In June, optician reported that the ruling Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition in the Scottish Executive was determined to introduce its election pledge of universal free eye exams, despite opposition from the profession (News, June 27).
The conference, to be held at the Stirling Highland Hotel, takes place from September 12-14, and will start with a lecture on the Glasgow Integrated Eyecare Service.
On Saturday there will be a Lasik co-management seminar by Ultralase, a lecture on optometric business development by Dr Fiona Fylan, while Ciba Vision's professional affairs manager Vicki Evans will speak about Night & Day lenses as an alternative to refractive surgery.
There will also be lectures by Dr Frank Eperjesi ('Macular degeneration and ICaps'), David Austen ('Epiphora, dry eyes and punctal plugs') and Dr Scott Mackie ('Establishing a private low vision aids scheme').
Sunday's debate on the future of the eye examination will be one of the main attractions of the three-day conference, SCO chairman Charles MacKinnon has told members.
'I am sure the debate on the Scottish Parliament's proposed introduction of Òfree eye checksÓ for all in Scotland, will be a hot topic,' he said in his letter of invitation.
For details e-mail SCO David Hutton: SecretarySCOaol. com
A debate on the controversial proposal to extend free eye examinations to all Scottish people will be one of the highlights of next month's Scottish Committee of Optometrists' annual conference.