Optician news in brief

Carrying out general health checks does not reduce deaths from diseases such as cancer and heart disease, according to health care information service the Cochrane Library. Findings were based on 14 trials involving 182,880 people. While increased diagnoses was seen in some of the trials, the number of deaths in nine of them did not differ as a result of having general health checks. Routine health checks formed part of standard practice in some countries, it was noted, while eye examinations have a role in such screening.

Laser pen attacks on aircraft have risen from fewer than 1,000 cases from 2007-2009 to 4,500 reports in the past three years and were described as a serious problem by the police in a BBC report. The Civil Aviation Authority warned that the high intensity light could dazzle pilots during take-off and landing, and the rise in incidence was blamed on the reduction in cost of laser pens and better reporting. Last year 60 people were charged with the offence of 'shining a light at an aircraft so as to dazzle the pilot'.