Ireland's call to practice

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One of my presentations was on childhood optometric cases and, as I soon discovered, this had been chosen to reflect the fact that optometrists in Ireland are increasingly involved in paediatric management. It was only recently that the role changed in Ireland to allow the use of drugs in examination and so cycloplegia is now possible, opening up a whole new patient management base.

My other presentation was on environmental influences on eye health which, necessarily, includes some of the data relating to smoking and eye disease. With July 1 looming in England, I was interested in how the Irish have found a ban. Most practitioners in Ireland fully backed their ban (some two years old now) and felt it would show a long-term benefit for health. I couldn't help but notice, however, that in Westport where the conference was run, the streets were busier at night than might be expected. I soon realised it was mainly smokers taking a break from their Guinness for a quick drag.