Optician news in brief

A grant has been awarded to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) for a project to speed up issuing of Certificates of Vision Impairment. The project will pilot and evaluate electronic versions of the certificates, which are signed by ophthalmologists to register blind and partially sighted people with social services. The grant was awarded by the Department of Health as part of a £5.5m fund to develop new approaches to health and care, the RNIB said.

Eyewear supplier Pro-Optic has been taken over by Marc and Nikki Smith for an undisclosed amount. The purchase of the group, which supplies frame brands Air-Light, Maggy Rouff, Head and Convertibles, was completed last week. The Exeter-based couple, who have 20 years' combined experience in the optical industry, will be exhibiting at Optrafair next month, on stand E7, and launching a new environmentally focused collection called Green.