Optician news in brief

A retail survey has revealed 17 per cent of consumers have cut down on eye test appointments in an attempt to reduce household expenditure. The findings were part of the on-going 'Coalition Consumer' research series carried out by market research company HPI. Other notable findings included 75 per cent of respondents saying they now took more care shopping around before buying and 33 per cent using money-off vouchers in shops and restaurants.

The trial of dispensing optician Iqbal Nabi and ophthalmic medical practitioner Dr Helen James is scheduled to begin on June 18 at Lewes Crown Court. The trial follows a joint police and NHS Counter Fraud Service investigation into allegedly fraudulent NHS-funded sight tests between January and October 2009 (News 08.01.10). The trial is expected to run for eight days.