College holds roundtable

A third Ophthalmic Public Health Roundtable was held last week by the College of Optometrists.

The College invited partner organisations to explore the ongoing public health work across the optometric sector.

It said two of the key issues discussed were the public health impact of electronic payment and referral systems, and the increasing evidence for unmet demand for optical services in deprived populations of the UK. Optometrists were encouraged to open practices in deprived areas where less obvious, but still successful, business opportunities existed, such as community services.

Kamlesh Chauhan, president of the College of Optometrists, said: ‘The UK faces a worrying eye health challenge – too many people lose their sight to preventable causes and there are significant eye health inequalities between different groups.