What's in the News? provides regular news and analysis of some of the key developments in eye care and comments on their relevance to you and your practice. Follow the links for the news source and more details
*NEW* National Eye Week highlights link between lifestyle and eye health
Only one in 12 adults in the UK associates obesity with sight loss, although weight is a major risk factor in many sight-threatening eye conditions.
Results of the ‘See the benefit’ poll, released by The Eyecare Trust to mark National Eye Week, also show:
· More than four in five of those surveyed (82 per cent) believe a man of 6ft weighing 13st 3lb is healthy, when in fact he is overweight
· Those with a body mass index (BMI) over 25 are most likely to believe their eyes are in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health
· Obese people are the group least likely to visit their optician
With more than half of all adults in the UK above their recommended weight and nearly one in four classed as obese, The Eyecare Trust warns that these people are putting themselves at risk of poor vision. Regular eye examinations are vital in the early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions linked to unhealthy lifestyles, it says.
The first National Eye Health Week will run from June 14-18, 2010 and aims to raise awareness of the importance of eye health and increase uptake of eye examinations.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS OF NATIONAL EYE WEEK 2009
CLICK HERE FOT THE EYECARE TRUST’S GUIDE TO HEALTHY SIGHT
What we think: Obesity has been linked to increased risk of various eye diseases, although not all these associations are consistent. It is certainly a significant public health issue, as well increasing the risk of many health conditions with ocular effects, such as hypertension and diabetes. Eye care professionals need to be aware of the latest thinking on lifestyle and eye health to provide accurate advice to patients.
GOC issues warning as CET deadline approaches
Almost three out of four UK-registered optometrists and dispensing opticians (74%) had completed their minimum Continuing Education and Training (CET) requirement with eight weeks of the current cycle remaining.
By December 31 2009, all registrants must have gained 36 general points over the three-year cycle, plus 18 specialty points for those registering a contact lens or therapeutics specialty.
In October, with 12 weeks to go, the General Optical Council (GOC) said:
· Three in 10 registrants were still in need of CET points
· 488 practitioners – nearly 3% of all registrants – had zero points
· 1% had not registered on the CET website, cetoptics
The GOC warned that those failing to meet the minimum requirement by the deadline would not be able to apply for 2010-11 retention, and faced removal from the Opticians Register. The deadline for retention is March 31, 2010.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FIGURES FROM THE GOC
CLICK HERE FOR THE CETOPTICS WEBSITE TO CHECK YOUR POINTS
What we think: While it’s encouraging that three-quarters of registrants have already met their minimum target, these figures suggest more than 4,000 practitioners are still in need of CET points. The Vision Care Institute™ can help you gain points through distance learning as well as by attending our interactive training courses. Register now for our remaining courses in 2009 and for early 2010.
THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE™ keeps an ‘Eye on the Future’
The Eye on the Future Survey, commissioned by The Vision Care Institute™, provides some fascinating insights into the value that consumers place on eye care professionals (ECPs) and the services they provide.
- The survey involved interviews with 500 optometrists and dispensing opticians, and with 1,000 adult consumers, in February this year. The findings were first released at the BCLA Clinical Conference in May.
- The full results of the survey have now been published in a two-part article in Optician. Among the conclusions are:
- The public has a higher opinion of the profession and its role than ECPs think
- Consumers trust and respect ECPs and value their advice
- Consumers recognise the importance of eye health and want to learn more
- The public has a good understanding of the need for continuing education and training (CET) and is more likely to visit a practitioner who participates
- ECPs want more hands-on training and ongoing support
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL RESULTS ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROFESSIONS ROLE
CLICK HERE FOR ATTITUDES TO CONTINUING EDUCATION
What we think: The Eye on the Future Survey reveals a very positive picture of how the public views the profession. Our research also highlights the opportunity to educate and inform the public on the importance of eye health, and to demonstrate to patients that you keep your professional skills and knowledge up to date.
See yourself as a contact lens practitioner?
The British Contact Lens Association and Association of British Dispensing Opticians have produced a new leaflet encouraging more optometrists and dispensing opticians to specialise in contact lenses.
‘See yourself as a contact lens practitioner?’ describes the many valuable benefits to fitting contact lenses, from increased job satisfaction to greater career prospects. Aimed primarily at students and the newly qualified, the leaflet provides:
· Guidance on who fits contact lenses in the UK and how to get started
· Information on how to gain skills and experience in contact lens fitting
· The requirements for contact lens continuing education and training (CET)
· Details of courses and qualifications available to recognise your expertise
BCLA Council member Brian Tompkins commented: ‘What we really want to get over to new recruits to the profession is how much fun it is to fit contact lenses − how rewarding contact lenses are to us as practitioners and how life-changing they can be for our patients.’
To support the leaflet, Optician published a feature in its October Contact Lens Monthly issue on ‘How to become a contact lens practitioner’, with more useful resources to help practitioners develop their expertise.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE LEAFLET, AND CONTACT THE BCLA AND ABDO FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES
What we think: Do you have a trainee, pre-reg or newly qualified colleague who may be interested in specialising in contact lenses? Would you like to have formal recognition for your own expertise through additional qualifications? This useful leaflet and accompanying feature have the information you need to get started.
Efron breaks down barriers to contact lens fitting
Professor Nathan Efron has urged practitioners to embrace contact lens fitting and proactively recommend contact lenses to patients.
Posing the question ‘Why fit contact lenses?’ in an article in Optician, Professor Efron explores concerns that practitioners may still have about contact lens fitting and counters them with facts from the latest research findings.
His ‘10 reasons to fit contact lenses’ are:
• Adaptation to contact lenses is rapid and trouble-free
• Contact lenses are convenient and expand lifestyle choices
• Silicone hydrogel lenses minimise ocular complications
• Daily disposable lenses are especially suited to 'part-time' wear
• Numerous systems are available to facilitate convenient lens supply
• Numerous contact lens options exist for the correction of astigmatism
• Presbyopia can be corrected with bifocal designs or monovision
• Contact lenses offer a safe, effective, stable, and reversible alternative to refractive surgery
• Vision with contact lenses can be as good or better than with spectacles
• Improved materials and solutions help alleviate lens-related dry eye
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL TEXT OF PROFESSOR EFRON'S ARTICLE
What we think: This article sets out compelling clinical reasons for fitting contact lenses and shows how advances in material, design and manufacture have made lenses available to correct virtually any refractive error. Why not use it to re-examine your own approach to contact lens recommendation and to convey a positive message to patients about the many benefits of contact lens wear.
RNIB report maps out future impact of sight loss
Targeting minority ethnic groups is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing and treating sight loss, according to a new study funded by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
The Future Sight Loss UK study, presented at the recent Vision UK 2009 conference in London, looked at the prevalence and costs of sight loss in Britain. Of 1.8m people with partial sight and blindness in 2008, just over half (53%) was due to refractive error, followed by age-related macular degeneration (17%), cataract (14%), glaucoma (5%). Between 2010 and 2020, the prevalence of sight loss in adults would increase due to:
• AMD by 31%
• Cataract by 20%
• Diabetic retinopathy by 16%
• Glaucoma by 25%
However, among people of African-Caribbean origin, sight loss due to glaucoma was predicted to rise by 57% over the decade.
The study also found that the most cost-effective intervention for preventing and treating sight loss is likely to be one targeting minority ethnic groups, who are expected to have lower access to eye care services than the general population and more severe cases of undetected eye disease.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL RNIB REPORT
What we think: Be aware that people of African and Caribbean origin are more at risk of chronic glaucoma and may suffer at a younger age, as well as the condition being more severe. Make sure that your practice procedures reflect this higher risk. You might want to consider local PR activities to promote the importance of regular eye examinations to these groups.
THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE™ survey shows patients value profession’s skills
Patients trust and respect their eye care practitioner and recognise the importance of continuing education and training, according to new research for THE VISION CARE INSTITUTE™
The Institute’s ‘Eyes on the future’ survey questioned 1,000 adult eye care patients and 500 optometrists and dispensing opticians. Among the key findings were:
• Patients place a much higher value on eye care practitioners’ expertise than practitioners themselves expect
• 91% are more likely to visit a practitioner who regularly takes part in CET
• 86% would like to see evidence of CET participation
• Practitioners want improved CET with more hands-on training (80%), peer to peer interaction (89%) and ongoing support (70%)
Presenting the results at the recent BCLA Clinical Conference, the Institute’s Vice President Ian Davies said that patients had a good understanding of eye care issues and urged practitioners not to underestimate how much patients value what we do.
What we think: Our survey provides a fascinating insight into consumer attitudes to you and your work. Why not talk to your patients about your expertise, tell them that you’re constantly improving your skills, and display your certificates and qualifications in your practice.
Practitioner advice is key to weathering the recession
Are your patients taking risks with their contact lenses in order to save money during the recession?
A BCLA/GOC online survey of 2,000 UK adults, of whom 240 wore contact lenses, found some wearers would consider cutting costs by:
• Switching to a cheaper brand of lens (38%) or solution (21%)
• Wearing lenses for longer than recommended (21%)
• Having less frequent checkups (11%)
Yet most would continue to follow their eye care practitioner’s advice. Almost all (93%) would not consider switching to a cheaper lens brand without consulting their optician, or cut down on lens cleaning (96%).
CLICK HERE FOR THE BCLA/GOC SURVEY RESULTS
What we think: Eye care practitioners should be well placed to weather the recession, given that patients clearly value professional advice. Research from IBM among 10,000 consumers recently showed the economy has had less effect on Health & Beauty expenditure than on other retail sectors, with 65% of consumers in this category maintaining or increasing category spend.
Each aftercare appointment offers an opportunity talk to patients about wear and care habits, reinforce good practice, address any areas of concern and stress the importance of regular checkups. Payment schemes and reminders can also encourage compliance.
Consumers receptive to UV protection message
People in the UK are aware of the need for sun protection for their skin but less likely to protect their eyes from UV, according to the latest survey from Transitions Optical.
Market researcher Ipsos interviewed 1,000 UK adults in the 4th annual Healthy Sight Survey commissioned by the ophthalmic lens manufacturer. Among findings were:
• Only 7% of consumers are spontaneously aware that extended UV exposure can cause eye damage but awareness increases to 75% when prompted
• Almost nine in 10 (87%) say that UV rays are likely to be most harmful to the eyes in summer, although eye damage is a concern throughout the year, whatever the weather
Commenting on educating patients about UV, Transitions Optical said: "It’s a topic which eye care professionals must continue to bring to the fore when discussing their patients’ lifestyle and lens requirements. Most patients will want to protect their eyes with lenses that block 100% UV rays, they just need to be reminded.
What we think: Patients are increasingly receptive to advice on health-related issues. As health care professionals, we should recommend UV and glare protection to all our patients. Wearing UV-blocking contact lenses in association with other forms of eye protection offers the maximum protection from damaging UV rays.
Glaucoma Guidelines announced by NICE
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published new clinical guidelines regarding the “Diagnosis and management of chronic open angle glaucoma (COAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT)”. The guidelines aim to enable the provision of better care for sufferers of these increasingly prevalent conditions, and also to help patients understand the treatment available to them. Under the guidelines, eye care professionals will be able to monitor the conditions using a range of techniques, including Goldmann applanation tonometry and Van Herick’s test, with a view to referring patients to a consultant ophthalmologist when necessary.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
Optical industry will avoid recession, says Mintel report
According to the flagship report by Mintel, the market research company, the optical industry will not be badly affected by the recession. Within the Miscellany section of British Lifestyles 2009, the report has predicted that the value of the optical market will increase by £28m during 2009, to a total of £2.965bn at current prices. Mintel has also forecasted continued growth over the next three years in the optical goods market. This is due to the development of new products and an ageing population, who have more spending power, despite the recession.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
Stem cell surgery to cure blind
Scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital have developed a treatment using stem cell therapy to cure age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects 500,000 people in the UK. The technique takes embryonic stem cells and transforms them into replicas of degenerated cells, which are then placed on an artificial membrane inserted in the back of the retina. It is thought that this procedure may be available in six to seven years time and could become a routine, one-hour operation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
World Council of Optometry to meet in Malaysia
The biennial meeting of the World Council of Optometry will this year be taking place in Malaysia on 5th and 6th June. Delegates from the 75 member organizations in 40 countries internationally will come together to teach and learn from each other. The conferences will focus on public health issues for optometrists, challenges facing optometric education and global scope of practice, in addition to panel discussions and a Gala Dinner for delegates.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE