Courses organised by The Vision Care Institute have now attracted 100,000 delegates worldwide. The Johnson & Johnson unit began its education events in the US nine years ago, and since launching in the UK in 2009 has seen 6,000 delegates attend seminars and roadshows across the country. Institute manager Sheetal Patel said: ‘Looking towards 2014, we are going to see a greater focus on peer review sessions in our courses that all provide interactive CET already.’
DOCET has released training material on how to deal with patients presenting with acute onset symptoms including sudden loss of vision, painful red eye and neurological problems. The CET material guides optometrists through the presentation of different conditions, including what to look for during an examination, differential diagnosis, referral steps, further management and any ‘red flag’ symptoms requiring immediate referral. Visit www.docet.info to view material or buy the DVD.
Vision charity Sightsavers has been chosen by The Times for its 2013 Christmas appeal. The newspaper was hoping to raise £100,000, while high street retailer River Island agreed to match readers’ donations up to £25,000. Sightsavers chief executive Caroline Harper said: ‘Living with trachoma is to live in constant agonising pain, the patient’s eyelashes gradually scratching away their ability to see. The Times appeal will allow us to reach more people with life-changing prevention and treatment in 2014.’
A consultation has been launched by the GOC on its draft strategic plan for the next three years. The regulator has proposed to play a more proactive role in promoting public health and safety through the standards it sets for optometrists and dispensing opticians, while also looking to deal with complaints more quickly and effectively. More details at www.optical.org