK’s most pioneering businesses which benefit people, communities and the planet. Sid Sethi, founder of Specscart, said: ‘All the Wired trailblazers are pushing boundaries and that is what Specscart is all about. ‘We are not on a mission to disrupt the UK eyewear industry, we’re going to completely blow it up, one pair of spectacles at a time,’ he added. Since its inception in 2018, Specscart has grown into a global retail and online business, which sees its in-house made glasses delivered in 24 hours. opticianonline.net 11 October 2024 OPTICIAN 5

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EDITORIAL 020 7501 6745 Editor-in-chief Chris Bennett 020 7501 6660 chris.bennett@markallengroup.com Editor Simon Jones 020 7501 6667 simon.jones@markallengroup.com Deputy editor Mike Hale 020 7501 6670 mike.hale@markallengroup.com Clinical editor (Optometr y) Dr Manbir Nagra manbir.nagra@markallengroup.com Clinical editor (Dispensing) Tina Arbon Black tina.arbonblack@markallengroup.com Content editor Andrew McCarthy-McClean 020 7501 6788 andrew.mcclean@markallengroup.com Online editor Lucy Patchett 020 7501 6663 lucy.patchett@markallengroup.com Production editor Gar y O’Connell 020 7501 6706 gar y.oconnell@markallengroup.com Ar t editor Sara Challinor 020 7501 6666 Repor ter Alice Thebault alice.thebault@markallengroup.com ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP Associate publisher Darren Ward 020 7501 6668 darren.ward@markallengroup.com Key account manager Joseph Lever 020 7501 6708 joseph.lever@markallengroup.com RECRUITMENT & CLASSIFIED Recruitment solutions manager Daniel Doherty 020 7501 6686 daniel.doherty@markallengroup.com Managing director Anthony Kerr 020 7501 6726 anthony.kerr@markallengroup.com Group production manager Kyri Apostolou 020 7501 6779 kyri.apostolou@markallengroup.com Production director Richard Hamshere Chief executive officer Ben Allen Chairman Mark Allen EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Will Ayliffe PhD FRCS FRCOphth DO; Sally Bates FBDO; Dr Frank Eperjesi PhD BSc MCOptom FAAO; Professor Bernard Gilmartin PhD FCOptom FAAO; Graham Hutchison MBA; Professor Mo Jalie SMSA FBDO FCGI MIMgt; Dr Lyndon Jones PhD FCOptom DCLP DOrth FAAO; Geoff Roberson BSc FCOptom; Dr Steve Taylor PhD MSc FCOptom; Graeme Young MPhil FCOptom DCLP FAAO SUBSCRIPTIONS 0800 137201 Subscribe or renew 01722 716997 subscriptions@markallengroup.com BACK ISSUES 01722 716997 REPRINTS 020 7501 6790 ISSN 0030.3968

www.markallengroup.com Par t of

Optician is published ever y Friday © 2024 MA Healthcare Ltd St Judes Church, Dulwich Road, London SE24 0PB. Telephone 020 7738 5454 Website: www.opticianonline.net ISSN 0030.3968 Printed in Britain by Pensord Press, Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, Gwent, NP12 2YA Please read our privacy policy at privacypolicy.markallengroup.com. This will explain how we process, use and safeguard your data

4 OPTICIAN 11 October 2024

facebook.com/opticianonline

7 DAYS

To read the full stories and keep up to date on the latest news and views visit opticianonline.net

Optician launches myopia sur vey Optician has invited eye care professionals and practice owners to respond to a survey about myopia management, with the opportunity to win £100 in Amazon vouchers.

Results of the survey will appear in Optician’s upcoming supplement, The Myopia Guide, which will be published on January 24.

Andrew McCarthy-McClean, content editor of Optician, said: ‘Recent research has highlighted that the prevalence of myopia has increased, which makes the work done by optical practices even more vital.

‘Optician is calling on the profession to respond to a survey that will highlight the ways patients are being managed, what products are being offered and how many patients are being seen.’

To respond to the survey, visit shorturl.at/jWzBo.

WCSM appoints new master Optometrist Mike Harris has been made master at the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) and succeeded orthoptist Liz Tomlin, who became deputy master.

Harris would be supported by dispensing optician Fiona Anderson, who took on the role of upper warden, and optometrist David Baker, who became renter warden.

Speaking at his first court luncheon, Harris said he had a long-term connection with WCSM and enjoyed every moment of being an optometrist.

‘My style has been to have a conversation with patients while meeting their visual and eye health needs. My message to the Livery today is have those conversations, engage, contribute and help me to deliver the Company’s strategic

WCSM Master Mike Harris goals of supporting better vision for all and making sure that nobody is left behind by poor vision,’ he said.

AOP responds to GP research The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has urged the government to address primary care pressures, citing figures that show GPs in deprived areas manage nearly 2,500 patients each.

That number is almost 300 more than in affluent areas and the RCGP has warned of dangerously high workloads.

Dr Peter Hampson, optometrist and clinical and policy director at the Association of Optometrists, said: ‘Optometrists have the capacity to do more. But we need the political vision to ensure primary care optometry is utilised, allowing patients to access more eye care in their community, which can help tackle the NHS backlog.’

Asda Opticians partners with RNIB A new partnership between Asda Opticians and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) will increase access to support, information and advice for people living with sight loss.

Dr Louise Gow, head of eye health, optometry and low vision at RNIB, said: ‘By partnering with Asda Opticians with more than 150 locations nationwide, this will be a springboard to reaching more people and providing timely information and support services to make a difference.’

The partnership will enable those with existing or new eye conditions to self-refer to the charity, and the RNIB has delivered educational sessions for optometrists at Asda Opticians to support this process.

Hoya’s new financing options Hoya Lens UK has entered an agreement with Birmingham Optical and Nidek to supply a range of ophthalmic equipment to their independent customers.

The lens company said the partnership would provide exclusive pricing and financing options to eye care professionals across the UK and Ireland. Martin Batho, director of Hoya Lens UK, said: ‘Nidek and Hoya share a common goal to help eye care professionals provide the best patient care through innovative, practical and cost-effective technology. By uniting our organisations’ optical expertise, we create one seamless solution for Hoya customers, enabling them to expand their service offering and to attract new patients.’

Covid-19 impacts gender inequity A report from the Fred Hollows Foundation and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) suggested the redeployment of resources to contain the spread of Covid-19 may have exacerbated gender inequity in eye health.

The report, which reviewed data on eye health systems in 26 countries, found the pandemic’s impact led to significant cataract treatment backlogs that could take years to resolve.

Amanda Davis, director of strate-

opticianonline.net

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