The Latest News
Not to be missed Webinar Invitation on Cataract Referral and Management
Ms Tahmina Pearsall, Consultant Ophthalmologist invites all Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians to join her free Cataract Pathway Webinar event next Monday.
Applications now open for Optical Assistant training in Scotland
Applications have now opened for the Scotland Level 5 and 7 Certificates in Optical Care.
Aerie Pharmaceuticals Receives European Commission Approval for Glaucoma Treatment Roclanda
Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced the European Commission (EC) has granted a marketing authorization for Roclanda (netarsudil and latanoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.02%/0.005% for the reduction of elevated IOP in adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension
ESSILOR opens a Best Practice Virtual Showroom
Essilor Ltd unveils its first virtual showroom and welcomes ECPs to take an interactive guided tour of its flagship store.
British public urged to play their part in historic vaccine roll out
The public has a vital part to play in the rollout of the UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan.
VI's launch a new gaming group

It’s game on for blind and partially sighted players in Northern Ireland and Scotland with the launch of a new gaming group.
The Macular Society announces a New treatment for wet AMD approved for NHS patients
A new treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which could see patients receiving as few as four injections a year, has been approved for use in England and Wales.
SAFILENS introduces DELIVERY, a Global Breakthrough in Contact Lenses
In addition to vision correction, the new family of contact lenses, DELIVERY, offers physiological and eye-development benefits
Heidelberg Engineering Emphasizes Anterior Segment Focus under New Clinical Director

Steve Thomson joins Heidelberg Engineering as Clinical Director to further strengthen the Anterior Segment product development team.
2021 New Annual Plan published by ABDO
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has launched a new Annual Plan for 2021
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Report on “Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living”
Responding to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on Healthy Ageing report published today, David Sinclair, Director of the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC), said:
Joint statement from Chief Executives of statutory regulators of health and social care professionals
In March last year, at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we issued a statement to support our registrants in dealing with the un-precedented challenges that they were facing.
Further New Year's Reflections

Mike Ockendon the AIO secretary has added his organisation’s consideration of the prospects of change for Optics UK after the passing of the pandemic.
BCLA announces publication date for long-awaited global consensus report
A new BCLA global consensus report will deliver evidence-based guidance to eye care professionals around the world on all aspects of prescribing and fitting contact lenses as part of a concerted drive to provide the best possible patient care.
Management & Leadership qualifications for those in Optical Industry
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians’ (ABDO) Level 5 Management & Leadership qualification is now available to everyone working within the optical industry.
Webinar to discuss ‘brave new world’ of practice in a pandemic

The first BCLA webinar of 2021 will examine how clinical care has needed to adapt in the ‘brave new world’ of optometric and hospital practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Year’s Honours for those in Optics

A number of people have been awarded Honours in the New Year's List. If you know of others that have been so honoured, connected in any way with the visioncare sector, please let us know.
OFNC UPDATE: IMPACT of New Lockdown on practices in England
Following the introduction of a new national lockdown in England this week, the OFNC has continued its discussions with NHS England on potential additional support for optical practices affected by the new restrictions.
Will the end of the pandemic bring forth a new start for Optics UK?
Could the double whammy of disruption of supply and service of both Covid-19 and Brexit spell disaster to some in the vision care sector or act as a stimulus to recovery and doing things better and differently in the “New Normal”
Pharmacists snubbed by Government Leaders over Covid Jabs
As reported in the Daily Telegraph today (06.01.21) Pharmacists in the UK do not understand why their ready and waiting resource has not been included in the vaccination plans
Optometrists should follow College’s Amber Phase guidance
Optometrists should continue to provide needs- and symptoms-led primary eye care under the new restrictions, in line with all other primary health services during this lockdown period.
Primary eye care during the lockdown
Opticians remain open across the UK to meet eye care needs but must prioritise emergency and essential care.
COVID-19 alert level: update from the UK Chief Medical Officers
On January 4th 2021 at 20.00 hours A joint statement from the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) recommending that the UK COVID-19 alert level move from level 4 to level 5. This prompted the Prime Minister to broadcast to the nation
Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum
Join Glaucoma 360 for the 10th annual New Horizons Forum – this year a virtual event – dedicated to speeding the development of new therapies and diagnostics for glaucoma patients.
Haag-Streit UK Announces the Launch of the iVue80 in the UK
Haag-Streit UK has announced the launch of the new iVue80 OCT in the UK. The iVue80 SD-OCT system offers 80,000 A-scans per second—three times faster than the original iVue model
VCHP Filmed for GSK Impact Award

Vision Care for Homeless People, was chosen from more than 400 UK charities as one of ten winners of a £30,000 GSK IMPACT Award and is featured in a new film about its work.
Oar-some challenge for optometrist!

This time next year Martin Skehan will have swapped his test room for the Atlantic Ocean as he takes on the world’s toughest row,
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