In Focus: Peers debate controversial adjustment to Opticians Act

Last week’s debate in the House of Lords on a possible amendment to the Opticians Act 1989 has brought British manufacturer Adlens back into the optics spotlight.

Lord Richard Newby, Liberal Democrat chief whip in the Lords, proposed to allow the sale of adjustable focus eyewear ‘over the counter’ like reading glasses. Explaining the concept of adjustable focus glasses, he said: ‘They achieve the desired focus for each eye by turning a dial located at the side of each lens. The quality of definition achieved is extremely good, and to demonstrate this I am wearing a pair of these glasses this evening.’