dispensing optics 10 CET DISPENSING FOR INTERMEDIATE DISTANCES by Duncan Counter ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005

Transcription

1 dispensing optics August/September 2006 Volume 21 No 6 2 COVER POINT GOS REVIEW: THE KEY ROLE OF THE DO 6 PRACTICAL DISPENSING ADVICE THE CASE FOR OPTICAL SELL BY DATES by Peter Sanders 8 CET WEEKEND THE PROFESSION S TOP CET EVENT by Paula Stevens 10 CET DISPENSING FOR INTERMEDIATE DISTANCES by Duncan Counter ABDO ANNUAL REPORT PATIENT AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT UNFAIR TRADING by John Davies 34 CET COUNTDOWN by Rosemary Bailey 34 PROFILE Phil Quinby talks to Ann Johnson 36 PRACTICAL DISPENSING ADVICE CHILDHOOD EYE CANCER 37 ABDO GOLF 38 NEWSBRIEF 42 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 43 LVA COMMITTEE 44 NEWS FROM IRELAND 46 BCLA NEWS 1B Eridge Road, Crowborough. East Sussex TN6 2SJ Tel: Fax: do@abdo.uk.com Website: 47 CET ANSWERS ASPECTS OF CONTACT LENS FITTING FOR HIGH PLUS PRESCRIPTIONS 47 DIARY OF EVENTS 48 FROM A DO S DESK... DISJOINTED JOTTINGS by John Pike

2 2 DISPENSING OPTICS AUG/SEP 2006 DISPENSING OPTICS The Professional Journal of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians Volume 21 No 6 Editorial staff Editor: Sir Anthony Garrett CBE Assistant Editor: Barbara Doris BSc Production Editor: Sheila Hope shope@abdo.uk.com Journal Consultant: Ann Johnson ajohnson@abdo.uk.com Administration Manager: Deanne Gray dgray@abdo.uk.com 1B Eridge Road, Crowborough East Sussex TN6 2SJ Telephone: Facsimile: do@abdo.uk.com Website: Advertisement Sales Telephone: Facsimile: do@abdo.uk.com Subscriptions Subscription details are available from Katie Docker, ABDO, Godmersham Park, Godmersham Kent CT4 7DT Telephone: Facsimile: kdocker@abdo.org.uk Website: ABDO CET CET Officer: Paula Stevens BSc (Hons), MCOptom, FBDO CL (Hons) AD, SMC (Tech), Cert Ed Address: ABDO CET, Garden Suite 2, Braxted Park, Great Braxted, Essex CM8 3EN Telephone: Fax: pstevens@abdocet.infoman.org.uk pstevens@abdo.org.uk Website: CONTINUING EDUCATION REVIEW PANEL Jennifer Brower FBDO(Hons)LVA Cert Ed Andrew Cripps FBDO(Hons) Cheryl Donnelly FBDO CL Tony Harknett FBDO(Hons)CL Richard Harsant FBDO(Hons)CL (Hons)LVA Elvin Montlake FADO (Hons), CL LVA FFDO Linda Rapley BSc(Hons), FCOptom Cert Ed Jo Underwood MSc FBDO(Hons)CL (Hons)SLD JOURNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Nick Atkins FBDO (Hons) CL David Bridle FBDO(Hons) AD Richard Crook FBDO David Goad FBDO(Hons) CL Ros Kirk FBDO Dispensing Optics is published by ABDO, 199 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6LD Printed by The Lavenham Press, Lavenham, Suffolk. 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 AVERAGE CIRCULATION IN 2005: 8245 PER ISSUE - ABDO BOARD CERTIFICATION BOB HUGHES, TONY GARRETT, DAVID HEWLETT AND JAMES RUSSELL OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GOS Review: the key role of the DO The role of the dispensing optician in delivering General Ophthalmic Services is undeniable, both in practice and in managing its delivery James Russell and Tony Garrett, together with David Hewlett from FODO and Bob Hughes of the AOP, presented a united front when they met with Health Minister Rosie Winterton MP in July. While ABDO and FODO have a DO membership, AOP has dispensing opticians employed by their members and some dispensing optician members; consequently, the role of the dispensing optician in the delivery of General Ophthalmic Services is of prime significance to all three organisations. At the meeting, the Association s President and General Secretary made it clear that ABDO welcomed the GOS Review and the opportunity it provided to improve patient care in the Primary Sector. It also offered the chance to finally recognise and endorse the key role dispensing opticians play in NHS care. They then made the following points to the Health Minister in their presentation: While it is important for the Government ABDO INVOLVEMENT IN OPTOMETRY SCOTLAND Further to the recent issue of Dispensing Optics, I would like to advise all our members that Optometry Scotland represents not only Optometrists but Dispensing Opticians in Scotland. Since Optometry Scotland was established, ABDO has been an integral part of the process and will continue to fight for recognition in Scotland. At the time of writing we have arranged a meeting with the Scottish Executive Health Department for mid August to discuss the role of our members in Scotland. I will advise of the outcome in forthcoming issues. Barry Duncan FBDO

3 COVER POINT AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 DISPENSING OPTICS 3 to be able to achieve its policy objectives in as simple and effective way as possible, the system must also enjoy public confidence. It is unacceptable for Primary Care Trusts not to have a list of all practitioners who provide a service to patients. It is certainly difficult to ensure patient choice without such listing, nor would it be possible to meet the recommendations of Dame Janet Smith concerning patient safety (5th Report, 9 December 2004). There is agreement across the professional and representative bodies that dispensing opticians have an undisputed case for local listing and for being re-admitted to LOCs. LOCs need proper representation of both professions in order to function effectively in partnership with PCTs. The role of the dispensing optician in delivering General Ophthalmic Services is undeniable both in practice and in managing its delivery. The recent Health Bill acknowledges the right for DO owned practices to have a contract with their PCT. This is a welcome first step in acknowledging the role DOs play within GOS. ABDO'S QUALIFICATION RECOGNISED BY REGULATORY AUTHORITIES The regulatory authorities (QCA in England, DELLS in Wales and CEA in Northern Ireland) have accredited the ABDO Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing at level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework. This is equivalent to a Bachelors Degree with Honours or graduate certificates and graduate diplomas. The decision, announced on Tuesday 11 July, comes after ABDO was recognised as an awarding body by QCA by the regulatory authorities just one year ago. Commenting on the news ABDO's General Secretary Tony Garrett said "This is tremendous news for all ABDO members. At last they have official recognition of the value of their qualification. This has been a lengthy, but well worthwhile wait and the Association is deeply grateful to both Mark Chandler, Head of Examinations at ABDO and Gordon Jones who has acted as our advisor, for so successfully overseeing this process." GOOD NEWS FOR ABDO STUDENTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND The GOC has confirmed that students from Ireland taking the ABDO Distance Learning course and the ABDO Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing qualification will be able to register with the GOC upon successful completion of their preregistration period. Registration by the GOC will entail all students from the republic satisfying the conditions that UK-based students are required to do. ABDO General Secretary said "This is very good news for our students from the Republic of Ireland and hopefully it will encourage even more students to take this course in the future." n WHAT SHOULD GOS PROVIDE? ABDO believes that the eye examination should continue to be provided by the independent sector with freedom of choice available to the public as now. This is the entry point to a comprehensive General Ophthalmic Service proved at Primary Care level, providing improved ocular health for the nation. ABDO supports the evidence in the ability of the sector to provide a wide range of optometric and dispensing services. These include diabetic screening, cataract services, management of glaucoma, monitoring of ARMD, therapeutic proscribing as well as the specialist dispensing skills including spectacle mounted LVAs THE SERVICE DISPENSING OPTICIANS PROVIDE All the evidence shows that DOs play a professional clinical role in partnership with optometrists in the delivery of the following: 1 Paediatric dispensing 2 Provision of spectacle mounted and other low vision aides. The ability to asses a patient with low vision 3 Dispensing of complex lenses 4 An understanding of the symptoms and signs of serious contact lens complications 5 Referrals. (DOs have a legal responsibility for recognising ocular abnormalities and making appropriate referrals) PUBLIC PROTECTION AND REASSURANCE It is widely recognised that dispensing opticians are key partners with optometrists in providing the clinical care for patients with eye disease or who need sight correction (or confirmation that they do). To ensure that proper regulation of professionals who are autonomous clinicians in their own right and also supervise others, that Government has established a system of registration with mandatory continuing education and training to ensure skills are maintained. As part of its devolution policies in the NHS, the Government has also decided that PCTs should have local lists: of the practices and companies with whom they are in contact to provide primary care services the individual practitioners who deliver those services in direct contact with the PCTs residents. The only anomaly in this structure is that of dispensing opticians. They provide clinical care (particularly to vulnerable groups such as people with low vision, learning disabilities and children), dispense essential and life enhancing services to patients who would otherwise be housebound and dependent, and have statutory responsibilities for recognising ocular abnormalities and referring patients to specialists. They also supervise unregistered and less qualified staff in their direct contacts with patients. the General Optical Council supported by CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

4 4 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 COVER POINT In all these regards, they are exactly like other primary care professionals (eg pharmacists, dentists, GPs) and it is anomalous that they are not listed at local level. It is imperative that both public and PCTs have confidence that they know which professionals are providing care directly to patients and supervising others in doing so in their areas. This is a hole in the current regulatory regime that ought to be plugged on public safety and reassurance grounds. This omission of dispensing opticians from PCT lists has impeded the development of patient services in the community WHAT ARE THE ISSUES FOR DISPENSING OPTICIANS? 1 Since 1984 when deregulation of dispensing took place, dispensing opticians have found their position within the eye care services undervalued - to the detriment of patient choice. It is a clear and indisputable fact that DOs have a vital role to play both within the development of the NHS pathways, in delivering direct care through referral, patient communication skills and with their understanding and advice on systemic disease. This is clearly part of the delivery of GOS. Their skills in management and communication means they have a significant contribution to make in the patient journey within GOS. Their competences laid down by their regulatory body, the GOC, have now expanded to include a level of contribution to ocular health that plays a far greater role in the delivery of GOS than was ever originally conceived in their initial remit. This is in part due to the increasing role of the clinical and therapeutic skills of our optometric colleagues and their increasing importance in the delivery of primary care. The delivery of the service has changed considerably over the years with DOs now providing key elements of patient care. 2 This increased role for dispensing opticians comes at a considerable cost to the individual professional. The expanding role of their regulatory body, the GOC, means far greater discipline in maintaining their individual registration. This involves not only the same cost of registration fees but also an equal or greater number of continuing education points to maintain regulation than our optometric colleagues. These colleagues are in receipt of a grant of 425 annually to help maintain their registration requirements. The dispensing optician gets no money at all. This, we are told, is because they do not deliver a service within GOS. This is patently and indisputably not true. The only possible reason a dispensing optician has to maintain his registration is to have a full role in delivering GOS. There is, and can be, no other reason for a dispensing optician to go to the cost and inconvenience of gaining continuing education points, and paying large fees both for registration and for professional indemnity insurance than to enjoy practising the skills which they have been so well trained for and enable them to have a full role in patient care within GOS. 3 Dispensing opticians are fully signed up to counter fraud disciplines and all that that involves. 4 They are subject to the same standards of professional behavior and disciplines as our optometric colleagues and are subject to the same disciplinary proceedings involving exactly the same standards of patient care, record keeping and referral skills. 5 The core competences now cover advice to our patients on systemic GOS STAKEHOLDER EVENT James Russell and Tony Garrett attended a GOS Stakeholder event at The Methodist International Centre in London on 19 July. It was organised by the Department of Health with the NHS Primary Care Contracting Team, in order to inform the GOS Review. The purpose of the event was to share emerging themes from the Review, to give delegates the chance to discuss these themes and to focus on what practical solutions could be developed to overcome potential barriers to the implementation of new patient pathways within eye care services. disease, treatment of red eye, contact lenses, the dispensing and use of low vision aids including the social and practical needs of the patients, and a duty to refer for abnormal ocular conditions as well as the very high degree of communication skills needed to put this often complex information over to the patient. 6 They are often involved in helping on the practical side of the screening process for the NHS pathways through delegated functions and are experts in certain fields such as low vision, spectacle lens design and contact lenses after taking honours courses with their Association. The low vision issue is a fast growing problem with over 1.7 million of the UK population with visual difficulty and more than 900,000 adults eligible for registration on blind or partially sighted registers; dispensing opticians have a vital and growing role in these patients care and management and are the only group of professionals to have stand-alone low vision. Many are involved in low vision on a full-time basis. Without this essential service the independence of the visually impaired would be severely curtailed, adding unbearable demands on secondary and social care provision. 7 Dispensing opticians are responsible for the fitting and aftercare of approximately two thirds of all contact lens patients in the UK. This can only be done after a further period of study, qualification and separate registration by the GOC. The practice of contact lens fitting requires insertion of trial lenses in patients eyes and consultation in a separate darkened room. This is a prime example of when the patient practitioner relationship of trust is at its most vulnerable and illustrates again the absurdity that practitioners are not listed by their PCTs for suitable protection and choice by the public. This is in direct conflict with Dame Janet Smith s report recommendations (proposals for changes affecting NHS Arrangements for Primary Care Chapter 27, 5th Report, 9 December 2005). 8 The skills of the dispensing optician have been used in the past to manage the cost both of spectacles and contact lenses so that any profit from their sale is used to support the real cost of delivering the GOS Sight Test.

5 HOW CAN THESE UNFAIR AND DAMAGING ISSUES TO THE PROFESSION BE RESOLVED? 1 By acknowledging that the dispensing optician does deliver General Ophthalmic Services. 2 By re-instating dispensing opticians to Local Optical Committees. 3 By ensuring Primary Care Trust lists include dispensing opticians. WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAXIMIZE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS FROM THE GOS REVIEW? ABDO has a clear view as to how this can be achieved, and achieved well, by working together with the Department of Health and NHS. ABDO s views are reinforced by evidence in the recent reports by Professor Nick Bosanquet of Imperial College London. The Association firmly believes that, in working together it can deliver a revised GOS that is relevant and fair, not just to those within the profession, but most important of all, for patients. How would this help the government achieve its stated aims? The result of these changes would create: 1 A superb eye care service at primary care level. 2 A full range of choice for patients and their ongoing treatment within GOS. 3 A full range of services within primary care. 4 Delivery of treatment from diagnosis within the targeted eighteen weeks within the sector. 5 Proper management of eyecare services for an increasingly aging population with greater visual demands into old age. 6 Proper and full control and registration of those delivering this service, post Shipman and the Dame Janet Smith report. 7 Giving increased value for money and delivering reduced waiting times by moving expensive secondary care to cheaper and more accessible primary care delivered on the High Street. 8 Delivering a world class eye care service that is future proofed. Key role for DOs in eye care services Professor Nick Bosanquet, a leading expert in health economics and professor of health policy at Imperial College London, has examined the partnership between optometrists and dispensing opticians in the delivery of primary eye care services. The launch of his report The Key Role of Dispensing Opticians took place on 28 June at ABDO s London headquarters in Gloucester Terrace This latest independent research into primary eye care services has highlighted the vital work carried out by dispensing opticians in local communities. Building on his earlier report, Developing a new partnership contract for community eye care in England Professor Nick Bosanquet has called for greater recognition of dispensing opticians and their role in delivering cost effective eye care services in the community. Key findings of Professor Bosanquet s new report are: The new General Ophthalmic Services contract must utilise and expand the full potential of optician s services as a whole Dispensing opticians are an essential complement to the skills and professional knowledge of optometrists Dispensing opticians have contributed significantly to a service delivering real value for money for the NHS Professor Bosanquet said, Dispensing opticians have shown that they can supply the leadership and entrepreneurial drive needed to provide appropriate and integrated accessible care. There can be no doubt the concept of partnership for eye health is an achievable and desirable goal for the provision of world beating eye care at primary level. The report calls for dispensing opticians to be listed with Primary Care Trusts. In order for the Government to meet its policy objective of patient choice, public protection and reduced waiting times it is essential that all registered dispensing opticians are included on PCT lists. Welcoming the report, James Russell, ABDO s President said, This is a crucial time for the eye care sector now that the health bill has almost completed its passage through Parliament and the GOS PROFESSOR NICK BOSANQUET AND ABDO PRESIDENT JAMES RUSSELL Review is underway. We hope the Government will take on board the recommendations made in this important piece of research. Now is the chance for the Department of Health to properly recognise the role that dispensing opticians play in the delivery of General Ophthalmic Services. Dispensing opticians are clearly a crucial part of the service, delivering world class eye care in the primary sector and it is essential that they be recognised as such. For more information and further copies of The key role of dispensing opticians please contact Heather Marshall T M E heathermarshall@aop.org.uk

6 6 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 PRACTICAL DISPENSING ADVICE The case for optical sell buy dates When Peter Sanders FBDO was going through the new eclectic Norville Rx lens price list it struck him how many old design progressive lenses are still around, Surely these are lenses of a bygone age as some designs are 25 years old? Surely these are lenses of a bygone age as some designs are 25 years old. In one price list recently, I saw the Truvision A3. This lens was a contemporary of the Varilux 2 which Essilor had the sense to remove from the market at least 10 years ago. The reasons that they are in the price list is because dispensing opticians still dispense them, and dispensing opticians are still dispensing them as they are still there. It is a vicious circle that must be broken. Personally, I would like to see all the old designs removed from the market place as they do no one any favours. Anyone who has been wearing these lens designs for years will have become more presbyopic by now and will benefit from the newer designs, and all the younger presbyopes should be started off on a newer and better design. In other words, there is no good reason to keep these dinosaurs of the optical trade still alive. It is true to say that, in their day, some of these lenses represented leading edge technology - but technology has moved on. If you go out to buy any technically advanced piece of equipment, be it a camera, hi-fi, computer or something for the home, given the choice of the latest design or a design that is 20 years old most people would go for what is new. That these old lenses are still being sold is mainly due to the ignorance of the general public. We cannot expect them to know the latest developments in the field of lenses and, since they rely on us to educate them, it is blatantly obvious that some of us are not doing our jobs properly if we are still keeping these lenses going. The argument is, if the patient is happy with the old type of lens then why change it? This does make for quick and easy dispensing but does not take into account how lens technology has moved forward. With progressive lenses due to the multi design of the lenses, a Varilux Comfort lens with a add will not have the same design as a lens with a add. A patient used to bifocals, whose add has gone up by +0.50, will be more aware of the bifocal due to the greater jump from distance to reading. A patient who insists on two separate pairs will benefit from an enhanced reader in the near vision pair. This patient may have tried progressive lenses in the past and not got on with them; this could be due to incorrect fitting or, on the other hand, it could be due to a poorly designed progressive lens. The question may be Are you happy with your current spectacles? But, despite the answer, we should be informing wearers of the latest lenses around. Quite often, when you quiz the patient/customer further, you find there are aspects of their spectacles that they are not entirely happy with but they have simply learned to live with the problem. More often than not, either a more modern designed lens or a combination of spectacles will resolve their problem. The current progressive wearer could be wearing a lens that was designed 10 or more years ago. Not only have front surface progressive designs evolved greatly, but also now we have many inside progressive designs available including those manufactured by the freeform ALL OLD PPL LENS DESIGNS IN HERE PLEASE process incorporating the cylinder within the inner progressive design. Not just a unique step in lens computation but manufacturing processes as well. It is accepted that such inside progressive designs increase the user s field of view by 25 per cent or more. Should clients be denied such technology because the dispenser forgets to mention their existence or assumes the patient won t be able to afford them? All of which surely is the purpose of CET points - to freshen up dispensing opticians little grey cells, to awaken their minds to new products and services. The telling question should be: Why are dispensing opticians selling last century lens designs when there are plenty of brilliant 21st Century options available? Here s my dispensing tip: Put a yearly Must sell by date on all frame and lens products going through the practice. Then make a year-on-year decision as to why you might even justify giving an extension for another whole year. I suggest this approach would benefit retail optics. Peter Sanders is Dispensing Services Consultant for Norville Optical

7 For more information and to arrange a dedicated visit from your local Kodak Lens Regional Manager call free on Kodak and the Kodak trade dress are trademarks of Kodak used under license by Signet Armorlite, Inc.

8 8 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 CET WEEKEND The profession s top CET event Paula Stevens outlines the National CET Weekend, September at the Novotel London West, Hammersmith, which promises to be the largest gathering of dispensing opticians on the 2006 calendar The first three-year period for the GOC's CET scheme is now drawing to a close, and those of you who have yet to complete the required CET have the opportunity to gain those important lastminute points. Even if you have already reached your target, you can enjoy a weekend in the company of your colleagues throughout the country, and listen to top speakers on a variety of valuable topics, interspersed with a leisurely browse around the many stands at the 2006 Dispensing Show, and a bit of sight-seeing in London. The weekend is designed not just to be a CET 'crammer' but as the premier social occasion on the DO calendar. Here's how the weekend will pan out: If you choose to arrive on Saturday morning, your time is your own. The exhibitors for the Dispensing Show will be setting up before registration begins around noon. You can relax in the restaurants and bars of the Novotel, or venture out to explore the capital by bus or tube from Hammersmith. Kew Gardens, pictured above, is only a short distance away. There will be a buffet lunch from 12.30, with three lectures to choose from at 1.30, and four at Make sure that, if you have a place booked in Andrew Keirl's Task Analysis workshop on Sunday afternoon, you also attend his introductory lecture, repeated Sunday morning. Students can book at a special rate and can attend any Saturday lecture, and any of the sponsor's lectures on Sunday. After lectures, ABDO members are encouraged to attend the Association's Annual General Meeting, starting at 5pm. Before the Gala Dinner, there is another chance to relax either in your room or in the bar, before assembling for the pre-dinner drinks around After the meal, you can either sneak away to your bed or dance till the small hours at the disco. VALUABLE PRIZE Sunday morning begins bright and early at 9.15 with a short welcome from the President, heralding a day of intensive CET. There are plenty of opportunities to visit the Show between presentations, and there will be the usual 'loyalty' draw for a splendid prize. If you visit all the stands, collecting a badge sticker at each, leave your badge with us before you go and it will be entered into our draw to win a valuable prize. Last year's was a Hewlett Packard Pocket PC. Full delegates can choose from any of the lectures, and, unlike the afternoon workshops, there is no need to pre-book. With a choice of 21 workshops and lectures throughout the weekend, the full details are impossible to list here, so if you want to know the details of the content and learning objectives for each lecture, go to and search the CET Directory using 'ABDO CET Weekend' as the search term. Lunch is served at noon, with a selection of hot and cold dishes. Those who have pre-booked for the Workshops will then make their way to them for demonstrations, interactive and hands-on opportunities. If workshops are full, running concurrently will be a choice of either a contact lens or a dispensing lecture, with no pre-booking required. The weekend draws to a close at SNAP UP PLACES In the last few years, there have been some unexpected workshop vacancies for the last session, as delegates choose to make an early finish, so it is always worth turning up on the off-chance of being admitted to snap up the spare places. Ask the co-ordinators at the workshop room doors just after the last starting time of 3.45, and you may be lucky. At the end of the weekend, if you are exhausted and cannot face the journey home, why not consider spending Sunday night in London, attending a show or eating out? The ABDO Conference Office will be happy to arrange an extension on your stay. Come and enjoy being part of your Association and your profession this September! Contact the ABDO Conference Office on , or abdo@delegate.uk.com

9 Plan for Saturday 16 September :30 Registration and lunch Contact lenses New front tears: the management of dry eye Nick Atkins 1 point Dispensing Visual task analysis Andrew Keirl 1 point Dispensing Simple solutions to LV assessment & management Martin Rubinstein 1 point 2.30 Coffee/tea Contact lenses Modern methods of fitting CLs to keratoconic corneas Keith Cavaye 1 point Dispensing An introduction to freeform technology Mo Jalie 1 point Dispensing The dark side - modern photochromic materials Abi Grute 1 point Dispensing BBGR - Marketing rather than selling Antony Conway 1 point 5.00 AGM Plan for Sunday 17 September Registration and coffee Contact lenses New front tears: the management of dry eye Nick Atkins 1 point Dispensing Visual task analysis Andrew Keirl 1 point Dispensing Simple solutions to LV assessment & management Martin Rubinstein 1 point Dispensing Essilor - Through thick and thin David Jones 1 point Coffee/tea Contact lenses Modern methods of fitting CLs to keratoconic corneas Keith Cavaye 1 point Dispensing An introduction to freeform technology Mo Jalie 1 point Dispensing The dark side - modern photochromic materials Abi Grute 1 point Contact lenses J&J - Confident management of CL complications Ian Pyzer 1 point Lunch Workshops The management of prospective rigid lens wearers Rosemary Bailey & John Coxon 1.5 points Paediatric contact lenses Cindy Tromans 1.5 points Task analysis Andrew Keirl 1.5 points Practice communication Jayne Schofield 1.5 points Emotional support in LV Mary Norwozian 1.5 points Ever snapped a patient s frame? Stephen Golding 1.5 points Dispensing lecture Cover up! - the story behind lens coatings Elaine Grisdale 1 point CL lecture J&J - Are only the right contact lenses left? Ian Pyzer 1 point The management of prospective rigid lens wearers Rosemary Bailey & John Coxon 1.5 points Paediatric contact lenses Cindy Tromans 1.5 points Task analysis Andrew Keirl 1.5 points Practice communication Jayne Schofield 1.5 points Emotional support in LV Mary Norwozian 1.5 points Ever snapped a patient s frame? Stephen Golding 1.5 points CL lecture Silicone hydrogels - are we there yet? John Rogers 1 point Dispensing lecture Essilor - A new wave in correction Andy Hepworth 1 point 3.15 Coffee/Tea The management of prospective rigid lens wearers Rosemary Bailey & John Coxon 1.5 points Paediatric contact lenses Cindy Tromans 1.5 points Task analysis Andrew Keirl 1.5 points Practice communication Jayne Schofield 1.5 points Emotional support in LV Mary Norwozian 1.5 points Ever snapped a patient s frame? Stephen Golding 1.5 points Dispensing lecture NHS eye care pathways - an update Anita Lightstone 1 point CL lecture New developments in care regimes in silicone hydrogels Anna Sulley 1 point Major sponsors

10 10 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING Dispensing for intermediate distances This article, by Duncan Counter FBDO, explains that dispensing solutions do exist to give patients clear vision at all ranges and in all directions COMPETENCIES COVERED: OPTICAL APPLIANCES TARGET FOCUS: DISPENSING OPTICIANS, OPTOMETRISTS AN ELECTRICIAN AT WORK When one watches a skilled craftsman at work, as well as watching in awe as to how easy they make a task that you struggle over appear, one also realises how dependent they are on clear vision at all ranges and in all directions. Craftsmen such as plumbers, electricians and decorators all begin to experience a new set of problems as they pass through their mid-fifties to the time when it is impossible to accommodate intermediate distances through the distance part of their prescription. Link to this the need to work at different distances in awkward places, for example above eye level, and a specific and challenging dispensing conundrum emerges. In most cases the patients in question have never been acquainted with the fact that solutions to their problems exist. Intermediate distance dispensing has, over the years, been a somewhat neglected field with patients needs being encompassed in the widespread supply of progressive power lenses for general use. The occasional trifocal (usually to people who already wear them) and a few single vision intermediate spectacles for very specific purposes fill out the rest, with most people coping with spectacles which nearly but not quite fit the bill. So we will consider the various options that could give a better result for the wearer with slightly more specific needs, whilst giving a greater opportunity for variety and flair in terms of the dispensing options offered to patients. We will consider the needs generated by the decline of accommodation as the patient gets older and look at how this affects working distance, also touching on other factors that could impact on the lens options available, such as size of working area. From there we will start to consider the lenses that are available to satisfy the patient s needs and discuss several of the specific types that are around today, and the different ways that they could be used. WORKING DISTANCE Dispensing spectacles for use at intermediate distances cannot be discussed without first looking at that distance itself the required working distance. This will determine the required addition for that distance and can be easily calculated. It is one of the most important things to come to terms with when considering dispensing for a set working distance. The crucial thing to start-off is the reciprocal of the required working distance in metres. This will give the negative vergence at the eye due to the object distance, and given a plus sign, the addition required. Then the ability of the patient to contribute part of this addition themselves by accommodating needs to be taken into account the familiar graph in Figure 1 will help with this. As the patient gets older their amplitude of accommodation declines if This article has been awarded 2 CET points by GOC/Vantage. It is open to all FBDO members, including associate member optometrists. Insert your answers to the twelve multiple choice questions (MCQs) on the answer sheet inserted in this issue and return by 14 September 2006 to ABDO CET, Garden Suite 2, Braxted Park, Great Braxted, Witham, Essex CM8 3EN OR fax (not both) to , or complete online at Notification of your mark and the correct answers will be sent to you. If you complete online, please ensure that your address and GOC number are up-to-date. The pass mark is 60 per cent. The answers will appear in our November 2006 issue. C-4095 EV-9368

11 A C C O M M O D A T I O N AGE Age 45 with an add of gives a WD of 40cm and a range of clear vision from 200cm to 29cm Age 45 with an add of gives a WD of 30cm and a range of clear vision from 80cm to 24cm Age 60 with an add of gives a WD of 40cm and a range of clear vision from 57cm to 36cm Age 60 with an add of gives a WD of 30cm and a range of clear vision from 36cm to 27cm FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2: ADDS AND WORKING DISTANCE 1 using this schematic or any other gauge of amplitude of accommodation, don t forget that at best they will only be able to use 2/3 of the available amplitude. Then when this estimation has been done it is a really good idea to set this up in a trial frame for the patient to confirm that the right spot has been hit a twirl with 0.25/0.50 lenses can be useful to make small adjustments. One of the principal things which have to be considered when changing an addition for working distance is how it will affect the range of clear vision offered by the resulting spectacles. Consider the two examples in Figure 2. By changing the addition the working range the wearer will experience can be expanded or contracted. Remember though, that as the add is decreased to extend the useful range, the patient s near point will retreat from them, making detailed close work more difficult. It is useful also to note that as the reading addition increases, often through necessity and the age of the patient, so the useful range of vision contracts to, in the case of a add for a 60 year old, a very restrictive 9cm. As the patient gets older these effects intensify to a point where increasing the add to change working distance can render a pair of spectacles almost unusable as the patient cannot hold a near object steady enough to keep it clearly in focus. These changes to range need not always be a disadvantage, however. Often it can be turned to the patient s benefit, particularly when dealing with multifocals. In practice, of course, we compromise giving the user of the spectacles the choice between range and ideal working distance as a priority. Bear in mind though that the patient has probably never made the connections between all these factors and will need things explained carefully to them. From a legal viewpoint, do not forget that as a dispensing optician you must not write the calculated intermediate prescription down for the patient this constitutes prescribing but do record it on your own records and explain clearly to the patient what has been done, to avoid any confusion later. OTHER FACTORS Here the patient s visual needs must be evaluated by questioning them within a framework of the tasks they wish to carry out whilst wearing their spectacles. This is probably done without thinking with every patient seen, but when it comes to dispensing for specific tasks this questioning also needs to become more specific. Areas that need to be considered can be simple or complex. The obvious ones are working distance (see above) and working area and between them account for a major part of the decision making process. When it comes to working area, this is going to have a massive impact on the selection of lens type if the patient has to work at arms length over a wide area (a plasterer, perhaps) then giving them a lens which offers a narrow or shallow intermediate zone, or an intermediate zone full of aberrations, is not going to help. Also, what about movement does the wearer have to cope with moving objects within their field of vision? If they do the selection of any type of progressive lens may compromise the definition with which they observe that object. What about lighting? Will the ambient lighting impact on the style, and indeed, the material under consideration? The more factors taken into account, the more likely it is that it will be successful. Far too often dismissed as cosmetically unacceptable, or maybe because the patient has not worn one before, the humble trifocal could regularly be the answer where a specific vocational requirement is present. For the wearer with a need for a wide intermediate area combined with normal office distance and some reading, then a move from a conventional bifocal or even conventional trifocal to something like a flat top S835 could give them the extra intermediate width they need for their 19 inch flat screen VDU! There is a range of conventional trifocals available and also a surprising number of vocational ones. VOCATIONAL BIFOCALS The patient, however, may not feel the need for as many usable areas as a trifocal has to offer and may be more than happy with a bifocal, albeit one adjusted for their specific needs. The simplest form of this would be a lens with one of its two areas oriented toward an intermediate use, both in its prescription and positioning or more complex by using a specific vocational bifocal such as a 38mm round upcurve. Again, others are available, and don t forget that a normal reading segment bifocal does not have to be glazed with the segment in the lower part of the lens shape, it could be positioned in the superior part or even offset to the side. For example a small segment set in the lower corner of the eyeshape can be used to give a golfer uninterrupted downward vision while addressing their ball but offer a small area of near vision to the side for marking their scorecard. For those who need a large reading area with the ability to glance up occasionally for distance (or intermediate), upcurve bifocals may be suitable (Figures 3A). Not as widely available as they used to be, the above mentioned 38mm round CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

12 12 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING FIGURE 3A upcurve is still available from Norville Optical in addition to a 30mm upcurve in slightly more limited powers, and Rodenstock can also supply a couple of alternatives in the shape of the Ardis and Bifernah upcurves (Figures 3B). It is, however, worth noting that all of these upcurves are manufactured in glass. When dispensing an upcurve it is essential to take the patient s working position into account before placing the segment dividing line, to ensure that the upper segment is as available as they need it to be without encroaching on the wonderfully spacious reading or intermediate area that an upcurve offers. TRIFOCALS When considering trifocals one of the first things to be taken into account is the required intermediate addition. Most, if not all commercially available trifocals are available in a specific IP/RP ratio. The IP/RP ratio is a statement of the relationship between the intermediate and reading additions and is standard on many trifocals. It can be calculated using: IP/RP ratio = Intermediate addition x 100 % Reading addition and is stated as a percentage. It is necessary to establish whether the chosen trifocal design is available in the FIGURE 4A A typical upcurve bifocal A conventional straight top trifocal Segment sizes could be 728 or 835 (plastic) and 725, 728, 735 or 828 (glass) FIGURE 3B value required; if not, an alternative trifocal should be selected with the correct IP/RP ratio, as an incorrect intermediate prescription will be much less acceptable to the patient than a slightly different segment shape or size. The trifocals that are available today fall into 2 distinct groups: conventional trifocals with distance at the top, intermediate in the middle and reading at the bottom; and vocational trifocals with segment shapes or lens layout set up with more specific use in mind. CONVENTIONAL TRIFOCALS D (S in plastic) segment with various diameters and intermediate depths (Figure 4A) C segment with limited segment availability E type returned, after supply problems, to the available range in a 7mm intermediate depth (Figure 4B). These would be dispensed where a relatively normal usage is anticipated with vocational needs being addressed by varying the segment size and/or position. A word of warning though the very nature of trifocal lenses means that excessively high segment positions will cause limitation on distance performance, excessively low, making reading very FIGURE 4B Bifernah - distance in segment Ardis - no jump solid upcurve E line trifocal 7mm intermediate width restricted and necessitating extra head movement. The vocational types of trifocal; Double D, Grandasin and Ardis give much more versatility in prescription arrangement (See Figure 5) with the possibility of the intermediate being placed either side of the distance, or indeed, with two of them, an identical addition top and bottom with the distance between. A lot of imagination could make the combinations almost endless. Care again, though, with positioning. The fact that two segments are involved means that a little thought is required to ensure that in an attempt to get one segment positioned just right, the other is not placed out of reach. A high level of interaction between the dispensing optician and the patient to ensure that the wearer understands the mechanics of the lenses is essential with these vocational lenses. Actual segment positioning will, of course, be dependent on the patient s needs. Just because the segment divisions are obvious in tri/bifocals don t just dismiss them. In a situation where object movement within one or more areas of the visual range is a factor (see above), use of a substantially sized but fixed focus lens area can avoid the potential problems that the aberrational astigmatism of a progressive could bring. PROGRESSIVE AND OCCUPATIONAL PROGRESSIVE LENSES Talking to members of the public and the profession alike, the expression nice wide intermediate zone is often used when describing a specific progressive lens. Without wishing to sound critical of any lens type, no general use progressive has a nice wide intermediate zone. They all have restrictive, narrow corridors of varying length it s just that some are slightly less restrictive than others and use more advanced design concepts to give a perception of extra width. This has, of course, led to situations similar to my poor electrician, pictured on the title page of the article, where the patient actually copes with the restrictions under the impression that nothing else can be done. We all know, of course, that there is much that can be done with today s range of lenses. The advent of the occupational progressive addition lenses,

13 Plastic Glass Double D - equal adds, or one 60% intermediate. 14mm between segments FIGURE 5A or OPALS and their counterpart, Enhanced Reading lenses, have given the wearer with a high intermediate and reading need a new lease of life. There are many different lenses of this breed available, some of them noticeably different from the others, some of them quite similar and difficult to choose between. As with all lens types I am sure you have or will develop your favourites and use them because you know they work. We will briefly discuss the basic principles of the two groups to give a broad-brush overview before going on to look at specific lenses. OPALs are designed with a more conventional approach, whereas enhanced readers tend to be based around the reading prescription of the wearer with a degression of the prescription upwards from the reading portion, and hence are beginning to become known as degressive lenses. Both designs have the characteristics which make them work so well: (a) the change of power from the top to the bottom of the corridor is less than it would be in a normal PPL, and (b) the corridor itself is often almost twice as long as it would be in a normal PPL. To FIGURE 6: ENHANCED READERS FIGURE 5B Ardis ZFN - no jump, stepped, visible segs. Distance in centre, inter any power illustrate the corridor length, and emphasise the need for a certain distance above the fitting position, a look at the power profiles of the two alternative modulations of a typical enhanced reading lens (Figure 6) will show the degression of the prescription upwards from the full reading power. It can be seen that the power makes 2/3 to 3/4 of its reduction in the 16mm rise from the full reading prescription to the principal reference point of the lens at the blank centre, and the remainder of the change in the 12mm above that. An incredible 28mm for a 1.00D degression no wonder the aberrational astigmatism is almost absent from the lens; and most other enhanced readers work in a similar way. The radically changed isocyl pattern can be seen in Figure 7, showing the aberrations found on the higher of the modulations as previously mentioned the aberrational astigmatism is almost absent on the lower one. This relatively undisturbed visual area makes wearing lenses of this type a great experience. Because a pure OPAL is essentially a tampered with normal progressive it is fitted in the same way normal patient head position for measurement, pantoscopic angle of 8 12 degrees and Grandasin ZFN - intermediate main lens. Distance round seg up to less than intermediate. C seg for near fitting cross on pupil centre. Not so the enhanced reader. Fitting varies from lens to lens and can involve measurement with the patient s head tipped to eliminate pantoscopic angle, fitting cross between limbus and pupil or on lower limbus - even the need for a minimum height above fitting cross as well as below can creep into the fitting equation. From this you will realise that you will get to know one or two of these and go no further but the patients reaction will make you glad you tried them. Experience has shown that patients are very happy with these lenses and cope well with the distance blur, particularly if it is a comparatively small amount. However, it is essential to warn them not to accidentally (or deliberately) attempt to drive their car whilst wearing their enhanced readers or the blur could be fatal! LENS SELECTION It is fair to say that none of the different types of enhanced reader are better than any of the others, in fact some are very similar, and so manufacturer preference will become the deciding factor. Some differences lie in the way the lens has been designed and what purpose or use FIGURE 7 CONTINUED ON PAGE D Power modulation - example -0.50D Approximate isocyl pattern for the 1.75 modulation in Figure 6 Lower 1.00 modulation Higher 1.75 modulation

14 14 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING the manufacturer has intended for it. Therefore in the same way as conventional PPLs where one would not dream of messing around with the fitting position, instead a different design of OPAL more suited to the task at hand would be selected. The important thing is not to use a range of lenses that are essentially all the same. Looking at the different lenses available from the various manufacturers it is possible to find ranges which contain more than one OPAL/Enhanced Reading lens. The reason for this becomes more obvious as new lenses emerge that incorporate more than one lens design under one brand name banner they are different and have varying performance parameters. If we take as an example of the former the Zeiss Gradal RD and the Zeiss Clarlet Business, we will see that here we have an OPAL in the form of the Gradal and an Enhanced Reading Lens with the Business. In terms of more recent lenses, a lens from Essilor, the Varilux Computer, is available in two forms the 2v and 3v each performing in a different way. We will look at these lenses in some more detail further below. in power between the top and bottom of the corridor and in its roughly 25mm length offers a lens with very limited aberrational astigmatism, increasing to a noticeable amount only as the addition approaches its upper limit of 3.00D. Being an occupational progressive rather than an enhanced reader it can be thinned and is available in both glass and plastic. Its enhanced reader counterpart, the Clarlet Business, is typical of its type. Like its rivals (Nikon Online, Norville/Shamir Office) it has varying modulations, usually two, to cope with the variety of additions, the recommended switchover from the lower modulation to the higher being around 1.75 addition. This pre-design and the long progression give the familiar enhanced reader low aberration levels. Other enhanced reading lenses, such as the Sola Access, BBGR Extenso, HP Office tend to keep the power variation very low, usually in the vicinity of 0.75 and 1.25, but the corridor a more conventional length. With a very good intermediate performance, care must be taken as the reading addition increases because the lower maximum modulation tends to close down the artificial far point quite quickly. modulation enhanced reader aimed at the PC user good wide intermediate and generous reading areas. The Computer 3V has 4 modulations, separated by only 0.50D, thus making it possible to dispense not only to the available range of lenses but also to the patient s needs. The wider range of modulations enables the dispensing optician to have more control over the wearer s artificial far point as well as offering more at intermediate and near, although the usual trade off in effectiveness would be bound to occur. We await further developments with great anticipation, as it can only offer the DO more control over the spectacles they supply. Remember, though, when fitting an Enhanced Reading lens that the lens is designed around the reading prescription and in virtually every case this is the prescription to use for the order (and this would be verified on a focimeter through the reading circle). Also the fitting position can vary considerably from lens to lens the Essilor Interview, for example, is fitted at the lower limbus so make sure you know the fitting requirements for the lens you are using; it will be found in the technical information appropriate to the lens. The Gradal RD can properly be termed an Occupational Progressive lens it is ordered using the distance prescription and the reading addition and fitted conventionally with the fitting cross on pupil centre with the head in a normal position. On receipt of the order, the laboratory alters the distance Rx by and makes a similar reduction to the reading addition, thus blurring the wearer beyond a distance of about two metres but keeping the reading Rx and working distance the same. The reduced change Newer progressives of this type are now starting to include multi-design influences to shape their development. Rodenstock s Nexyma 40 and 80 give different widths in different lens areas as well as various modulations, Pentax offer the PCway and PAway which have totally different priorities in terms of working range and area and the above mentioned Varilux Computer works both sides of the OPAL versus Enhanced reader path. The Computer 2V, like the PCway and indeed the Norville Continuum, is a single THE RIMLESS RENAISSANCE A CET CD FROM ABDO This multimedia CD is now available from the bookshop with 3 general CET points available. The CD content includes mount types, dispensing and adjustments, and costs 25 including vat. Contact Justin at the ABDO Bookshop on or visit the bookshop at However, having discussed here the details of occupational progressives and enhanced readers, a conventional progressive can be used with the prescription adjusted to suit the patient's needs - a 'DIY occupational' perhaps. Careful selection of type and Rx would give the PPL equivalent of a small D-seg trifocal as compared to a more specialised (yet restrictive) one. TALK TO THE PATIENT! When it comes to vocational dispensing like this, the key things are the questions that we ask when familiarising ourselves with the patients work/leisure requirements/needs. Bear in mind that a need for work will become a want when dispensing for a hobby much more acceptable to the patient and easier for you, as satisfying a want is much more appealing to all of us! Also remember that a single pair of spectacles will never fulfil all the visual requirements of the over-55s. Their demands are far too varied to be satisfied properly by one pair of PPLs. Equally, it is sometimes necessary to think outside the box : CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

15 the anti-reflective lens with smudge-resistant agent For further information contact BBGR Ltd, Units 1 & 2 Comus Street, Salford, Manchester, M5 3BQ Tel: Fax: sales@bbgr.co.uk

16 16 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING Multiple choice questions 1. In general terms, how much of a person s amplitude of accommodation is the most they can reasonably expect to use in a sustained way? a. 1/3 b. 1/2 c. 2/3 d. 3/4 2. What is the width of the distance gap on the Double D trifocal? a. 7mm b. 9mm c. 11mm d. 14mm 3. What is the required fitting position for the Essilor Interview enhanced reading lens? a. Fitting cross at pupil centre b. Fitting point midway between lower limbus and pupil bottom c. Fitting point at lower limbus d. Fitting cross at pupil top 4. What kind of lens would be able to give a 58-year-old electrician comfortable clear vision at arm s length for ceiling light fittings and clear vision at cm at floor level for wall sockets? a. D28, distance/near, segment top lower limbus b. R45, distance/intermediate, segment top pupil centre c. E Line Trifocal, distance/intermediate/near, segment top pupil centre d. R38 upcurve, intermediate in segment, set pupil top 5. When taking measurements for fitting an occupational progressive lens (not an enhanced reading lens) what fitting and ordering prerequisites do you have to observe? a. Fitting point on lower limbus, pantoscopic angle irrelevant b. Fitting cross on pupil centre, pantoscopic angle about 10 degrees c. Fitting point on pupil bottom, pantoscopic angle about 10 degrees d. Fitting cross on pupil centre, pantoscopic angle irrelevant 6. What is the width of the intermediate band on the currently available CR39 E line trifocal? a. 7mm b. 9mm c. 11mm d. 14mm 7. Which one of the following trifocals is No Jump? a. Grandasin FZN b. Double D c. E Line d. S A patient s prescription is: R +1.25/+0.75 x 170 L +1.50DS reading add R&L. A trifocal is dispensed with an IP/RP ratio of 66%. What will be the addition in the Intermediate segment? a b c d What is the furthest distance a patient can expect to see clearly when wearing a Zeiss Gradal RD? a. 1 metre b. 2 metres c. 3 metres d. 4 metres 10. Which of the following could be classified as a vocational trifocal? a. Bifernah b. Double D c. R38 d. None of the above 11. Which of the following lens types gives the most control over prescription, working area, and specific vocational requirements? a. Franklin Split Multifocal b. Bespoke Progressive lens c. Ardis ZFN Trifocal d. R38 Upcurve Bifocal 12. Which of the following task selections could be carried out by a presbyope wearing a pair of enhanced reading lenses? a. Taking the children to school in the car and reading the newspaper b. Needlework, gardening and bird watching c. Orienteering, including map reading, compass work and spotting landmarks d. Playing computer games, painting a door and doing a Sudoku puzzle The deadline for posted or faxed responses is 14 September 2006 to the address on page 10. The module code is C-4095 EV-9368 Online completion after member log-in go to CET online could contact lenses combined with spectacles solve the problem; does a bifocal segment top have to be horizontal; do the component lenses of a Franklin Split always have to be single vision lenses? I m not suggesting that every third patient dispensed has something weird and wonderful, but for those occasions when something really special is needed don t keep your imagination in check. As long as the patient understands your thinking and is aware of the drawbacks as well as the advantages all will be fine; it is when the communication breaks down or, indeed, is missing altogether that things can go awry. SUMMARY The identification of a need for specialist dispensing is paramount in building confidence to use some of the lenses that are available to cover middle distance, as our patients call it. A detailed analysis of what they hope to do while wearing the spectacles will determine the positions on the lens of the visual areas needed. The essential ingredient is a full explanation of what you are doing and trying to achieve. Communication skills, fitting expertise and knowledge are the remaining factors which guarantee the spectacles fit the task. As I said about OPALs, the patients reaction will be all the thanks you need. Oh, and of course, they ll need a pair of ordinary PPLs for everyday use! REFERENCE 1. Tunnacliffe, A, Ophthalmic Lens Availability, 2005 Edition (Tables Section, p15) Edition available from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians bookshop. AUTHOR'S NOTE This article has no intent to recommend one lens over another. The examples quoted are just that: examples to illustrate the kind of lenses that are available. There are other alternatives, as you will find if you leaf through manufacturers literature, which was the source of much of the information in the article. Duncan Counter FBDO is a visiting dispensing tutor for student DOs and optometrists and Chairman of ABDO's CET Committee. Until 2005 he was a contact lens optician for Dollond & Aitchison.

17 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT Association of British Dispensing Opticians NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION will be held at the Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London, at 5pm on SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2006 AGENDA 1. General Secretary to read Notice convening meeting. 2. Receive apologies for absence. 3. Receive and approve the Minutes of the 2005 AGM. 4. Consider any matters arising. 5. Receive the President s Report. 6. To confirm the elections of President and Vice President for Appointment of Board - report of elections to the Board 8. Consider and approve the Report of the Board and adopt the Audited Financial Statements of Accounts for the Association. 9. To reappoint Burgess and Hodgson as Auditors in accordance with the Companies Act To authorise the Board to make appropriate remuneration. 10. To consider any other relevant business. No votes will be taken on any matters raised under this item. If appropriate, they may be returned to the Board. Members should notify the General Secretary, in writing in advance, of their intention to raise any such matter. No resolution relating to Special Business may be brought before the meeting unless notice thereof was given to the General Secretary by Friday 25 August THE ABDO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2005 MEMBERSHIP OF ABDO INCORPORATES A NUMBER OF BENEFITS WHICH INCLUDE: Accidental death benefit Professional education and career development Provision of continuing education and training Professional indemnity insurance 24-hour free legal helpline Legal expenses cover up to 50,000 Employment dispute cover (for employers and employees) Motor insurance Motor maintenance and recovery discounts Financial services Practice insurance packages Employers group Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure Service ABDO affinity credit card Dispensing Optics journal Access to Benevolent Fund and Educational Trust Members handbook Advice to Fellows peer view advice Expert VAT advice Advice from ABDO staff Health insurance plans Students and business banking package Members forums and bulletin boards on ABDO website -

18 18 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Annual Report of the ABDO Board of Directors 2005 THE ASSOCIATION The year 2005 got off to a very busy start with many changes coming into effect. The new ABDO Board of: Nick Atkins FBDO (Hons) CL Jennifer Brower FBDO (Hons) LVA Cert Ed Keith Cavaye FBDO (Hons) CL Mike Cody FBDO CL John Coxon FBDO (Hons) CL Barry Duncan FBDO Ravinder (Kelly) Plahay BSc (Combined) FBDO joined with ABDO President James Russell and Vice President Kevin Milsom to hold their first meeting at 199 Gloucester Terrace on the 12 January. They received a presentation from the General Secretary about the current political situation in optics. Having a Board of nine to look after the business side of the Association would allow the President s Area Consultative body the opportunity to address the increasing number of professional developments and changes that are taking place in optics. Once again the year was dominated by our negotiations with the Department of Health. In February the President received a long-awaited reply from the Health Minister, Rosie Winterton. The letter covered a number of important issues and gave some encouragement to dispensing opticians in their quest for proper recognition from the Department of Health. She commented on the role of dispensing opticians within the framework of the new eyecare pathways noting that the government was keen to ensure that dispensing opticians are able to participate in new ways of working in developing and promoting eye care services. The long awaited announcement of the review of GOS was slipped out on the August Bank Holiday Monday. However earlier in the summer the Government had published a new Health Bill which would have had the effect of making a large part of the review meaningless. These two events demonstrate just what an uphill task we face in getting a fair deal for patients and the profession alike. The good news in all this was the totally united and determined way in which the optical bodies continued to approach the challenge. The three representative bodies AOP, FODO and ourselves continued to push the Government very hard to drop those items from the Bill that would be better taken into consideration with the GOS Review. Although we were unable to secure changes to the Bill, we were successful in obtaining certain reassurance from Ministers. A vigorous campaign was conducted in the autumn with a series of road shows around the country to explain the issues and to advise members of the profession on how they could help. To assist us with the campaign the three bodies took the unusual step of recruiting a Parliamentary lobbyist to assist with the campaign. To keep abreast of the campaign and other matters members are advised to keep an eye on the ABDO website during the year ahead. INTERNAL AFFAIRS ABDO Board At the first meeting the President asked the new Board members to join a number of Working Groups to advise on a range of key issues. The Board members were enthusiastic in their response and this vital work is still ongoing, with plans being developed for a five year review. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 17 September at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Glasgow. Yet again it was a very large meeting with a great number of our Scottish members in attendance. The venue proved to be outstanding which contributed greatly to the success of a really busy National CET Weekend and to the overall enjoyment of the occasion. The AGM was followed by the Annual Dinner, to which the President was delighted to be able to welcome representatives from the other professional bodies, including many colleagues from the optical organisations in Scotland. A number of awards were presented at the dinner. The President was very pleased to be able to present the Hamblin Memorial Prize to Elvin Montlake for many years of service and dedication to the ABDO. On awarding the prize the President noted that it was first awarded in 1955 making this the fiftieth year of presenting the prize. He went on to pay tribute to Mr Montlake stating that He has been described as the complete

19 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT dispensing optician... he was on the original joint council of the ADO and the Faculty at the time they merged to form the ABDO, has been a member of the Association s Contact Lens Committee and is a member of the Academic Committee. He is a practical examiner for our FBDO qualification, Contact Lens and LVA examinations as well as being the co-ordinator of the LVA Theory and Practical examinations. Together with Albert Dowie (another winner of the Hamblin prize) he was responsible for the formation of ABDO s LVA course and examinations. Other awards made at the dinner were for the Area Prize which, as it happens, was this year awarded to a deserving person in Area 12 (Scotland and Northern Ireland) and was presented by John Mitchell to Barry Duncan. Barry, who is a member of the ABDO Board, is very much valued not just by his colleagues in Area 12, but very much by other Area Officers and members. The Journal Prize went to Robert Callander for his Disjointed Jottings column in the May 2004 issue. Robert is a regular contributor to Dispensing Optics and his articles are always appreciated for their good humour and wisdom. FINANCE During the year our turnover grew by 6.6 per cent to 1,820,479. It is pleasing to note that this was primarily due to the continued growth of the membership of the Association. Additional income was generated by a further increase in the number of examinations sat by student members. Profit on ordinary activities was compared to the loss of 124, in During the year the Board of Directors authorised a grant of 60,000 to the ABDO College. MEMBERSHIP The year saw a further substantial growth in full membership over This increase continues to show the growing demand for dispensing opticians in full time employment in the UK, and is of course recognition of the value of ABDO membership. We were able to give ongoing support to many members in respect of the GOS Regulations. The new GOC regulations regarding professional indemnity insurance resulted in more members taking out insurance through ABDO Full Members (including reduced full) UK Students Associate Members Overseas Members Others Total (all categories) Our members receive a wide range of services and benefits in return for subscription fees and indemnity premiums. Membership benefits are under constant review, and work continues to enhance benefits and provide the best possible value for money. We look forward to being able to provide further assistance to particular groups of our members such as practice owners to whom we offered a bespoke practice insurance policy benefit in With the prospect of changing and difficult times ahead we will work hard to ensure that the best advice and support is constantly available to all ABDO members. Continuing Education and Training (CET) During 2005, the GOC-appointed administrators of the statutory CET scheme, Vantage Technologies, continued their management of the CET scheme, which became compulsory in July. Transfer of ABDO members' credit records to Vantage took place in early The ABDO CET department gave extra support to their members through this confusing period. The approval of events was transferred in late 2004, so that most events were approved for 2005 by the GOC. The first rolling three-year period was announced by the GOC to begin in January 2004, so that by December 2006, optometrists and dispensing opticians would need 36 credits to renew registration for As a concession, the GOC allowed 'double-counting' of some of the 18 extra CL credits needed by CLOs. It has now been announced that all GOC registrants' points will be set to zero at the beginning of 2007 to start a new 3 year period. During 2005 ABDO's increased provision of CET included the introduction of new learning technologies, using the programming and design expertise of multimedia technician Mark Smith who joined the ABDO staff in October. At the end of 2005, ABDO was one of the three biggest providers of CET in optics in the UK. JOURNAL 2005 was a forward looking year for Dispensing Optics. Sheila Hope, our Production Editor and her team introduced a new and modern design for the journal which has proved to be a great success with ABDO members. The journal has also increased in size with extra news from the membership and the Areas. Journal consultant Ann Johnson has been writing profiles of the ABDO Areas and the work they do for their Area members, and this will continue. It is very pleasing to have a publication which is so widely read and in the provision of CET providing a vital benefit to our members. As ever ABDO is most grateful to Mrs Hope and Mrs Johnson for their hard work in producing such a valued journal. EDUCATION Examinations The examination results in the year end of 2005 were excellent, with more than 255 students gaining the Fellowship Diploma and a high number of students gaining the Contact Lens Certificate, along with students being awarded Honours Diplomas in Contact Lens and Low Visual Acuity. The overseas element of the Association s examination continues to grow, with Dispensing Practical examinations held twice a year in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia at the Axismatics Professional Institute. In 2005 over 400 students sat ABDO examinations linked to Axismatics Professional Institute and Institute Optopreneur in Kuala Lumpur. During the year, visits continued to supervisors practices and students undertaking their Pre-Registration year or in preparation for their Contact Lens Practical Examination. CONTINUED OVERLEAF

20 20 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Appreciation: the Association would like to record its thanks to all the examiners for all their continued support to the Association. Particular congratulations go to the following students who gained examination prizes in Awarding of prizes: Part One Prize awarded for the best mark in the Part One Examination - Alice Johns Stepper Prize awarded for the best mark in the Part One Practical Examination - Kayleigh Morrison J W Grieve Prize awarded for the best mark in sections 2 and 4 of the Final Practical Examination - Mitchell Reuben The Tony Griffiths Prize for Excellence awarded for the best mark in sections 3 of the Final Practical Examination - Mitchell Reuben Carl Zeiss Prize awarded for the best correspondence course student - Nicola Clements Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians Prize awarded to the best day release course student - Angela Liu The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers Prize awarded for the best mark in the Final Practical Examination - Mitchell Reuben Association of British Dispensing Opticians Final Examination Prize awarded for the best mark in the Final Examinations - Mitchell Reuben The British Contact Lens Association Prize awarded for the best mark in the aftercare section of the Contact Lens Certificate Practical Examination - Hayley Gregory The Hensley Prize awarded for the best mark for a first attempt in the Contact Lens Practice Theory Examination - Azizabibi Kharodia The CIBA Vision Prize for Excellence awarded for the best mark in the Contact Lens Certificate practical Examination - Hayley Gregory The Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers Prize awarded for the best mark in Section B of the Contact Lens Certificate practical Examination - Stephen Bannister Ted Watts Memorial Prize awarded for the best mark in the LVA examinations - Abilene Macdonald Grute T A Doyle Memorial Prize awarded for the best mark in an honours paper - Abilene Macdonald Grute EXTERNAL MATTERS General Optical Council We have continued to maintain a good and professional working relationship with the GOC. There are a number of ongoing issues about which we, along with the other optical bodies, have been in constant dialogue with the GOC. These include the future independence of the regulatory body; the standard of proof required for disciplinary matters; the future systems for CET and issues related to the review of General Ophthalmic Services. The President and officers of the Association are grateful to Rosie Varley, Chairman of the GOC and Peter Coe, Chief Executive and Registrar of the GOC for their continued support for the profession and the help they have given. The Association is also grateful to the elected DO members of the GOC who have worked so hard on behalf of the profession: Rosemary Bailey FBDO (Hons) CL, John Baker FBDO, Jennifer Brower FBDO (Hons) LVA Cert Ed; Kim Devlin FBDO (Hons) CL, John Fried FBDO, and to ABDO s nominated member Jo Underwood MSc FBDO (Hons) CL (Hons) SLD PGCE. Eyecare UK (E UK) Eyecare UK is the strategic forum for the leading optical bodies. E UK met twice during the year under the able chairmanship of Don Grocott. Discussions centred on the wider development of the profession and the ways of ensuring that all bodies were able to move forward together Eyecare Trust The Eyecare Trust is a registered charity whose purpose is to raise awareness of all aspects of eye health. It is an organisation which provides support both to the public and the profession with a wide range of advice and information. The Trust organises many campaigns: in 2005 one of its main campaigns highlighted the need for children to have regular eye examinations; the Trust also focused on safety in the workplace and in the home. One of the most successful campaigns was the National Eye Week, proving that the Trust has the ability to deliver a very powerful message with maximum impact. The successes of the campaigns are certainly practitioner and profession driven and it is a great credit to the Trust that it produces such unbiased support for the optical profession as a whole. There is valuable information available to both the public and the profession on its website at The Eyecare Trust is always keen to provide and promote awareness of the importance of good eyecare and the benefits of trusting registered practitioners, however without the support of both the public and the profession the existence of the Trust would be difficult. Optical Consumer Complaints Service (OCCS) The Optical Consumer Complaint Service continues to provide a valuable conciliation service to the profession with an increasing amount of patient complaints being referred to the Service by local consumer bodies. The appointment of a member of the professional body concerned with Trading Standards has proved invaluable to the team. The management committee are hoping to increase this area of expertise in the future with the appointment of a further lay member in the coming year. Legislative changes at the General Optical Council have now been put in place to ensure the funding of the OCCS for the next financial year. The professional optical bodies who have supported us from our inception continue to have representation on the management committee and co-operation continues to be strong. We are currently working within the budget that we have set ourselves whilst not compromising the service that we offer. The service carried out an extensive survey of patients and practitioners who had been in contact with OCCS over the previous year and we are delighted to report that the overall feedback was positive and the high numbers of responses

21 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT indicated that the service is meeting the needs of both patients and practitioners with its mediation service. We will continue to build on this success. The Future The year ahead will be dominated by the GOS review and all that that entails for our members. Proper recognition of our skills, listing by PCTs, full membership of LOCs and of course financial support for CET are all at the top of our agenda. During 2006 we hope to launch a wide series of new benefits for the growing number of our members who are practice owners/partners. We also hope to see the final benchmarking of ABDO s range of qualifications by the Curriculum and Qualification Authority. They have already approved ABDO as a recognised examining body, now at last our members will be able to equate their qualifications with other awards. This is an exciting and long overdue development and the Board records its thanks to Mark Chandler and Gordon Jones (our Consultant) for the great deal of effort they have put in to achieving this over the past two years. The Association will continue to look at how we can best serve our members and we will continue to review the membership benefits we offer. ABDO Board of Directors NICK ATKINS FBDO(HONS)CL FBCLA Professional position: Director of CET provider Proven Track Record and part time practising contact lens optician Specialisation: Contact lenses Professional interests: Contact lenses and CET for dispensing opticians Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: Board member; Contact Lens Practical Examiner, CET Officer Area 8, Member of Refractive Surgery Working Group and Journal Advisory Committee, Past CET Approver Personal hobbies/interests: Lifelong fan and season ticket holder of Portsmouth Football Club, music, gigging and playing drums, and mountain biking A 85 Durley Avenue, Cowplain, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 8TZ T M E nick.atkins@proventrackrecord.co.uk JENNIFER BROWER FBDO(HONS)LVA CERTED Professional position: Dispensing optician and low vision practitioner Specialisation: Low vision Professional interests: Low vision and CET for dispensing opticians Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: Board member; Chairman, ABDO London Area (11); Chairman, Low Vision Committee; Chairman, ABDO Benevolent Fund; Member, Continuing Education Review Panel; Member, GOC; Low Vision Honours tutor and examiner; Former member, ABDO Finance and Planning committee; Liveryman, Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers; Awarded Title: Optician Outstanding Dispensing Optician of the Year 2005; Awarded ABDO Area Prize for Services to London Area 2004; Awarded Hamblin Memorial prize for Services to Optics 1998 Personal hobbies/interests: Classical music and social history A 140 Watford Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 3BZ T F M E jennifer@brower.co.uk KEITH CAVAYE FBDO(HONS)CL SMC(DISP) Professional position: Locum contact lens optician and part time lecturer Specialisation: Contact lenses Professional interests: CET and optical organisations Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: Board member, CL committee member, CET committee member, Academic review group member, ABDO representative on DOCET, CL practical examiner Personal hobbies/interests: All the usual stuff A Lindens, Fenny Road, Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire MK17 9BT T M E kscavaye@hotmail.com

22 22 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 MIKE CODY FBDO CL Professional position: Contact lens manager for an independent group Specialisation: Contact lenses Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: Board member and previous Council member; Area 5 secretary; Member of Remuneration and Audit Committee; Staffordshire LOC Committee Member Personal hobbies/interests: Family, cooking and golf A c/o Colin Lee Opticians, 1 Shrewsbury Mall, Market Square, Rugeley WS15 2JT T F M E mike@abdoarea5.org JOHN COXON FBDO (HONS) CL Professional position: Self-employed contact lens optician Specialisation: Contact lenses Professional interests: Contact lenses and associated training Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: ABDO Board member; Deputy director of contact lens examinations; Cocoordinator of Advanced Dispensing Examinations Personal hobbies/interests: Music, reading, wine and travel A 4 Walter Scott Avenue, Wigan, Lancashire WN12RH T F M E coxon@aol.com BARRY DUNCAN FBDO Professional position: Practice manager Specialisation: General dispensing Professional interests: Practical examinations, DLI tutoring Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: ABDO Board member; Secretary Area 12; CET Rep Area 12 Personal hobbies/interests: Football, gardening and keeping fit A Boots Opticians, 200 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow T M E BrDunc9@aol.com KEVIN MILSOM FBDO Professional position: Locum dispensing/contact lens optician Specialisation: Contact lenses Professional interests: Contact lenses, current issues Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: Board Member; Vice President Personal hobbies/interests: Hill walking, DIY and motor racing A 8 Church Meadow, Boverton, Llantwit Major, Glamorgan CF61 2AT T F M E milsomkevin@yahoo.co.uk KELLY PLAHAY BSC FBDO Professional position: Dispensing optician/store director Professional interests: Dispensing, CET and low vision Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: Council/Board member, GOC Fitness to Practice Committee member, Eyecare Trust director and trustee Personal hobbies/interests: Sport, computing, socialising, TV and films, and listening to music A 27 High Brook Fall, Lofthouse, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF3 3EW T M E kelp91@hotmail.com JAMES H RUSSELL FBDO Professional position: Dispensing and contact lens optician Specialisation: Dispensing training and examining and contact lens training and education Professional interests: Contact lenses Positions held with ABDO/ADO/FDO: President and Council representative for Area 12; chairman Area 12; former member of Finance, Planning and Communications Committee; practical examiner in dispensing optics Personal hobbies/interests: Music and songwriting, and trying to stay fit A 26 River Court, Chartham, Canterbury Kent CT4 7JN T M

23 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT ABDO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES, AND ABDO COLLEGE COMMITTEES ATTENDANCE 1 JANUARY 2005 TO 31 DECEMBER 2005 ABDO BOARD OF DIRECTORS (met 4 times) Nick Atkins 4 Jennifer Brower 4 Keith Cavaye 4 Mike Cody 4 John Coxon 4 Barry Duncan 3 Kevin Milsom 4 Kelly Plahay 2 James Russell 3 ADVISORS TO THE BOARD Brian Mitchel 4 John Pugh 1 ABDO BENEVOLENT FUND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (met once) Jennifer Brower (Chairman) 1 Duncan Counter 1 David Kirk 1 Maureen Taylor 1 David Watson 1 ACADEMIC COMMITTEE (met 3 times) John Pugh (Chairman) 3 David Austin 1 Rosemary Bailey 3 Tony Botten 3 Christopher Burton 0 Andrew Cripps 3 Mo Jalie 2 Liam Kite 2 John Mitchell 3 Elvin Montlake 3 Brad Rogers 2 Paula Stevens 2 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ABDO AOP CET DLI FMO FODO GOC GOS JOCEU LOCs LVA OCCS PCTs Association of British Dispensing Opticians Association of Optometrists Continuing Education and Training Distance Learning Institute Federation of Manufacturing Opticians Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians General Optical Council General Ophthalmic Services Joint Optical Committee on the European Union Local Optical Committees Low Vision Acuity Optical Consumer Complaints Service Primary Care Trusts CET COMMITTEE (met 3 times) Duncan Counter (Chairman of 2) 3 Helen Carroll 2 Keith Cavaye 3 Jim Gordon 1 Sheila Hope 3 Carolyn Molyneux 3 John Pike (Chairman of 1) 1 Sue Southgate 2 Paula Stevens 3 CONTACT LENS COMMITTEE (met twice) Michael Jaggs (Chairman) 2 Rosemary Bailey 2 Keith Cavaye 2 Kim Devlin 0 David Goad 1 Ron Loveridge 1 John Rogers 2 Graeme Stevenson 2 DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (met 3 times) Rowena Shipley (Chairman) 3 Rosemary Bailey 2 Elizabeth Bartlam 2 Michael Eccles 2 Anne Eyre 2 Paul Hersee 1 David Pipe 3 Jo Underwood 1 JOURNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (met twice) Tony Garrett (Chairman) 2 David Bridle 0 Richard Crook 1 Deanne Gray 2 David Goad 2 Sheila Hope 2 Ann Johnson 1 Ros Kirk 2 Paula Stevens 2 LVA COMMITTEE (met twice) Jennifer Brower (Chairman) 2 Albert Dowie 1 Ann Eyre 0 Martin Flower 2 Stephen Golding 1 Lindy Greenhalgh 1 Jeff Mason 1 Kevin McNally 1 Beverley Ricketts 2 TRUSTEES OF THE ABDO COLLEGE (Met 4 times) Alan Parkhurst (Chairman of 3) 4 Cheryl Donnelly 3 Eric Hall 1 Colin Lee 2 Kevin Milsom 4 Brian Mitchell (Chairman of 1) 3 John Pugh 4 OTHER ABDO REPRESENTATIVES The Board wishes to place on record its appreciation for the time and commitment of the following who represented ABDO or ophthalmic dispensing in other fora in 2005: GOC - John Baker, Rosemary Bailey, Jennifer Brower, Kim Devlin and John Fried ABDO s nomination to the GOC Council - Jo Underwood JOCEU - John Fried Eyecare Trust - Kelly Plahay Eyecare UK - Anthony Garrett, Kevin Milsom and James Russell OCCS - Sue Southgate OVCC - Kevin Milsom

24 24 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) REGISTERED NO The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act The directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Auditors A resolution to re-appoint Burgess Hodgson as auditors for the ensuing year will be proposed at the annual general meeting in accordance with section 385 of the Companies Act Small company provisions This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part VII of the Companies Act Registered office: 199 Gloucester Terrace Signed by order of the directors London W2 6LD SIR ANTHONY GARRETT CBE Company secretary 26 April 2006!NDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS We have audited the financial statements of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (Limited by Guarantee) for the year ended 31 December 2005 on the following pages which have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2005), under the accounting policies set out as below. ABDO S LONDON HEADQUARTERS GLOUCESTER TERRACE REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005 The directors have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 December Principal activities The principal activity of the company during the year was that of the support and advancement of the interests and examination of dispensing opticians. Directors responsibilities The directors are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the directors are required to select suitable accounting policies, as described on page 25, and then apply them on a consistent basis, making judgements and estimates that are prudent and reasonable. The directors must also prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. This report is made solely to the company s members, as a body, in accordance with Section 235 of the Companies Act Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Respective responsibilities of the directors and the auditors As described in the Statement of Directors Responsibilities the company s directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act We also report to you if, in our opinion, the directors' report is not consistent with the financial statements, if the company has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law regarding directors' remuneration and transactions with the company is not disclosed. We read the directors' report and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements within it.

25 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the company s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. Opinion In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with United Kingdon Generally Accepted Accounting Practice applicable to Smaller Entities, of the state of the company s affairs as at 31 December 2005 and of its profit for the year then ended; and the financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act BURGESS HODGSON Camburgh House, 27 New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DN THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DISPENSING OPTICIANS (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 2005 Note TURNOVER 1,820,560 1,709,918 Cost of sales 577, ,612 GROSS PROFIT 1,242,777 1,176,306 Administrative expenses 1,394,545 1,464,110 Other operating income (151,808) (162,827) OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) 1 40 (124,977) Interest receivable PROFIT/(LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION 125 (124,816) Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities 3-1,257 RETAINED PROFIT/(LOSS) FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 125 (123,559) THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DISPENSING OPTICIANS (LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) Balance sheet 31 December 2005 Note FIXED ASSETS: Tangible assets 4 446, ,473 Investments 5 500, , , ,473 CURRENT ASSETS: Debtors 6 513, ,288 Cash at bank and in hand 4,895 1, , ,422 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year 8 359, ,444 NET CURRENT ASSETS: 158, ,978 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES: 1,105,576 1,125,451 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after more than one year 9 120, , , ,451 RESERVES: Profit and loss account , ,451 MEMBERS FUNDS 985, ,451 These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2005). These financial statements were approved by the directors on 26 April 2006 and are signed on their behalf by: James Russell FBDO (President) THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DISPENSING OPTICIANS Notes to the financial statements 31 December ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of accounting The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2005). Consolidation In the opinion of the directors, the company and its subsidiary undertakings comprise a small group. The company has therefore taken advantage of the exemption provided by Section 248 of the Companies Act 1985 not to prepare group accounts. Turnover Turnover represents subscriptions, examination fees, and continuing education and training. Fixed assets All fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Refer to note 4 for further disclosure with respect to property improvements. Depreciation Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: Property improvements - 2% straight line Fixtures & fittings - 20% straight line Computer hardware - 33% straight line Computer software - 20% straight line Operating lease agreements Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lesser are charged against profits on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. Pension costs The company contributes to the personal pension plans of certain employees, subject to a maximum of 10% of the employee s annual salary. Such contributions are held independently of the company s finances. The contributions made are charged to the profit and loss account as they arise. Financial instruments Financial instruments are classified and accounted for, according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as either financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities. 1. OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS) The operating profit/(loss) is stated after charging: Staff pension contributions 30,818 30,171 Depreciation on owned fixed assets 54,996 50,157 Auditors fees 6,500 6,500 ABDO College Grant 60, , DIRECTORS EMOLUMENTS The directors aggregate emoluments in respect of qualifiying services were: Aggregate emoluments 24,500 18, TAXATION ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES Current tax: over/under provision in prior year - (1,257) Total current tax - (1,257) 4. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Property Fixtures Computer Computer improvements & fittings hardware software Total COST: At 1 January ,959 8,118 44, , ,243 Additions 6,960-28,623 26,602 62,185 At 31 December ,919 8,118 72, , ,428 DEPRECIATION: At 1 January ,581 3,248 29,773 57, ,770 Charge for the year 7,218 1,624 18,779 27,375 54,996 At 31 December ,799 4,872 48,552 84, ,766 NET BOOK VALUE: At 31 December ,120 3,246 24,360 78, ,662 At 31 December ,378 4,870 14,516 79, ,473 Property Improvements relate to 199 Gloucester Terrace, a property owned by Eusebius Limited, a company in which Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) and the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians (FMO) each beneficially own one third of the issued share capital. ABDO, FMO and FODO occupy the property owned by Eusebius and each bear one third of the property running costs. The amounts shown in these accounts represent the amounts paid by ABDO in respect of its share of the property improvements. These improvements are depreciated over 50 years on a straight line basis. 5. INVESTMENTS Total COST: At 1 January 2005 and 31 December ,000 NET BOOK VALUE: At 31 December ,000 As at 31 December ,000 The company owns 500,000 1 ordinary A shares, being 33.33% of the ordinary issued share capital, in Eusebius Limited. CONTINUED OVERLEAF

26 26 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT DEBTORS Trade debtors 22,772 18,578 Amounts owed by undertakings in which the company has a participating interest 27,400 31,705 VAT recoverable 6,205 11,246 The ABDO College 395, ,542 Other debtors 33,803 40,469 Prepayments and accrued income 27,183 21, , ,288 Other debtors include a 10,000 loan to Eyecare Trust. The debtors above include the following amounts falling due after more than one year: The ABDO College 395, , DEBTORS - THE ABDO COLLEGE The ABDO College, a registered charity, was originally established under the auspices of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. As part of its support of that charity the Association entered into a deed of grant on the 14 February 2001 to assist the ABDO College to meet its debts as they fall due and assist the College in the furtherance of its charitable objectives for a period of five years. A new deed of grant was agreed on 14 February 2006 for a period of five years from this date. 8. CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year Bank loans and overdrafts 203, ,488 Trade creditors 90, ,605 Other creditors including taxation & social security: PAYE and social security 49,268 30,647 Other creditors 7,680 7,204 Accruals and deferred income 8,500 10,500 65,448 48, , , CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after more than one year Bank loans 120, , COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES: At 31 December 2005 the company had aggregate annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as set out below Operating leases which expire: within 2 to 5 years 8, CONTINGENCIES: ABDO entered into a deed of grant on 14 February 2001 to assist the ABDO College to meet its debts as they fall due for a period of five years. The deed of grant described above was renewed for a further five years on 14 February RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS: Charges of 78,500 (2004: 52,300) were made to ABDO in respect of costs incurred in the provision of administrative support services. ABDO charged the ABDO College 35,000 (2004: 50,000) in respect of administrative wages and general expenses. ABDO provided a grant of 60,000 (2004: 250,000) to the ABDO College. As at 31 December 2005 the ABDO College owed ABDO 395,842 (2004: 454,542) ABDO is a member of the ABDO College whose Trustees include up to six Trustees appointed by the ABDO. 13. COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE: The company is limited by guarantee, not having a share capital. In the event of the winding-up of the company each member of the Association undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required, not exceeding 20, either whilst a member or within one year of his or her membership ceasing. 14. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT: Balance brought forward 985,451 1,109,010 Retained profit/(accumulated loss) for the financial year 125 (123,559) Balance carried forward 985, , POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS: ABDO entered into a deed of grant on 14 February 2006 to assist the ABDO College in meeting its debts as they fall due and in the furtherance of its charitable objectives for a period of five years. Annual Report of the ABDO Benevolent Fund 2005 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION will be held at the Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London on SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2006, following the Association s AGM AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. To approve the minutes of the AGM held on 17 September Chairman s report. 4. Adoption of accounts for Reappointment of auditors. 6. Any other business. Sir Anthony Garrett CBE General Secretary Note All ABDO members may attend the Fund s Annual General meeting but only Benevolent Fund members may vote. Trustees Leslie Brooks (resigned 20/01/05) Kim Devlin John Baker Eric Hall (appointed 14/07/05) Ros Kirk Management committee Jennifer Brower (Chairman) Duncan Counter David Kirk Maureen Taylor David Watson The Association of British Dispensing Opticians Benevolent Fund is a registered charity (Registration Number ), and is governed by a trust deed dated 10 October Principal Address: Auditors: 199 Gloucester Terrace Burgess Hodgson, Chartered London W2 6LD Accountants & Registered Auditors Camburgh House, 27 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DN TRUSTEES REPORT Charitable objectives The object of the charity is to assist by donation or grant to necessitous persons who are or were members of the Association or the employees of members of the Association who are engaged in or connected with dispensing optics, and in each case the dependants of such persons. Membership of the Benevolent Fund is open to all members of the Association on payment of a single life subscription of 10. Statement of trustees responsibilities Charity law and the charity s deed of trust requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Fund and of the income and expenditure of the Fund for that period.

27 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the fund will continue to operate. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the fund and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act and the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the fund and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Review of the transactions and the financial position The deed of trust places the administration of the fund with a Management Committee whose review of the transactions and the financial position is as follows: Connected Charity The Fund is connected to the ABDO College by unity of administration. The Benevolent Fund also shares the principal contact address of the College. The object of the College is to advance and promote education and research in the science and practice of optics for the public benefit and to disseminate the useful results of such research. There were no material transactions between the two charities. Auditors The trust deed requires the fund s accounts to be audited. Burgess Hodgson, have indicated their willingness to continue in office and accordingly a resolution will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting that they be reappointed as auditors to the fund for the ensuing year. On behalf of the trustees John Baker, Kim Devlin, 26 April 2006 Management committee report During 2005 the fund received a total of 14,833 which included the ABDO grant for the year and affinity card payment. For the above period the management committee continued to maintain contact with beneficiaries of the fund, reviewing grants as and when it become appropriate. The beneficiaries received a total of 12,272 in Life membership continues to cost just 10. Subscriptions and donations support this fund which assists dispensing opticians and their families in times of need. Jennifer Brower, Chairman REPORT OF THE AUDITORS TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DISPENSING OPTICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND We have audited the financial statements below, which have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Respective responsibilities of trustees and auditors As described above the trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements. It is our responsibility to form an independent opinion, based on our audit, on those statements and to report our opinion to you. Basis of opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Auditing Standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the trustees in the preparation of financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the trust s circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. Opinion In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the trust s affairs as at 31 December 2005 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Charities Acts. BURGESS HODGSON Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors Camburgh House, 27 New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DN 26 April 2006 THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DISPENSING OPTlCIANS BENEVOLENT FUND STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 31 December Income and expenditure Subscriptions and donations received Grant from ABDO 4,800 3,287 Affinity card 7,638-12,938 3,782 Investment income Bank interest received 1,895 1,651 Total incoming resources 14,833 5,433 Direct charitable expendlture Grants to dependants or beneficiaries 12,272 8,913 Other expenditure Bank interest payable - - Commission NET INCOME/EXPENDITllREFOR THE YEAR 2,512 (3,567) Fund balance brought forward at 1 January ,345 64,912 Unrestricted fund balance carried forward 63,857 61,345 THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH DISPENSING OPTlCIANS BENEVOLENT FUND BALANCE SHEET 31 December CURRENT ASSETS: Cash at bank 54,211 52,176 Debtors 9,646 9,169 63,857 61,345 CURRENT LIABILITIES: Creditors - - NET CURRENT ASSETS: 63,857 61,345 Net assets 63,857 61,345 Financed by: ACCUMULATED/UNRESTRICTED FUND Balance brought forward 61,345 64,912 Excess of income over Expenditure for the year 2,512 (3,567) 63,857 61,345 Approved by the trustees on: 26 April 2006 John Baker Trustee Kim Devlin Trustee CONTINUED OVERLEAF

28 28 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Annual Report of the ABDO College 2005 INSIDE CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY IN 2005 ABDO COLLEGE ABDO College had another busy and successful year in We continue to provide top quality education for our block release students and we are pleased to have had a successful visit from the GOC. Continuous professional development has been a priority for ABDO College staff during Abi Grute gained her FBDO (Hons) LVA and Gillian Smith commenced clinical work in hospital to gain the practical experience needed to sit the Honours examination. Jackie Rothery passed her optometry PQEs at the first sitting and commenced Part 2 of her post-graduate certificate of education. In June 2005, Essilor kindly sponsored the ophthalmic lens laboratory with a donation and promise of upkeep costs. This will enable new equipment to be purchased, to enhance the teaching of theoretical and practical ophthalmic lenses. Dispensing and contact lens blocks continued and a contact lens honours course and block was successfully introduced. Substantial sponsorship from CIBA Vision and CooperVision was arranged, enabling costs to be kept to a minimum for participants. An introductory course for those commencing supervised clinical contact lens work was also run for the first time.

29 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT In August, one of the members of the board of trustees, Cheryl Donnelly, with the support of ABDO College, successfully ran the first CET days for both dispensing and contact lens opticians. The College staff have worked closely with the GOC throughout the year in order to introduce the new core competencies into the dispensing course in a smooth and structured manner. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the College it is pleasing to note that we have firmly established the FBDO block release programme and now look forward with confidence to developing a wider range of courses to benefit ABDO members. We will be working on these in the coming months and hope to be able to commence them in ABDO COLLEGE DISTANCE LEARNING INSTITUTE Despite a difficult trading year for the optical industry ABDO College Distance Learning Institute continued to progress at a steady and satisfactory pace saw the conclusion of the first set of tutor workshops for the institute, the launch of the 2nd year dispensing course on interactive CD Rom and the beginnings of the adjustments to incorporate the new core competency based curriculum. The Institute had a continuous presence at the Optrafair trade weekend allowing students both new and old the opportunity to ask many questions. This proved to be very popular. New staff were employed to cover the maternity leave of both full time course administrators and a smooth changeover helped maintain the efficiency of the department. ABDO College Distance Learning Institute is committed to providing a high standard of education and producing first class dispensing opticians. The new Supervisors Course introduced in 2005 is part of an ongoing strategy to improve the distance learning students experience and proved to be very informative for those who attended. Once again ABDO College DLI students achieved superb performance rates and the Institute would like to extend its thanks and gratitude to the many distance learning tutors who are so dedicated to our students. These consistently good results are a testament to your commitment and hard work; thank you. Access. Revision and Contact Lens courses continued to be well subscribed and the Management and Practice of Low Visual Acuity Course was once again full to capacity. Work began at the Institute for a number of new and exciting courses to increase the range of specialist qualifications available to the dispensing optician. ABDO COLLEGE BOOKSHOP A number of successful events provided the opportunity for the bookshop to present its growing portfolio in the public domain. Constant best sellers and new titles helped to strengthen its position in the optical marketplace. Internet sales increased by over 50% during this busy year and the bookshop continued to provide a valuable and efficient service to students and qualified professionals alike. THE ABDO COLLEGE COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE (REG NO ) TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005 The trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December Introduction The report and accounts comply with current statutory requirements and the charity's governing documents and the statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005). Legal status The company is constituted by Memorandum and Articles of Association as a company limited by guarantee and not having share capital and the company number is The company obtained charitable status on the 3 July 2001, and is registered with the Charity Commission and the charity's registered number is The College is based and registered at Godmersham Park, Godmersham, Canterbury CT4 7DT. Objectives of the Charity The objectives of the Charity are to advance and promote education and research in the science and practice of optics for the public benefit and to disseminate the useful results of such research. Organisation The Association of British Dispensing Opticians is a member of the ABDO College whose trustees include up to six trustees appointed by the Board of Directors. The trustees who have served during the year are listed below. The Board of Directors of the Association has the right to appoint up to six trustees who serve for four years after which they retire but are eligible for re-appointment for one further term of four years. The other trustees include one person nominated by an independent institution which has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Association. Financial controls The trustees have put in place financial controls to ensure the safe custody and security of the assets of the Charity. Investment powers and restrictions The board of trustees have the power to employ a professional investment manager, who is entitled to carry out an investment business under the provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 (or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof), to exercise the power of investment subject to the policy guidelines drawn up by the board of trustees and within the powers of investment allowed by law. REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES Review of finances During the year the college made a loss after receiving grants of 60,000 from ABDO. Income from educational activities is less than expected due to a drop in the enrolment of 1st year students. A CD course purchased last year, is available to all students. The estimated life span of the CD course is 10 years. It will be written off on a straight line basis for 10 years with effect from CONTINUED OVERLEAF

30 30 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Risk Management The Trustees actively review the major risks that the charity faces during regular meetings. The financial support undertakings by the ABDO are considered sufficient to meet all known commitments and normal financial risks until the charity becomes fully self-supporting. The Trustees have also examined the other operational and business risks faced by the charity and consider they have established adequate systems and controls to mitigate significant risks Results The results for the year, and the charity's financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financial statements. The trustees The trustees who served the charity during the year were as follows: Alan Parkhurst FBDO Eric Hall FBDO Brian Mitchell FCA Cheryl Donnelly FBDO CL John Pugh FBDO Colin Lee FBDO Kevin Milsom FBDO Responsibilities of the trustees Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity at the end of the year and of the incoming and outgoing resources for the year then ended. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, making judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. The trustees must also prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue its activities. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Auditors A resolution to re-appoint Burgess Hodgson as auditor for the ensuing year will be proposed at the AGM in accordance with Section 385 of the Companies Act On behalf of the trustees 25 April 2006 Brian Mitchell Chairman AUDITORS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005 We have audited the financial statements on pages 29 and 30 which have been prepared under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out below. This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body, in accordance with Section 235 of the Companies Act Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the auditors The responsibilities of the trustees (who also act as Directors for the charitable activities of the company) of the charity for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards are set out in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities as above. Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and United Kingdom Auditing Standards. We report to you our opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view and are properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act We also report to you if, in our opinion, the Trustees Annual Report is not consistent with the financial statements, if the charity has not kept proper accounting records, if we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit, or if information specified by law regarding trustees' remuneration and transactions with the charity is not disclosed. We read the Trustees Annual Report and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements within it. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information. Basis of audit opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with United Kingdom Auditing Standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made in the preparation of the financial statements, and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the charity's circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed. We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we also evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements. Opinion In our opinion the financial statements give a true and fair view of the charity's state of affairs as at 31 December 2005 and of its incoming resources and application of resources in the year then ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act BURGESS HODGSON Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors Camburgh House, 27 New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DN 10 April 2006

31 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT THE ABDO COLLEGE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 31 December 2005 Unrestricted Regtricted Total funds Total funds Funds Funds Note INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income: Donations - unrestricted 1 3,000-3, Grant from ABDO 60,000-60, ,000 Activities for generating funds: ABDO charges - receivable 78,500-78,500 52,500 Investment income: Interest receivable Dividends 4 6,635-6,635 4,720 Incoming resources from charitable activities: Operation of College 2 984, , ,098 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 1,132,889-1,132,889 1,274,926 RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable expenditure: Costs in furtherance of charitable objects 5 Staff costs 447, , ,742 Depreciation and other costs 575, , ,047 Support costs 5 53,994-53,994 80,740 Management and admin costs 6 76,127-76,127 73,019 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 7 1,153,715-1,153,715 1,177,548 NET (OUTGOING)/INCOMING RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 8 (20,826) (20,826) 97,378 OTHER RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Gains on investment assets 14,559-14,559 8,273 Net movement in funds in the year (6,267) - (6,267) 105,651 Balances brought forward (224,198) 20,000 (204,198) (309,849) Balances carried forward (230,465) 20,000 (210,465) (204,198) The Statement of Financial Activities incorporates the Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses required by FRS3. All of the activities of the charity are classed as continuing. The accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements on the following pages. THE ABDO COLLEGE BALANCE SHEET 31 December Note FIXED ASSETS Ingangible assets 9 22,500 25,000 Tangible assets , ,897 Investments , , , ,409 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 12 42,548 48,561 Debtors , ,016 Cash at bank and in hand 2,684 3, , ,377 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year 14 (334,347) (337,442) NET CURRENT LIABILITIES (143,823) (124,065) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 185, ,344 CREDITORS: Amount falling due after more than one year 15 (395,842) (454,542) NET LIABILITIES (210,465) (204,198) FUNDS Unrestricted 17 20,000 20,000 Restricted 18 (230,465) (224,198) TOTAL FUNDS (210,465) (204,198) These financial statements were approved by the trustees on 25 April 2006, and are signed on their behalf by: BRIAN MITCHELL FCA - TRUSTEE THE ABDO COLLEGE Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of accounting The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (SORP 2005) and the Companies Act Cash flow statement The trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No 1 (revised) from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the charity is small. Donations Donations received for the general purpose of the charity are included as unrestricted funds. Investments Investment assets are included in the Balance Sheet at market value. Unrealised gains and losses on revaluation and realised gains and losses on disposal are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities and dealt with in the relevant fund. Amortisation Amortisation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: Copyrights - 10% straight line Depreciation Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: Computer Equipment Fixtures and Fittings Laboratory Equipment Leasehold Improvements /3% straight line - 20% straight line - 15% straight line - straight line over the life of the lease Stocks Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items. Operating lease agreements Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged against profits on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. Pension costs The company contributes to the personal pension plans of certain employees, subject to a maximum of 10% of the employee's annual salary. Such contributions are held independently of the company's finances. The contributions made are charged to the profit and loss account as they arise. Income from charitable activities Course fees are recognised in full upon commencement of the course with an accrual made to represent the direct costs incurred after the year-end in connection with the provision of the course. Textbook sales are accounted for at the time of sale. Resources expended Resources expended are recognised upon commencement of the course on an accrual basis to match the expenses connected with running the courses with the fee income received. Costs deemed to be directly attributable to the running of the college courses are allocated to direct charitable expenses including charges from The Association of British Dispensing Opticians and the irrecoverable element of VAT. Going Concern The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis due to the deed of grant entered into on the 14 February 2001 (which was renewed on the 14 February 2006) with The Association of British Dispensing Opticians to assist The ABDO College of Education to meet its debts as they fall due which are incurred in the furtherance of its charitable objectives for a period of 5 years. 1. DONATIONS - UNRESTRICTED Unrestricted Restricted Total fundstotal Funds Funds Funds Donations - unrestricted 3,000-3, INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Course fees and accommodation 849, ,654 Text books and rules 131, ,279 Rental income 2,553 2,165 Other income , , INTEREST RECEIVABLE Unrestricted Restricted Total fundstotal funds Funds Funds Bank interest receivable DIVIDENDS (INVESTMENT INCOME) Value Value Income Income Equities and Fixed Interest Securities 121, ,683 6,635 4,720 Cash in investment account 30,219 3, , ,512 6,635 4, COSTS IN FURTHERANCE OF CHARITABLE OBJECTS Unrestricted Restricted Total fundstotal funds Funds Funds Provision of charitable services: Staff costs and tutor fees 447, , ,742 Printing, postage and stationery 58,278-58,278 68,654 Rent, rates and insurance 207, , ,539 Textbook purchases and royalty paid 77,331-77,331 95,905 General office and college expenses 146, , ,745 Meeting expenses and venue hire 7,120-7,120 6,916 Depreciation 79,432-79,432 81,288 1,023,594-1,023,594 1,023,789 Support costs: ABDO charges - payable 35,000-35,000 50,000 Irrecoverable VAT 18,994-18,994 30,740 1,077,588-1,077,588 1,104,529 CONTINUED OVERLEAF

32 32 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 ABDO ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Analysis of provision of charitable services: Staff costs Depreciation Other costs Total 2005 Total 2004 Provision of charitable services: Staff costs and tutor fees 447, , ,742 Printing, postage and stationery ,278 58,278 68,654 Rent, rates and insurance , , ,539 Textbook purchases and royalty paid ,331 77,331 95,905 General office and college expenses , , ,745 Meeting expenses and venue hire - - 7,120 7,120 6,916 Depreciation - 79,432-79,432 81, ,798 79, ,364 1,023,594 1,023,789 All costs were incurred inrelation to the advancement, promotion and research in the science and pratice of optics. 6. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Unrestricted Restricted Total fundstotal funds Funds Funds Wages and charges 53,874-53,874 54,228 Accountancy fees 1,500-1,500 3,500 Audit fees 5,000-5,000 5,000 Legal and professional 15,753-15,753 10,291 76,127-76,127 73, TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED Staff costs Depreciation Other costs Total fundstotal funds Provision of charitable services: Direct charitable expenditure 447,798 79, ,358 1,077,588 1,104,529 Management and administration ,127 76,127 73, ,798 79, ,485 1,153,715 1,177,548 The aggregate payroll costs were: Wages and salaries 409, ,241 Social security costs 27,142 28,031 Other pension costs 10,846 5, , ,742 No employees received remuneration amounting to more than 60,000. Particulars of employees: The average number of staff employed by the charity during the financial period amounted to: No No Number of direct charitable staff Number of administrative and management staff OPERATING LOSS/PROFIT Operating loss/profit is stated after charging: Staff pension contributions 10,846 5,470 Amortisation 2,500 - Depreciation 76,932 81,288 Auditors remuneration - as auditors 5,000 5, INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Copyright COST At 1 January 2005 and 31 December ,000 AMORTISATION Charge for the year 2,500 AT 31 December ,500 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December ,500 At 31 December , TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Computer Fixtures & Laboratory Leasehold COST equipment fittings equipment property Total At 1 January ,249 26, ,247 95, ,821 Additions 11,702 3, ,191 At 31 December ,951 30, ,247 95, ,012 DEPRECIATION At 1 January ,169 20,255 95,329 24, ,924 Charge for the year 33,983 6,081 29,737 7,131 76,932 At 31 December ,152 26, ,066 31, ,856 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December ,799 4,068 73,181 64, ,156 At 31 December ,080 6, ,918 71, , INVESTMENTS Movement in market value Market value at 1 January , ,034 Acquisitions at cost 22,940 23,253 Disposals at opening book value (44,857) (9,877) Net gains on revaluations in the year ended 31 December ,559 8,273 Market value at 31 December , ,683 Historical cost at 31 December , ,864 Analysis of investments at 31 December 2005 between funds Unrestricted Restricted Total fundstotal funds Funds Funds Listed investments Equities and fixed interest securities 121, , ,683 Cash in investment account 30,219-30,219 3, , , ,512 The investment portfolio is UK based. By the Trust Deed, the investments are not subject to the limitations of the Trustee Investments Act. 12. STOCKS Stock 42,548 48, DEBTORS Trade debtors 92, ,138 Other debtors 3,000 7,950 Prepayments and accrued income 49,417 43, , , CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year Bank loans and overdrafts 5,229 4,650 Trade creditors 85,165 66,523 PAYE and social security 20,992 24,367 VAT 19,006 23,801 Other creditors 48,655 7,474 Accruals 155, , , , CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after more than one year Amounts owed to group undertakings 395, ,542 The ABDO College, a registered charity, was originally established under the auspices of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. As part of its support of that charity the Association entered into a deed of grant on the 14 February 2001 (which was renewed on 14 February 2006) to assist the ABDO College to meet its debts as they fall due and assist the College in the furtherance of its charitable objectives for a period of five years. At 31 December 2005 the Association had made cumulative net payments to the College of 395,842 (see above) in the form of a loan, mot being payments under the Deed of Grant referred to above. The financial status of the ABDO College at 31 December 2005 showed net liabilities of 210, COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES At 31 December 2005 the charity had annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as set out below Land and buildings Operating leases which expire: After more than 5 years 194, , RESTRICTED FUNDS Restricted Fund - other 20,000 20,000 In 2003 the Charity received a donation of 20,000 with the requirement that this be used only for the furtherance of the Charity s Library. This is held in a restricted fund. All other funds are unrestricted. 18. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS (between restricted and unrestricted funds) Tangible Other net fixed assets Investments assets Total Restricted Fund - other ,000 20,000 Unrestricted funds 177, ,543 (559,664) (230,465) 177, ,543 (539,664) (210,465) 19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS The Association of British Dispensing Opticians is a member of the ABDO College. Up to six Trustees of the ABDO College are appointed by the Association of British Dispensing Opticians Board of Directors. One trustee of the ABDO College are directors of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. Charges of 78,500 (2004: 52,500) were made to the Association of British Dispensing Opticians in respect of general expenses. The Association of British Dispensing Opticians charged ABDO College 35,000 (2004: 50,000) in respect of administrative wages and general expenses. As at 31 December 2005 the ABDO College owed the Association of British Dispensing Opticians 395,842 (2004: 454,542). 20. COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. Each member of the College will undertake to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding 20) to the College's assets if it should be wound up, either whilst a member or within one year of his or her membership ceasing. 21. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS ABDO entered into a deed of grant on 14 February 2006 to assist the ABDO College in meeting its debts as they fall due and in the furtherance of its charitable objectives for a period of five years.

33 PATIENT AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 DISPENSING OPTICS 33 Unfair trading John Davies, head of business law at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants outlines new EU legislation Most of us, at some time or other, have had cause to complain about sales or marketing practices. We may have bought a product by mail order which does not match the specifications of the advertisement which prompted our purchase. We may have booked a holiday at a particular location on the strength of publicity photographs which were taken years ago and before rampant property development spoiled the tranquillity we believed we had bought into. We may even have purchased a second hand car which turns out to have travelled a few more miles than the dashboard had suggested. The EU has enacted new legislation which aims to tackle unfair trading practices head on. Its Unfair Commercial Practices (UCP) Directive threatens to have major implications for the advertising and marketing industries. But it will also affect the way that businesses of all kinds and sizes sell their products or services to consumers. The new Directive lays down a basic rule that unfair commercial practices must be prohibited by law. A practice will be unfair if it does not conform to the standard of skill and care which a trader may reasonably be expected to show when dealing with consumers and if it materially distorts - or is likely to materially distort - the purchasing behaviour of the average consumer. Practices will be specifically unfair if they are misleading or aggressive. MISLEADING CONDUCT What is meant by misleading? Practices must be regarded as misleading if they contain false information or if they deceive or are likely to deceive the average consumer in relation to any one or more of the elements below: The existence and nature of the product The main characteristics of the product, including its availability, benefits, fitness for purpose, after-sale customer assistance and date of production The price of the product or the manner in which the price is calculated Details of the trader himself such as his qualifications and status The rights of the consumer, including the right to replacement or reimbursement for the cost In order to be misled, the average consumer would need to have been caused to make a decision about whether or not buy the product which he would not otherwise have taken. AGGRESSIVE CONDUCT Commercial practices will be deemed to be aggressive (and therefore unfair) if they significantly impair, or are likely to significantly impair, the average consumer s behaviour through harassment, coercion or undue influence. These tests are not precisely defined in the Directive, and are intended to be interpreted by reference to various environmental factors, but behaviour might be considered to constitute harassment where, for example, it is especially persistent or where it is motivated by a desire to take conscious advantage of a person s misfortune or grief. Automatically unfair practices While the definitions of misleading, aggressive and unfair conduct are intended to apply generally to all forms of commercial behaviour, there is a fixed list set out in the Directive of practices which are to be regarded as unfair in all circumstances. These include: Claiming to be a signatory to a code of conduct when you are not Displaying a trade mark or equivalent if you are not authorised to do so Inviting consumers to purchase particular products at advertised prices and then trying to promote different products (the so-called bait and switch tactic) Falsely claiming that your products are able to cure illness Including in marketing material an invoice (or similar) which gives the recipient the impression that he has already ordered the product concerned THE AVERAGE CONSUMER As has been seen already, the impact that the Directive has on clamping down in unfair practices will, to a great extent, rest on an assessment of what would offend the average consumer. This test has been adopted in the Directive in part in order to reflect the different social and cultural traditions and consumer expectations of people in different member states. So, for example, the law may effectively, recognise that consumer expectations in the UK are higher than they might be in, say, Poland. But the adoption of this test will undoubtedly provide scope for much theoretical argument as to who is the average consumer and what he or she should be entitled to expect in all sorts of consumer situations. It must be hoped that a code of practice can be issued so as to give everyone, traders and consumers alike, a clearer idea of what this vague term actually means. SANCTIONS The current intention of the UK Government is to underpin the requirements of the Directive by a regime of civil sanctions. This will mean that a consumer who falls victim to unfair commercial practices will have the right to sue the trader concerned. The Government is still considering whether to supplement this civil sanction regime with criminal penalties too. NO GOLD-PLATING Over and above the specific requirements, the Directive makes one welcome pre-emptive move against the practice of gold-plating European law (in other words the practice of taking the opportunity, when implementing new EU laws, to add on additional or more onerous requirements over and above the minimum requirements of a Directive). The UCP Directive is expressly billed as a maximum harmonisation measure, meaning that member state governments and parliaments should impose the requirements of the Directive but should go no further than what they are obliged to do. This is an approach which could usefully be replicated in future EU enactments. The new Directive must be implemented into UK law by June 2007 and will come into force by December Businesses which provide either goods or services to consumers should put this issue on their long term agendas to ensure that any areas of their operations which could fall foul of the new rules are addressed in good time.

34 34 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 CET CET COUNTDOWN The first three-year CET period ends on 31 December By that date, those dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians and optometrists who wish to re-register with the GOC in March 2007, should have completed - and confirmed - the required minimum number of CET points. The number of points needed in each situation has been well rehearsed so is not detailed here. Much the simplest method of points confirmation is via the Vantage website - cetoptics.com - it takes about one minute to check in and confirm an entry - if you have already set up a CET points account with cetoptics.com INTERESTING STATISTICS AT 30 JUNE % of dispensing opticians [including those on the CL Specialty register] on the GOC register had a CET points account with cetoptics.com 50.4% of contact lens opticians registered with cetoptics.com had confirmed the required minimum number of CET points 43.5% of dispensing opticians registered with cetoptics.com had confirmed the required minimum number of CET points WELL DONE, everybody in the above categories - you will all know who you are as Vantage has written to everyone involved. The rest of the dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians currently on the GOC Register, who have not yet added to those June statistics, should not leave too long before taking the appropriate action. 7% of dispensing opticians on the GOC Register had 0 points recorded by CET providers. Dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians and optometrists have to achieve and confirm the requisite numbers of CET points if they wish to reregister in March If you have not yet set up a cetoptics user account - but intend to do so - PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE IT TOO LATE! If you are amongst those with enough points in your cetoptics user account but as yet unconfirmed - PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE IT TOO LATE! If you are short of CET points, there is enough CET happening throughout the remaining period. In addition to externally organised CET, ABDO is holding a number of events the Summer School at the ABDO College in August, the ABDO NATIONAL CET WEEKEND in London in September, and various meetings in the Areas. There are some ABDO CET CD-ROMs and CET articles in Dispensing Optics before the end of the year but, It should be noted, that there will be limits to the completion dates as all CET points information from the providers must have been entered into the system before the cut-off date of 31 December. The other Distance Learning providers will have CDs and articles too. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE IT TOO LATE! Let s prove that the profession is very capable of responding to the requirements of the modern world and get there with CET - before the deadline! Rosemary Bailey BEWARE THE 'DOUBLE-COUNTING' The GOC's Spring Bulletin included the following notice about the doublecounting of CL CET points: How many points on the register on or before 30 June 2005? OO/DO 36 general points CLO 18 specialist points PLUS 36 general points (cetoptics will automatically double-count up to 16 specialist points, to reduce the total from 54 to 38) However, our attention has been drawn to a limitation of this double-counting. The GOC's CET Rules state that the bulk of the double-counted eligibility is for the voluntary period only - 12 credits, with only 4 credits eligible for double-counting in the statutory period July December Check your CET record on to check your current points if you suspect this will affect your points for this period. If you have further enquiries, contact cetoptics or the GOC. When Phil Quinby was growing up in Felixstowe he showed far more interest in playing the guitar in a blues band than passing exams. Consequently, spectacular failure of six out of seven 0- levels hardly came as a surprise. He finally managed to scrape together five GCEs, enough to join Hudson Verity in Ipswich in This was prior to their takeover by Dollond & Aitchison, and where Phil was taught his trade by David Hawkins. During his fourth year of study, he moved to Vic Howitt s Bradshaws division, in various temporary positions in the Wembley and Harrow branches - and briefly at Hounslow under manager John Baker - before commencing at Hudson Verity in Basildon, with Clive Stone as regional manager. Phil says, I qualified while I was working in Basildon in 1970, following a correspondence course and block release at Bunhill Row College in London and, despite my earlier academic record, I won the award for Best Correspondence Course Student associated with an ophthalmic optician, presented by the Society of Opticians. Phil obtained his Honours CL qualification in His first management role was in 1970 in Liverpool. He then moved to Leeds in 1978, and on to Hull six years later. In 1993, following an interview with Ian Johnson and Harold Atkinson, he was selected from a number of applicants to manage the new Hull superstore. Phil began attending Area 2 meetings while based in Leeds and his involvement with the running of the Area was swift. He explains, After showing up at the 1983 AGM, I was coerced into the role of Treasurer by an extremely persuasive Alan Parkhurst. Since then Phil has continued to play an active role within the Area as Treasurer and, since November 03, as both Treasurer and Chairman. Area 2 (North-East) stretches from Chesterfield up towards Darlington, although very few members live north of York Phil says. Members in the Halifax/Huddersfield areas are the furthest West and, as you might expect, most live near the major towns and cities, with Leeds and Bradford accounting for about 30 per cent of our 550 members. How has the Area changed since he first

35 PROFILE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 DISPENSING OPTICS 35 Phil Quinby In ABDO s 20th anniversary year, it s appropriate to spotlight a member who has worked hard for their Area for 23 years. Phil Quinby FBDO(Hons)CL, Area 2 (North East) Chairman and Treasurer, has been an active member of the Area since the early 1980s. This month he also celebrates 40 years with Dollond & Aitchison joined? Despite the occasional quiet year it has continued to be pretty active. However, over the last ten years, our calendar of events has notably increased. Today the emphasis is far more focused on CET than on social events - which previously swung from high degrees of success to the occasional disastrous turnout! Since 2001 we have run an annual training event at Bradford College for Final Year Practical Students. Phil says the Area budget has changed dramatically since Then you could run an evening meeting for about 40. There again, according to the Area accounts, the inaugural Area 2 meeting in 1948 cost a full thirty one shillings and sixpence - including afternoon tea! One of the major changes in policy has been with regard to the National Conference. In 1985, we hosted the Scarborough conference and exhibition and, in those days, every detail of planning and organisation was carried out by Area members and involved an incredible amount of work. Progressively, as organisational complexities became even greater, Carolyn Molyneux at the ABDO Conference Office took over much of the workload, meaning that the 1994 Harrogate Conference was a lot less stressful! The Committee tries to provide varied and high quality CET as a service to Area 2 membership. And we continue to run the Bradford student training event, for which we now receive requests each year. We want to encourage younger members to become involved in the Area Committee, to eventually take over the reins, and help sustain a bright future for the Association. The Area 2 Committee comprises Alan Parkhurst, Emma Parkhurst-Tubby, Harold Atkinson, Alison Woolfoot and Keith Dickinson. Secretary is Emma Ward and Anthea Goddard is CET officer. Phil says, I should also like to pay tribute to all past and present Committee members, but especially to Alan who, as past Area Chairman and, of course, past ABDO President, and Hamblin Prize winner, has contributed so much to our profession. We ve been lucky to have such hardworking and committed people in Area 2 and special thanks must go to the various Area Secretaries: Martin and Shauna Large, Janet Packwood, Tove Hoff- Gascoyne, Paula Baines, Emma Parkhurst-Tubby and, of course, recently married, Emma Ward, on whom much of the work has inevitably fallen. In 1998 Phil became a mobile CLO, covering mainly Doncaster, Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Sheffield. Following recent company re-organisation, he now fits contact lenses in Hull and York, and he will have completed 40 years with D&A this August. When asked what he, personally, has got out of his Area involvement, Phil replies, PHIL QUINBY WITH HIS GRANDDAUGHTER BORN IN APRIL Alan Parkhurst put me forward for the East Anglia Area Prize in Alan wrote: "Malcolm Hunt once said we should ask not What can the Association do for me, but what can I do for the Association? Phil Quinby falls into the latter category" His words were very flattering and I do hope that I have justified his faith and that I have put a little back into the optical profession that has given me my living for so long. However, my Area involvement has been highly rewarding and I have had the privilege of meeting so many interesting people. Outside of optics, Phil describes himself as very much a family man. His mother is 90 and lives in Wales, and he s been married to Kay for 13 years. Between us we have four children and a lovely new granddaughter. We like to travel - especially on cruises - although we ve not been terribly adventurous so far. I also enjoy the odd bit of DIY; I m quite handy, but very slow! In my thirties I was a keen marathon runner, and while not in the same league as our Area 2 Olympic and Commonwealth Games star, Tracey Morris, I could manage a fairly respectable sub-three-hours. Phil still tackles half marathons, and we d like to wish him good luck when he tackles the Great North Run again in October. Interview: Ann Johnson

36 36 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 PRACTICAL DISPENSING ADVICE Childhood eye cancer Retinoblastoma (Rb) or Childhood Eye Cancer is a rare eye condition which, if detected early enough, can be treated and sight saved FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 It is often said that a picture says a thousand words; can the same be said of a photograph? We think so. One of the key tell-tale signs of the rare eye condition Retiniblastoma (Rb) or Childhood Eye Cancer, is the inequality or absence of the red eye reflex often observed in photographs. On 20 August a BBC Lifeline Appeal will feature information about this condition and the signs of retinoblastoma. As dispensing opticians, you may subsequently see an increase in the number of eye examinations booked by concerned parents. It is always in the child s best interest to have these symptoms checked out. Here is some information which might prove useful. Posters containing these details are available from our office. The photographs presented here (Figures 1, 2, 3) demonstrate where the red reflex is absent, reduced and not central and finally, is the wrong colour or brightness. Symptoms such as these, in one or both eyes, can occur in several important eye conditions, the most serious of which is Rb, all require immediate referral. The red reflex examination of the eyes can therefore be used to great advantage in young children. Red reflex examination is essential post-natally, at the six-week check, routine development examinations, and at any consultation where a child is being examined due to parental concern over vision or eye appearance. Children such as young Theo Hayeck (Figure 4). Theo, like many children following diagnosis with Rb, had to have his eye removed. Early diagnosis may prevent this. On average fifty children in the UK are diagnosed with Retinoblastoma each year. The condition can affect one or both eyes (unilateral or bilateral) occasionally resulting in children having both their eyes removed. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust is a registered UK charitable organisation committed to raising awareness of this rare condition to ensure early diagnosis and to prevent the loss of sight. Although a small charity, the work of the trust is very broad ranging. We are: Challenging the way in which the healthcare is delivered in order to derive the optimum service delivery for patients. Funding research projects, to extend the boundaries of knowledge. Helping those affected by retinoblastoma by providing support and information, access to a self help network and links to other related organisations. Educating health professionals and others about Rb and the implications for genetics and other cancers through awareness raising campaigns, literature and training. Caring for the individual and providing services tailored to their needs at different life-change stages. Transforming public perception of eye cancer in children to raise awareness and take away the fear. To find out about Retinoblastoma or activities supported by the Trust contact The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust on or info@chect.org.uk. You can also find more information on our website

37 ABDO GOLF AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 DISPENSING OPTICS 37 THE PRIZEWINNERS WITH PRESIDENT FRANK CLIPSON AND CAPTAIN MIKE BARTON David Kirk triumphs in card play-off The annual competition for the ABDO Challenge Cup was held on 6 June at Fulford Heath Golf Club, Birmingham and was attended by 13 DOs and 18 guests. David Kirk FBDO won the Challenge Cup with 35 Stableford points. At the dinner to follow the competition David was presented with the ABDO Challenge Cup by President Frank Clipson. He had narrowly beaten Richard Hollings to first place by a card play-off. The ladies and mens guest prizes were won by Brenda Chadwick and Brian Bowles. Thanks were given to Nigel Castle and LensTech Optical Laboratories for their kind and generous sponsorship. At this meeting captain, Michael Barton handed over the captaincy to Tony Simpson. Michael has been an enthusiastic captain for the past three years and the Golf Society would like to thank him for his commitment. Tony has been Captain of his home club, Austerfield Park, Doncaster and plays off a 6 handicap. We wish him well for his term of office. Results: ABDO Challenge Cup winner, David Kirk, 35 points; runner up Richard Hollings, 35 points; third place, Julian Gunn, 32 points. Guest prizewinners: winner, Brian Bowles, 35 points; runner up, Kevin Carmichael, 34 points; third place, Bill Hatton, 33 points. Ladies prize winner, Brenda Chadwick, 32 points. Nearest the Pin winner, David Turnock. Longest Drive winner, Bill Hatton. The next meeting is at the lovely Kings Norton Golf Club in Worcestershire on Tuesday 12 September. New members are very welcome - please contact the secretary, Mike Stokes, on to join. MIKE STOKES DRIVES OFF NIGEL CASTLE ADMIRES HIS SHOT! DAVID BRAY, BRIAN BOWLES, AND DEREK COX KEVIN BLAKE, KEVIN CARMICHAEL, AND BOB DAVIES LEO THRELFALL, BRENDA CHADWICK, AND IAN TEBBUTT

38 38 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 Newsbrief A PRESIDENT REMEMBERS ERIC HALL WAS PRESIDENT FROM When I was asked to write a short account of some of the memorable or humorous occurrences of my time as president I thought I would have no trouble. How wrong I was. Some I could not possibly recount, mainly because of the strong unwavering libel laws in this country, and others because I wish to spend the rest of my time in our profession unthreatened and free from the thought of retribution. A strange part of the presidency is that you know that whatever is achieved during your term of office, no matter what your contribution, it is due to the work and co-operation of previous presidents and council. For example, the college at Godmersham was set up during my term of office, but it had been the dream of nearly all our past presidents. Council as far back as the early nineties had expressed strong support for a college which would continue the high standards of optical education which had always been our hallmark. Over the years several sites were inspected, and many locations from Scotland to the south coast, but the problems were always the same; if we could afford the building it was too small, if it was the right size we couldn t afford it, and so the search continued. Council was being urged by multiples and single trading opticians to invest in our own college because they were unhappy with the quality and variation of teaching their employees were receiving elsewhere. It was shortly after Tony Garrett joined our Association that a building was found which satisfied all our criteria. This is a long way of saying that nothing a president does is in isolation but is a result of the efforts of those who have gone before. A number of humorous anecdotes centre around the chain of office. A huge piece of jewellery which bears the Association s coat of arms fixed to a chain. I had an experience early on in my presidency which involved the chain and caused me some embarrassment. I was attending a function on behalf of ABDO and, after being escorted into the dining room, we took our places at the table and then as I stood up for grace, the medallion on the chain, clanged against the soup plate in front of me causing a small piece of pottery to break off and land on the bosom of the lady to my left. I watched in horror as it clung to her dress and it seemed to challenge me into removing it with a deft flick of my hand. All through the grace I was mesmerised by its presence and, as we sat down, I was about to offer to remove the offending piece of pottery from her person when I suddenly realised how inappropriate my suggestions would be and their implications. I spent the next three hours trying hard to cover my embarrassment and contemplating the end result had I gone ahead with my first reaction. I could see the News of the World headlines in my minds eye Optician See-zes opportunity - His case comes up next week. When I look back over the years I was on Council I remember so many able people who helped formulate my opinions and optical politics. The discussions in Council which helped develop the debating skills necessary to make sure that the case for dispensing opticians was recognised when meeting with other optical bodies and members of government. There were those who could always be relied upon to give advice when asked, in my case I refer to Malcolm Hunt, Tony Garrett and Derek Baker who were always there when needed. BARRY DUNCAN BARRY DUNCAN IS THE NEW ABDO VICE PRESIDENT The ABDO Board, at its meeting on 28 June 2006, confirmed the election of Barry Duncan FBDO to become the Association Vice President following the Annual General Meeting on 16 September 2006 at the Novotel London West, Independents Day 06, dedicated to the independent business model rather than professional qualification, attracted over 100 delegates to the National Motorcycle Museum on 4 July. David Goad, co-director of Proven Track Record and chairman for the day remarked, There was a real buzz around the event again with delegates enthusing about the consistently high quality and inspirational content of the presentations and especially our keynote, paralympic gold medallist Marc Woods. DO Paul McCutcheon was a delegate for the second time and stated Once again I thoroughly enjoyed Independents Day. This year Hammersmith, London. Barry Duncan said, I am delighted to have this opportunity to serve the Association as Vice Presdient. I look forward to working with Kevin Milsom and the rest of the Board. INDEPENDENTS DAY 2006 it managed to surpass the high expectations I had following last year s event. A delighted fellow director, Nick Atkins concluded, Despite increasing feedback that many practitioners are staying away from meetings because they ve achieved the CET minimum requirement, we achieved our target with delegates generally agreeing that the event provided many more benefits than just CET points. Inspiration and idea generation will hopefully have an immeasurable influence on the attending practices businesses. Plans for ID07 themed Professional fees: a price worth paying? are already well under way for 4 July next year.

39 NEWSBRIEF AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 DISPENSING OPTICS 39 NORRIE LENNOX, REGIONAL FRAME SALES MANAGER, NORVILLE GROUP WITH PETER HONG READING SPECS TO ROMANIA South Wales optometrist Peter Hong, is to take a group of Cardiff University students to Romania. Thanks to the generosity of Norville, which has donated 300 pairs of complete reading specs in more unusual powers, the team will be refracting as soon as they arrive in September. The glasses make a massive difference as we can help people straight away, said Blackwood optometrist Peter, who makes the annual trip with Dave Phillips of Wymans Opticians in nearby Pontypool. n SEMINARS FOR TUTORS ABDO College Distance Learning Institute has run a series of regional seminars for tutors to inform them about the new core curriculum. A new core competency based BLOCK COURSE FOR SMC ABDO College is to provide support for a gold standard course. The SMC (TECH) distance learning course run by the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers is to receive a new boost as ABDO College has agreed to run a block release course to support it. This gold standard course helps to produce qualified technicians to the profession and is an essential part of the optical career pathway. The College offers two separate weeks of intensive study at the excellent facility in Kent. The first block will take place in November of this year and the second next April and both will consist of a mix of lectures, exercise classes and practical workshops. Further information about courses for technicians is available from n dispensing course starts this September and the Institute was keen to ensure that tutors were well informed of the changes in good time. Three seminars have been held, with two more to come in August, and ABDO College would like to thank Essilor, ABDO and BBGR for their kind and generous sponsorship for these events. Tutors comments showed that the events had been hugely beneficial and that they are enthusiastic to meet the challenges ahead. Among the new areas to be covered are Professional Conduct and Communications Skills as well as Contact Lenses and Low Vision. The seminars, led by Michelle Derbyshire, head of Distance Learning Institute and Rowena Shipley, courses coordinator, provided an outline of the changes to the three year course, FBDO examinations and the pre-registration period. n LOW VISION COMMITTEE VACANCY The ABDO Low Vision Committee has a vacancy for a new member and invites applications. The committee offers support and advice to members working in the field of low vision, monitors the political low vision scene, provides representatives to government agencies and low vision support groups and advises the ABDO Board on low vision matters. If you are ABDO(Hons)LVA qualified and interested in joining we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please write with details of your experience and background to Jennifer Brower, Chairman, ABDO Low Vision Committee, 140 Watford Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 3BZ, or jennifer@brower.co.uk n Dispensing Optician Trainee or newly qualified DO required for an innovative practice in the County Town of Lewes in East Sussex We have very high expectations and in return we will train you to the highest professional standards We require a well presented, enthusiastic individual with good communication and long term commitment to a rewarding career A demonstration of your practical knowledge will form part of the interview Hand written applications only please Apply to: Pam Tidey, Spectrum Eyecare, Cliffe High Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2AH Enthusiastic Dispensing Optician required full time for North Dublin Practice Please forward CV to: O'Sullivan Optical, Clare Hall Shopping Centre, Malahide Road, Dublin 17 T F E osullivanoptical@eircom.net identity optical training Optical Assistants VRQ Level 2 Certificate in Optical Practice Support Seven sessions covering communication skills, frame styling, frame materials, repairs and adjustments, the latest lens information and Dispensing techniques London, Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham Mondays 2pm 6pm, September to December 350 The course will prepare delegates for the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers written examination, which is optional Contact Sally Bates on or identity@sallybates.com for a reservation form or any further information...set your sights higher...

40 40 40 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSBRIEF Newsbrief BRIEFLY Clive Sutton of AMO UK took over as chairman of the ACLM at its AGM in May Clive has been involved with optical manufacturing for 17 years. Karl Aberdeen (CooperVision) remains as vice chairman, Gerry Cahill (Prospect Lenses) remains as finance director and Mario Renou (Eyetech CL Mftrs) remains as a Board member with special interest in the RGP sector. Norville s new prescription lens catalogue has been released with 387 categories and 41 new entries. With clear categorisation and at-aglance available powers to prescription, this new guide places all tinted, photochromic and polarised lenses within their appropriate index, rather than in a collective tint section. Particularly of interest is the development of the strong but lightweight Trilogy range of lenses which has won favour with dispensing opticians for rimless use and which is now available as a full Transitions range. Call for a free copy. Grafton Optical has secured the exclusive distribution for the new Luneau L600 Non Mydriatic Fundus Camera.The Luneau L600 offers the following features: the largest field of view available - 60º, dual field of view - 30º and 60º, small pupil operation, 2mm or less, operates in bright light conditions, fast image display, continuous eye capture - no pupil dilation necessary, 5.6 meg resolution. Grafton are planning to go on the road bringing the L600 to all areas of the UK and Ireland. For further details call or sales@graftonoptical.com, or look at the website DELEGATES AT THE FIRST AREA 5 CET DAY Area news AREA 3 On 7 June, Area 3 ( North West) held a CET meeting. The presentation, Therapeutic and prosthetic contact lenses and devices, was given by Josie Barlow FBDO CL, Professional Services Consultant with Cantor and Nissel. The audience found it very informative and, before the meeting, an excellent buffet was enjoyed by all. Mike Stokes AREA 5 Area 5 (Midlands) held their first all day CET event on 5 June Ninety delegates attended at the Arden Hotel in Solihull. After registration, Stuart Jacques, Area 5 chairman, welcomed everyone. At 10am Peter Reeve, commercial director of Stepper UK, gave an inspiring and informative talk entitled Professional selling (1 CET point). After a short coffee break, where people could also take their first look at the exhibition stands, we returned to our seats for a talk entitled Understanding new PPL technology by Elaine Grisdale MFDO FFDO, of BBGR (1.5 CET points). Directly after this, Kevin Gutsell FBDO, marketing director of Nikon Optical UK, gave a talk entitled Why should I dispense bi-aspheric lenses? (1 CET point). A buffet lunch was served then we resumed with Michelle Derbyshire, head of ABDO distance learning, who provided us with a short insight into what is currently happening at ABDO College. This was followed at 2.30 by a talk entitled Enhanced reading lenses given by Peter Sanders FBDO, of Norville Optical (1.5 CET points). Our final lecture of the day was from Rosemary Bailey FBDO(Hons)CL entitled Referral obligations who, what, when and where? (1 CET point). Our day was bought to a close by Stuart - who had done an excellent job keeping to schedule - holding a brief question and answer session with, Peter Reeve, Peter Sanders, and Rosemary Bailey. Then Stuart thanked all our speakers, the staff of the Arden Hotel, our sponsors, and fellow members of the organising committee Mike Cody, Clive Marchant, John Southgate, and Ian Hardwick. Area 5, would particularly like to thank sponsors Alcon UK, and Linda Thompson, territory manager, who was manning a stand showing their current products, and Continental Eyewear, who had Mark Keaney, area sales manager, showing a selection of their current frames. The Committee held a brief meeting following the event MICHELLE DERBYSHIRE AT THE AREA 5 CET DAY (in the bar!). We agreed, via feedback forms and word of mouth, that the day, which had run at the very reasonable rate of only 20 per delegate, had been an overwhelming success. The committee is therefore pledging to organise two similar events in the spring and autumn of 2007 and for subsequent years, enabling members to gain 12 CET points per year. Ian Hardwick AREA 11 It was a time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones at the last Area 11 (London) meeting in May. With coffee and snacks beforehand, there was the chance for networking with fellow members, although the turnout wasn t quite as big as usual since we were competing with a big Arsenal match. Our sponsors were Johnson & Johnson and the frame company Zoom Eyewear, who brought along their range of frames for us to see. The first lecture was by Phillip Bloom from The Wellington Hospital on The Red eye and ocular emergencies. With the help of some excellent slides (some a little gruesome!) it was a very informative and helpful lecture. Lots of useful tips to help us in our daily working lives.

41 NEWSBRIEF OCTOBER 2005 DISPENSING OPTICS 41 Newsbrief DURING THE COFFEE BREAK DELEGATES VISITED THE EXHIBITION STANDS After a break for more coffee and catching up, Ian Pyzer, our second speaker from Johnson & Johnson, kicked off by giving us the football score: 1-nil to Arsenal. His talk on The toric challenge - a fitting challenge helped highlight the increase in sales to be gained by fitting uncorrected astigmats with toric lenses. Again much to be learned and to help us in everyday practice. A good time was had by all, and we got 2 CET points as well. Ian Anderson AREA 12 Area 12 (Scotland) has organised its next group of meetings. On Sunday 19 November 2006 at the Aberdeen Douglas Hotel, Karl Aberdeen from CooperVision will present: Recent advances in hydrophilic multifocal contact lenses (1 CL point). Ewan Hunter FBDO from Signet Armolite will present Communicating, dispensing and problem solving of progressive lenses (1.5 points), sponsored by Signet Armolite and CooperVision On Sunday 7 January 2007 at the Belfast Hilton, Karl Aberdeen will present Recent advances in hydrophilic multifocal contact lenses (1 CL point), sponsored by CooperVision. On Sunday 21 January 2007 in the Glasgow Marriott, Karl Aberdeen will present Recent advances in hydrophilic multifocal contact lenses (1 CL point) along with Ross Henderson from WJ Henderson Optometrist who will present a colorimetry talk, sponsored by CooperVision. On Wednesday 2 February 2007, Kevin Gutsell FBDO, marketing director of Nikon Optical UK will give a talk at the Two Bridges Hotel in South Queensferry. Finally, Malcolm Louch from Daysoft contact lenses, will now be presenting Clinical benefits and the economic implications of contact lens wear modalities in a competitive market (1 CL point), sponsored by Nikon and Daysoft. We held a meeting in May when Malcolm Louch from Daysoft gave a presentation on Clinical benefits and the economic implications of contact lens wear modalities in a competitive market at the Glasgow Caledonian University. This was a very informative and interesting evening which made us think hard about patient needs and requirements for contact lenses. Many thanks to Malcolm, Ron Hamilton and Mark Hegarty for taking the time to give the lecture and for their sponsorship. Brenda Rennie Dispensing Course ABDO College Distance Learning Institute is now accepting applications to join the Fellowship Dispensing Diploma (FBDO) for September Our courses are all studied by distance learning and require students to submit work on a weekly basis to an assigned tutor. This is complemented by four weeks of block release study at ABDO College in Kent. The deadline for first year applications is 1 September However, in order to complete the necessary registrations in time for the new academic year, early application is advised. If you are interested in training to become a dispensing optician contact the ABDO College - see details below. Access Courses ABDO College s Access Courses are designed to help prospective dispensing optician students to meet the necessary entry requirements. They are also a useful refresher for those who have been out of education for some time. The entry requirement for the ABDO Fellowship Dispensing Diploma (FBDO) is five GCSEs at grade c or above, which must include English, maths and a science. Each access course is considered the equivalent of one GCSE. Two access courses may be studied at any one time. The courses are available in the key subjects of English, mathematics, optics, human biology and general science. Each course costs 400 and takes approximately 20 weeks. Applications must be received no later than 22 September 2006 to gain a place on the courses beginning 11 October. Calling all supervisors! Supervising a trainee on any course is an onerous task in anyone s estimation and no less so for a distance-learning student. This is why we have devised two courses just for you! Dispensing Supervisors Course - 30 August 2006 Contact Lens Supervisors Course - 1 September 2006 Both courses will take place at ABDO College in Kent and will include essential information about the student journey as well as your role as a supervisor. A special introduction to the new core curriculum will be included in the course for dispensing supervisors this year, as you will not be familiar with this new course material. These courses are suitable for the supervisors of any student studying the first, second or third year of the Fellowship Dispensing Diploma (FBDO) or the Contact Lens Certificate Course with ABDO College. They are especially important for supervisors of first year students who will be taking the new core competency based course and starting their prequalification period in year one. The deadline for applications is Friday 18 August 2006 For details and an application form for any of these courses please call ABDO College on , or dli@abdo.org.uk, where a member of our team will be happy to help you

42 42 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSBRIEF LETTERS TO THE EDITOR KINDNESS FROM ABDO What a pleasure it was to read through the April and May issues of Dispensing Optics and see profiles on my old friends Richard Harsant and Duncan Counter, both past presidents of ABDO. Ros Kirk, another good friend, was in office a little before my time. Vision Aid Overseas tell us they are very sympathetic to the points made by Phil Hoare. They certainly regard the dignity of patients as vitally important. However, at the moment the the economic factors still favour recycling although the situation is kept under constant review. VAO also tell us that they recently tried to buy spectacles from the distribution centre in South Africa mentioned by Phil but was informed that it was not yet open for business. But if the specs at $1 per pair are robust then a change of policy might be considered. Their terms coincided with mine as president of the South African Dispensing Opticians Association and I cannot express enough the kindness and assistance we received from ABDO, through them, during this period. It was a time of great uncertainty for us, both professionally and politically, and the encouragement and support from these two gentlemen, along with Derek Baker, went a long way toward us establishing the first bridging course from dispensing to optometry as well as achieving recognition by optometry of the extensive training dispensing opticians undergo and their value to any practice. I am encouraged to see that ABDO is going from strength to strength and it is marvellous that your journal is recognising heroes of the past. I look forward to the profiles of the other fine people with whom I have had the pleasure of interacting. Kevin Phillips, FBDO(CL) MCOptom, Cape Town THE POOR DESERVE GOOD QUALITY GLASSES Peter Spoerer makes an important point about sustainability and developing local industry versus the distribution of free spectacles (Dispensing Optics May). However, Ms Mordaunt s account of her trip to Ethiopia to which he is responding (Dispensing Optics March) raises another key issue in relation to the dispensing of glasses in developing countries. It is not, as her article suggests, acceptable to assume that a poor farmer in a far away country should be grateful for any old pair of specs that have been donated. Non Governmental organisations have come a long way, and most now fully accept that everyone deserves their dignity, whatever their location in the world or their economic status. However, what really renders the distribution of women s pink glasses to the poor of Africa a redundant form of charity it that it is also wasteful. Organisations that collect donated spectacles must use volunteers to sort through thousands of pairs. Only about 20% meet the bare minimum standards required for shipment to the developing world. If you are going to distribute free glasses, it is far more cost effective to import them from Asia. Sightsavers for example is now buying them through a distribution centre in South Africa at just $1 a pair. Not only is this process less wasteful and inefficient, but where a local supply is not yet available, it provides the poor in developing countries with the good quality glasses they need and deserve. Phil Hoare Procurement Manager, Sight Savers International Editor s note: Vision Aid Overseas tell us they are very sympathetic to the points made by Phil Hoare. They certainly regard the dignity of patients as vitally important. However, at the moment the economic factors still favour recycling although the situation is kept under constant review. VAO also tell us that they recently tried to buy spectacles from the distribution centre in South Africa mentioned by Phil but was informed that it was not yet open for business. But if the specs at $1 per pair are robust then a change of policy might be considered. Newsbrief SARAH MORGAN LAURA DAVIDSON REPLAY LEARNING CLINICAL CONFERENCES The dates of the 2006 Replay Learning Clinical Conferences are: Sunday 24 September 2006, Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, West Yorkshire; Sunday 8 October 2006, Royal Holloway, Egham, Surrey; Sunday 22 October 2006, Austin Court, Birmingham; Sunday 5 November 2006, Charlton Athletic, London. Each conference is worth 8 CET points and includes a choice of lectures. Seminars and workshops are for all members of the practice including optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, pre-registration students and optical assistants. As part of the clinical conferences, this year Sarah Morgan MCOptom will be running all-day interactive training for optical assistants at all four venues. The structured course is designed to fit perfectly with the conference s professional CET programme, with time allocated for visiting the exhibition during lunch and breaks. Sarah is the UK s foremost trainer of optical assistants. She has written numerous articles and books and is experienced in the delivery of complex information to optical assistants as well as being able to help them master important practice and customer skills. Welcoming Sarah to the programme, Peter Charlesworth, director of Replay Learning said, We all know that practice success relies heavily on good optical assistants. Their understanding of vision correction, eye problems and customer service is key to the longterm prosperity of any eyecare practice. Replay Learning has appointed Laura Davidson, formerly of BHS, as customer services manager. Peter Charlesworth says, Appointing someone to coordinate customer services is the first in a number of improvements we will be making this year to enhance the service we provide to our customers. To secure the services of someone from a well-respected, consumer-focused company like BHS is great for a business like ours. One of Laura s first jobs will be to oversee the implementation of the new Replay Learning website incorporating improved online booking facilities and the ability for customers to manage subscriptions to virtual lectures on info@replaylearning.com; T

43 LVA Committee Sally Williams is the latest member to join ABDO LVA Committee. Here she outlines her first task Having been to my first meeting of the LVA committee I was given the job of reporting back on the Integrated Children s Low Vision Services Conference held in May at St Anne s College, Oxford. It was an interesting day with some useful ideas on how to improve our services to children. As the title suggests, the day was directed towards showing how integrating the various disciplines that are involved with children with low vision can help the child far more than each discipline doing their own thing. The speakers were David Taylor, an ophthalmologist from Great Ormond Street Hospital; Mike Brace, chair of Vision 2020; Julie Sweeting, advisory teacher for the visually impaired; Mary Bairstow. low vision implementation officer; Dr Fiona Fylan, a chartered health psychologist; Dr Christine Dickinson, senior lecturer at UMIST and author of a book on low vision; Janet and Rebecca Sharp, a parent and daughter low vision services user; Dr Margaret Woodhouse, manager of the special assessment school at Cardiff School of Optometry; Jenny Gray, children s low vision advocate at RNIB and is herself visually impaired; Rasmeet Chadha, deputy dead of optometry at Oxford Eye Hospital; Mary Guest, principle research officer with Sense. The main messages from the speakers were: To have an awareness of all the service providers involved with the child. Referring on where necessary with good communication, including the child and their family. To think of the child as a child first with a visual impairment, not a visually impaired child. To remember that a child s needs will change at different stages. Adequate funding is needed to provide a holistic service. This should all be implemented throughout the UK so that the child s future is not left to luck. Thank you to Mary Bairstow who organised the day oct.06 PROMOSALONS UK LTD - 2nd floor - Northside House Mount Pleasant Cockfosters - BARNET HERTS EN4 9EB - Tel.: Fax: enquiries@promosalons.co.uk

44 44 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWSBRIEF NEWS FROM IRELAND Hello All I am recently back from The Gambia where I had an eventful but nevertheless very enjoyable eco honeymoon. As we drove along the roads in the big towns there were huge bill boards with messages like clean eyes are healthy eyes and cataracts can be cured. It is a lovely country with lovely people but like so many African countries very poor. I was therefore delighted when I opened my post yesterday and saw that Vision Aid Overseas are sending a team there next year to provide direct service clinics. Newsbrief The Special Olympics national games took place at the end of June in Belfast. I was not there myself on this occasion but I believe it all went off very well and I will have the figures for the number of patients tested and dispensed in the next issue. Well done to all involved. Over the last few months there have been a number of practices looking for dispensing opticians, either full time or for locum cover. If you are looking to change jobs or if you are available for locum work please let me or another committee member know so that we can put you in touch with those seeking the services of a dispensing optician. Also, if you have changed jobs or address please remember to send us your change of details. There will be a joint AOI/IADO/ICLS CET evening on Monday 11 September. The IADO annual CET day and AGM will take place in November. I will have further details of these events in the next issue. This year is an election year so the committee will be changing. Please think about getting involved. As always if there is anything you would like included in this article please contact me on , or stunnedmullet@oceanfree.net Patricia Mordaunt FBDO Irish members are welcome to attend ABDO CET events - see Diary of Events for details SILMO 06 The SILMO international trade show takes place in Paris from October. The organisers have further expanded the entire product offering, and by redesigning the layout of the show, made it easier for visitors and exhibitors to navigate. There are four main halls and 44,000 visitors are expected. Silmo Collections and Creation hall shows frames and sunglasses, accessories and the Village. In Visions and Solutions there will be contact lenses, low vision aids and optical equipment. The Management and Preparation hall showcases brands and groupings, practice equipment, and the Technop hall. Finally, in the fourth hall there s the Avenue of Trends, Cahiers du Silmo, Silmo d or and daily news bulletins. ABDO BENEVOLENT FUND If you know of a dispensing optician, or a dependant of a dispensing optician, who might benefit from the ABDO Benevolent Fund, please get in touch with Barbara Doris on or bdoris@abdolondon.org.uk SALLY BATES FBDO, IDENTITY OPTICAL NVQ LEVEL 2 OPTICAL ASSISTANTS COURSE Identity Optical Training has designed an optical assistants training programme which leads to an NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Optical Practice Support. The aim of the course is to develop the delegate s confidence in practice and to improve basic practical and dispensing skills. The course is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and an NVQ Level 2 Certificate will be awarded upon the candidate s successful assessment. The mode of learning varies from a range of lectures, interactive sessions, and practical workshops. The course is divided into seven sessions covering communication skills, frame styling, frame materials and adjustments, the latest lens information, and basic dispensing techniques. Seven-week course, London, Glasgow, Bristol, Nottingham, alternate Mondays 2pm 6pm, September to December, cost 350. Identity Optical Training, phone or fax Sally Bates on or identity@sallybates.com VISTACON IRELAND IN LIMERICK TEN YEARS IN LIMERICK This year, Johnson & Johnson celebrates 10 successful years of manufacturing ACUVUE contact lenses in Limerick. Since 1990, what started out as an initial 165,000 sq ft plant has since doubled in size to over 470,000 sq ft supplying both daily disposable and reusable lenses to European and Japanese markets. Vistakon Ireland was established in Limerick in 1996 and currently employs 478 people. The technology at the plant is among some of the most advanced in the contact lens industry. Now Vistakon, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is to invest a further 100 million euros in the facility. Supported by IDA Ireland, the investment will substantially increase the manufacturing capacity for Vistakon Ireland with the creation of 124 new jobs over two years in manufacturing, quality, and engineering. Says Jim Canny, vice president - Global Supply Chain, Vistakon, Part of Vistakon s aggressive growth strategy is to capitalise on the global contact lens market s huge potential. Limerick was chosen for this investment because of its track record in achieving targets.

45 SOME OF THE THIRTY-FOUR RUNNERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE 10K ROAD RACE FOR FIGHT FOR SIGHT FIGHT FOR SIGHT Thirty-four runners took part in a recent 10K road race in London for Fight for Sight and raised around 5,000 for the charity. Runners included opticians Andrew Keech from My Eyes Opticians in Islington, David Burns from DH Burns Opticians in Tottenham and 17-year-old Olly Whiteman, son of optician Paul Whiteman of Paul Whiteman Optometrists in Reigate. If you would like to take part in a road race or other event, contact the team on or visit TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OPTICAL SUPPORT STAFF The Spectacle Maker s Company (SMC) Level 3 Certificate in Optical Practice Support represents an exciting new development in support staff training. It gives a higher level of expertise and knowledge over a wide range of subjects reflecting every aspect of work in today s demanding optical practice, including supervisory skills. It does not require any particular academic qualifications, but good numeracy and literacy would be helpful. It would be an advantage to have gained the Level 2 Certificate although most people in a supervisory category will have already acquired the necessary background. This completely new 1 year course will run in parallel with the well-established Level 2 Certificate in Optical Practice Support Course which is designed for newcomers to the profession and which gives a clear training path to the student and added value to the practice. Apart from High Street Practices, some major lens manufacturers have found this a particularly useful qualification for members of the Customer Service Department. The SMC is committed to improving standards through continuing education throughout the optical industry and profession, and has designed its qualifications to meet the needs of today s demanding workplace and market. They have all been accredited to the National Qualifications Framework by the Regulatory Authorities for England Northern Ireland and Wales. For more information on these and other courses, contact The Administrator, Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, Apothecaries Hall, Black Friars Lane, London EC4V 6EL, telephone or visit the website Contact Lens Certificate The next distance learning contact lens course starts in September. Dispensing opticians wishing to train as contact lens opticians should apply now to secure a place on this popular course. This one-year theory course provides the knowledge to back up the experience gained in practice in preparation for the ABDO contact lens exams. Block release at ABDO College compliments the distance learning assignments and provides an opportunity to meet fellow students. A practice-based supervisor, the team at ABDO college and a distance learning tutor will all be on hand to support you with your studies. Getting started on practical exam preparation Have you just taken your contact lens theory examinations? Are you ready to start working towards your practicals but not sure quite what to do? This two-day course, held at ABDO College on 30/31 August, is designed to help you. You will be introduced to the timetable of what must happen when and the exam format. Also included will be information about related legal matters, theory knowledge and case record requirements. Practical sessions will allow you to practise your routine and rigid lens fitting. Places are strictly limited so call us now! Low Vision Taster Day A mixture of lectures and workshops has been put together to provide a useful insight into the interesting field of low vision work. This full day of sessions, led by experienced speakers, will provide a beginners guide to various elements of managing low vision. Appealing to anyone with a general interest in low vision, anyone considering the honours course and those requiring CET points (6 applied for) this course is likely to prove particularly popular. With limited spaces available we advise you contact us immediately if you wish to attend. The course will be held at ABDO College on Sunday 20 August 2006 at a cost of 100 per delegate. Advanced Contact Lens Diploma Preparation Course The Advanced Contact Lens Diploma Preparation Course, worth 20 CL CET points, is designed to guide and support those interested in attaining a higher contact lens qualification. Two days residential study, at ABDO College in Kent, 23/24 August, are followed by three distance learning projects to provide structured revision. One further pre-exam day in Kent is then held before the winter examinations. Generous sponsorship from both Ciba Vision and Coopervision has helped keep down the cost of the course to 320. The deadline for applications is Friday 04 August. For details and an application form for any of these courses please call ABDO College on , or dli@abdo.org.uk, where a member of our team will be happy to help you

46 46 DISPENSING OPTICS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006 BCLA NEWS THE FIRST OF THE NEW BCLA FELLOWS RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATES AT THE CLINICAL CONFERENCE IN MAY Attracting more members will be a key objective for the British Contact Lens Association in the coming year, says secretary general Vivien Freeman Following the completion of another successful Clinical Conference, equalling last year s record attendance, the BCLA s attention turns to promoting its autumn events and the many benefits to membership. Events for the rest of this year will offer DOs every opportunity to gain contact lens points towards their CET requirement before the 31 December deadline. The BCLA Presidential Address will be delivered in London on Thursday 14 September (1 CL CET point). Chris Kerr s lecture will describe a holistic approach to keratoconus, after which members are invited to an informal supper to celebrate the start of his year as President. The address will also be delivered around the country in the coming months. Leeds will be the venue for the Association s next one-day CET course, designed to provide a comprehensive refresher on recent developments in contact lens and anterior eye practice. Topics covered will include orthoptic and paediatric indications for contact lens fitting, monovision and avoiding keratitis. The course runs on Thursday 12 October and is approved for 6 CL CET points for DOs. Open only to BCLA members and free of charge, BCLA Pioneers Conference is an afternoon of lectures celebrating the contribution of contact lens pioneers to current knowledge and looking forward to future advances. The conference will be held in London on Wednesday November 22 and this year will cover developments in refractive surgery and dry eye management. Following the conference, Canadian specialist Dr Barbara Caffery will deliver the 3rd BCLA Pioneers Lecture, on the topic Dry eye, Sjögren s syndrome and auto-immune disease. CET points have been applied for. This year, for the first time, the BCLA will also be holding a revision course for trainee contact lens opticians. Run by DOs for DOs, the course will comprise a day of lectures and workshops to prepare for the ABDO examinations. Presentations by John Coxon, Jayne Schofield, Ian Pyzer and John Rogers will be followed by hands-on workshops and an interactive session on contact lens complications NOVEMBER'S REVISION COURSE FOR TRAINEE CONTACT LENS OPTICIANS WILL INCLUDE A HANDS-ON SESSION hosted by Cheryl Donnelly and Rosemary Bailey. This course will be held in London on Thursday 30 November. Free events and large discounts on courses and conferences are among the many benefits to BCLA membership. The Association also has an important role to play in representing the interests of skilled contact lens professionals, particularly at a time when they face significant challenges. Over the past year the BCLA has moved towards playing a greater role in the public arena and has kept its members regularly informed of developments via its regular news services and news alerts. We have introduced a new Fellowship which allows members who show high esteem in contact lenses and the anterior eye to use the affix FBCLA and stand out from their colleagues. Another major benefit to membership is that our website directs consumers to their nearest BCLA member - only BCLA members practices are listed, giving them a clear advantage over their competitors. This year we will be working hard to recruit new members to enjoy these benefits, particularly among DOs who are currently underrepresented in the BCLA. Visit for more information on our activities and an application form.

47 CET ANSWERS ANSWERS TO ASPECTS OF CONTACT LENS FITTING FOR HIGH PLUS PRESCRIPTIONS 1. In which factor are high plus power spectacles preferred over contact lenses? a. Magnification b. Field of corrected vision c. Anisometropia d. Rapid eye movements a is correct. 2. A patient with spectacle lens of +7.00DS at back vertex distance 9 mm is fitted with a soft contact lens. Which contact lens power is most likely? a DS b DS c DS d /-0.75 axis 90 c is correct. 3. If the patient has convergence insufficiency, which is the most likely result after high plus contact lens (CL) fitting? a. Easier control with CLs b. Worse control with CLs c. Same control with CLs d. Easier control if lens rides low a is correct. 4. Why is BOZD so important when fitting high plus power lenses? a. It affects the overall diameter of the lens b. It affects lens fit more than BOZR does c. It affects vision if smaller than FOZD d. It affects lens power c is correct. 5. A borderline presbyopia patient is fitted with high plus power soft lenses. Which one of the following is most likely when reading? a. Read longer in spectacles as they help with convergence b. Read longer in lenses as less accommodation needed c. Read same time in spectacles and in lenses d. Read longer in spectacles as they give base out prism effect b is correct. 6. Which one is least likely to be found with a persistently low riding RGP lens? a. 3 and 9 o clock staining b. Inferior corneal region oedema c. Lid irritation d. Visual image flare c is correct. Diary of events August 14/15 - ABDO College - CET Summer School. For details call ABDO College on or dli@abdo.org.uk August 20 - ABDO College - Low Vision Taster Day. For details call ABDO College on or dli@abdo.org.uk August 23/24 - ABDO College - Advanced Contact Lens Diploma Preparation Course. For details call ABDO College on or dli@abdo.org.uk August 30 - ABDO College - Dispensing Supervisors Course. For details call ABDO College on or dli@abdo.org.uk August 30/31 - ABDO College - Getting Started on CL Practical Course. For details call ABDO College on or dli@abdo.org.uk September 1 - ABDO College - Contact Lens Supervisors Course. For details call ABDO College on or dli@abdo.org.uk September 5 - Area 2 (North East) - 'Reflection free coatings - detailing and recommending' by Kevin Gutsell (Nikon), 1 CET point GOC/Vantage C-3766 EV-8871, Quality Hotel, St Milford, nr Leeds. For details contact Anthea Goddard on or a.m.c.goddard@bradford.ac.uk September 6 - Area 4 (East Anglia) - Ian Jordan will give a talk An introduction to orthoscopics, 2 CET points, Gonville Hotel, Cambridge, 7.15pm for 7.30pm. For further details contact Gwendoline Radley on September 12 - ABDO Golfing Society - Autumn Meeting at Kings Norton. For further information, and for anyone wishing to join the ABDO Golfing Society, contact Mike Stokes on or m.stokes67@ntlworld.com September ABDO National CET Weekend - Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London. For further details contact Carolyn Molyneux on or abdo@delegate.uk.com September 16 - ABDO AGM - 5pm - Novotel London West, Hammersmith, London. For further details contact Carolyn Molyneux on or abdo@delegate.uk.com September 24 - Replay Learning - Clinical Conference, Bradford, West Yorkshire, 8 CET points, a choice of lectures, seminars and workshops for all members of the practice including optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, pre-registration students and optical assistants. For further details telephone or visit September 25 - Area 12 (Scotland) - Cheryl Donnelly, past president BCLA, will give a talk, subject to be confirmed, sponsored by Bausch & Lomb, McDiarmid Park, Perth. For further details contact Brenda Rennie by brendarennie@f2s.com October 3 or 4 - Area 8 (Wessex) - will be the next meeting. For further details contact David Bridle on or info@bridleopticians.co.uk October 8 - Replay Learning - Clinical Conference, Egham, Surrey, 8 CET points, a choice of lectures, seminars and workshops for all members of the practice including optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, pre-registration students and optical assistants. For further details telephone or visit October 12 - Area 11 (London) - AGM followed by two lectures, To refer or not to refer - that is the question, and does the record card show the answer? by Rosemary Bailey,sponsored by Relcon, and Talk on handmade frames by Wally Berwick, sponsored by Algha and Hilco, CET points applied for, at The Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way, London, WC1 0DG, ABDO members FoC, nonmembers 20. For more information contact Hishu Monji on , hishumonji@yahoo.co.uk or Daksha Patel on , dakshapatel101@hotmail.com October 15 - Area 3 (North West) - CET Day, Park Royal Hotel, Warrington, 9am-5pm, programme to be advised. For more information contact Mike Stokes or m.stokes67@ntlworld.com October 22 - Replay Learning - Clinical Conference, Birmingham, 8 CET points, a choice of lectures, seminars and workshops for all members of the practice including optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, pre-registration students and optical assistants. For further details telephone or visit October 22 - Vision Aid Overseas - Two training sessions at the Dollond & Aitchison Training Centre, Rocky Lane, Aston, Birmingham. 1-Team training for volunteers who have not yet completed a VAO project. This is mandatory for all volunteers before they go overseas. The aim is to explain to volunteers what a project involves and what to expect. 2-Continuation training for volunteers who have taken part in at least one project. The aim is to prepare experienced volunteers for further responsibility within teams. For further information contact Tym Marsh on November 5 - Replay Learning - Clinical Conference, London, 8 CET points, a choice of lectures, seminars and workshops for all members of the practice including optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, pre-registration students and optical assistants. For further details telephone or visit November 7 - Area 2 (North East) - Lens materials for the 21st Century by Prof Mo Jalie, 1 CET point GOC/Vantage C-613, EV Contact Anthea Goddard on or a.m.c.goddard@bradford.ac.uk