Eyecare 3000 expands

Eyecare 3000, the Scottish conference, is to expand again with an education and exhibition event in Cardiff in the New Year Ð and it has announced it will provide CET for multiple Optical Express. Earlier this year it was revealed that the event was to expand with a Belfast venue, in addition to the conference held in Scotland. This news was followed by an agreement in May to provide CET to Boots Opticians' optometry staff in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and an announcement that Eyecare 3000, which has been traditionally held in Glasgow, and the Scottish Contact Lens Society were to merge their conferences with immediate effect. This week Eyecare 3000 course organiser Dr Scott Mackie revealed that the expansion of the conference format would continue into Wales with an event in 2005. It will be held at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel, although no date for the event has been confirmed. 'Eyecare 3000 will expand to three venues next year,' he said, 'Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff in combination with 47 exhibitors representing a Scottish, Irish and Welsh Opto-Fair.' David Moulsdale, chief executive of Optical Express, introduced Eyecare 3000 as the provider for CET training for OE employees at the three venues when he was present at a training event at the Glasgow Moat House Hotel last Sunday (October 17). He went on to discuss the acquisitions of the laser eye correction and dentistry businesses from the Boots Group (see page 5). Dr Mackie said the fact that Optical Express and Boots Opticians had contracted Eyecare 3000 to train its professional staff was a reflection of the status that it had gained over 10 years as a provider of professional and competitive CET.