DECEMBER 2018 DISPENSING OPTICS NEWS, INFORMATION and EDUCATION for OPTICIANS ABDO NRC, Birmingham The NEW National Resource Centre NEW ABDO facilities in Birmingham VICTORIA ROAD B4132 A5127 • An education events and examinations • The new location for all dispensing and hub with 11,000 sq. ft. over two floors. contact lens practical examinations. Aston • Clinical facilities showcasing the latest • Available for meetings, conferences, A38 PORTLAND technology. seminars, training, revision and CET courses. C ATHERINE STREET WHARF STREET • 10 clinical bays equipped for refraction • Lecture areas for 60 to 160 people. STRE E T and contact lenses and pre-screen area. • Flexible facilities offering one large area or ROCKY LANE • State-of-the-art video slit-lamp which can up to 5 separate rooms. ON ASTON CROSS be recorded and projected live on up to ASTON ROAD NORTH • Rooms can be set up in theatre, exam or B4144 5 screens around the building. cabaret style. AVE ROAD Aston Cross • Equipment for dispensing, screening, minor CHESTER STREETBusiness Village • Catering facilities available including water eye conditions services and glazing. dispensers, 'bean to cup' coffee and artisan • Within easy reach of major road, rail and flavoured teas. air transport links. Acknowledgement ABDO is grateful for profession-wide support from a great number of retail and optical THE ABDO NRC BIRMINGHAM IS NOW businesses. Including frame, lens, AVAILABLE FOR EXTERNAL BOOKINGS. contact lens, instrument and equipment manufacturers. To book, call Phil Hall on 07538 525 206 or email him at [email protected] ABDO National Resource Centre 4th Floor, Aqueous II, Aston Cross Business Village, Chester Street, Birmingham Dispensing Optics DECEMBER 2018 Contents 19. 32. 16. 14. 30. 31. 100% Optical Features Bustle and buzz at ExCel 32. Charity Product Spotlight 18. Have suitcase, will travel Festive frame edit by Lee Davis 22. ABDO CET 34. Business From CET to CPD and beyond Every day’s a school day by Alex Webster writes Nick Walsh 24. Multiple Choice Answers The importance of improved provision for patients with learning and other disabilities Regulars by Ned Saunders 26. Sight loss 5. DO Dispatches Eyes on film 6. A DO and proud of it by Antonia Chitty 8. News 28. ABDO NCD Active, engaged and involved 25. Business Bites Report by Nicky Collinson 35. FAQs 36. Jottings by Daryl Newsome FRONT COVER Image from stock 38. Jobs & Notices Dispensing Optics DECEMBER 2018 3 The future is here 100% Optical Launching: 12-14.01.19 Stand L110 www.shamirlens.co.uk | [email protected] | 01954 785100 DISPENSING OPTICS The Professional Journal of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians VOLUME 33 NO 12 EDITORIAL STAFF Editor Sir Anthony Garrett CBE HonFBDO DO Dispatches Assistant Editor Jane Burnand Email [email protected] Managing Editor Nicky Collinson BA (Hons) Email [email protected] CAUSE FOR CONGRATULATIONS Design and Production Rosslyn Argent BA (Hons) Email [email protected] It is not often that we have cause to Admin. Manager Deanne Gray HonFBDO congratulate the General Optical Council Email [email protected] (GOC) on making the right decision – but EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING this month is a welcome exception. The Telephone 0781 2734717 decision to delay the implementation of a new CET/CPD Email [email protected] Website www.abdo.org.uk scheme until 2022 is a great relief (see News page 8). The plan to implement a new scheme at the beginning of 2020, SUBSCRIPTIONS following a one-year scheme, was fatally flawed – partly UK £150 Overseas £175, including postage because the much vaunted Education Strategic Review has Apply to Tom Veti not been completed and partly because once we have a Association of British Dispensing Opticians clear idea what that review consists of, there will need to Godmersham Park, Godmersham, Kent CT4 7DT Telephone 01227 733922 be a lengthy lead in time to commission totally new Email [email protected] material courses and modes of delivery. Website www.abdo.org.uk At ABDO we are very keen to embrace a much more ABDO CET professionally focused scheme, where personal development Head of CET Alexandra Webster MSc BMus PGDipE FBDO CL FHEA is a key component. We now look forward to working with the ABDO CET, 5 Kingsford Business Centre, Layer Road, Kingsford, GOC and others to create an exciting and relevant scheme for Colchester CO2 0HT all of our members. ABDO has been at the forefront of Telephone 01206 734155 lobbying the GOC on this issue along with our optometry Email [email protected] colleagues. I hope that the willingness of the GOC to listen to CONTINUING EDUCATION REVIEW PANEL reasoned argument on this vital topic will not be a ‘one off’, Joanne Abbott BSc(Hons) FBDO SMC(Tech) but the start of a period of greater co-operation and Josie Barlow FBDO CL Keith Cavaye FBDO(Hons)CL FBCLA understanding of the needs of the sector. Andrew Cripps FBDO PG Cert HE FHEA Kim Devlin FBDO(Hons)CL Unbelievably, this is the last edition of Dispensing Optics for Stephen Freeman BSc(Hons) MCOptom FBDO(Hons) Cert Ed 2018 and for me at least the year has just raced by. It has Claire McDonnell FAOI Angela McNamee BSc(Hons) MCOptom FBDO(Hons)CL FBCLA Cert Ed been a year of great progress for ABDO and for all our Paula Stevens MA ODE BSc(Hons) MCOptom FBDO CL(Hons)AD SMC(Tech) members; the launch of minor eye conditions services and the Gaynor Whitehouse FBDO (Hons) LVA opening of our National Resource Centre in Birmingham being JOURNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE the two highlights. Richard Crook FBDO Kim Devlin FBDO(Hons)CL It just remains for me to wish all members a very happy Kevin Gutsell FBDO(Hons) SLD festive season and a very happy and successful New Year. Ros Kirk FBDO Angela McNamee BSc(Hons) MCOptom FBDO(Hons)CL FBCLA Cert Ed Sir Anthony Garrett ABDO general secretary DISPENSING OPTICS IS PUBLISHED BY ABDO, 199 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6LD DISPENSING OPTICS IS PRINTED BY P&P Litho Ltd, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 1AB © ABDO: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means whatever without the written prior permission of the publishers Dispensing Optics welcomes contributions for possible editorial publication. However, contributors warrant to the publishers that they own all rights to illustrations, artwork or photographs submitted and also to copy which is factually accurate and does not infringe any other party’s rights ISSN 0954 3201 AVERAGE CIRCULATION: 9,437 (Jan-Dec 2017) ABDO Board certification Dispensing Optics DECEMBER 2018 5 A DO CLIVE MARCHANT FBDO & PROUD Our monthly column from the ABDO president A DO and proud of it was delighted to attend our annual professionally and to the public. ABDO also graduation and prizegiving ceremony works to protect the regulated dispensing last month at the magnificent functions, and strives to further our Canterbury Cathedral. How times involvement and extend our scope of have changed. In 1980, when I practice. Our CLO members delivering Iqualified, I received a typed letter from minor eye conditions services (MECS) is a the Association of Dispensing Opticians, notable achievement this year. ABDO’s forerunner, informing me of my Yes, we get a diary (and I must say this exam results – and my certificate arrived year’s diary is back to the standard of previous in the post a few weeks later. years); Dispensing Optics is free for every I’m extremely envious of our students member – and what a quality publication it is attending today’s prestigious graduation at compared to some other optical publications. Canterbury Cathedral. It was an absolute CET is provided free for all members at local delight to receive so many graduands and and national events along with online access give the ceremonial handshake, which is key and via Dispensing Optics. to proceedings and to our graduands Clive updates members at the There are numerous lifestyle benefits becoming graduates. It is a day to remember National Consultation Day available, which can be accessed on the for life. Thanks must go to all the ABDO website, and some of the most popular are team who make it such a special event. independent practice is to survive and cinema tickets, gym membership and The FBDO qualification opens the door flourish in future years. student discount cards. Advice and Guidelines to so many opportunities today. are also available via the website and this Qualification is not the end of our studies CONSULTATION AND DEBATE should be considered as our bible for all but the start of a lifetime of continuing Our annual National Consultation Day was that we do in our working life. professional advancement for those of us held at the National Resource Centre at the Other benefits are those we need but who want to be fantastic dispensing end of October, giving us the chance to hope we never use. These include legal opticians. A host of high-level training update members on current and future protection, including pre-disciplinary options are available to those who want to activities. We were keen to hear members’ hearings, legal defence, disciplinary hearings, advance their clinical skills in low vision, views on subjects such as membership, CET employment disputes and tax protection. contact lenses and minor eye conditions and professional development. The most Our membership team is on hand to help services, along with opportunities to recent results of our ongoing series of and advise you, and has the backing of a 24- progress from diploma to BSc then Masters. online surveys were shared and healthy hour helpline.