BCLA sees attendance increase

New features and its biggest exhibition to date drew large numbers to the British Contact Lens Association's clinical conference in Manchester last weekend (June 6-9).

Peer review and peer discussion, sponsorship for 100 first-time attendees and a new Business Day helped attract more than 1,500 through the doors over the four-day meeting. The total of 1,242 delegates and exhibition visitors was an increase on 1,203 at last year's event.

More than 40 countries were represented, with the largest contingent of 471 attendees coming from the UK, followed by the US, Sweden, Germany, France and Italy.

The conference also marked significant changes for the BCLA as it was the last for its secretary general Vivien Freeman who retires in December. Chris Kerr stepped down as conference scientific programme consultant and was awarded honorary life membership of the association. Nick Rumney begins his role as conference programme coordinator this month.