Don't miss your chance to win

There are still a few days left to get your entries in for the optician Awards.

The deadline for entries has now been extended until Friday March 11, with judging taking place on March 14.

There is a host of new categories in this year's event which has an emphasis on people in optometric practice.

Trophies for Outstanding Optometrist of the Year, Outstanding Dispensing Optician of the Year and Optical Assistant of the Year have been introduced, as has a category for Chain of the Year. Categories for Optical Product of the Year and Franchisee of the Year also make their first appearance.

Johnson & Johnson has maintained its sponsorship of the Contact Lens Practice of the Year category and Grafton Optical and its technology partners Eyescape and Paradigm sponsor the Technology category. Dollond & Aitchison is sponsoring the Contribution to CET Award, and for the second year running an award will be made to the Start Up Practice of the Year.

Also lending its support to the event is Specsavers. It is sponsoring the awards to raise the profile of eye care communication and to encourage practices to educate the public on eye care issues.

This year's Awards will culminate with a black tie dinner in the Palace Suite of the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on the Saturday night of Optrafair, April 16. Impressionist Alistair MacGowan is the host.