The National Optometric Conference has been renamed the National Optical Conference. The annual event is organised by the AOP on behalf of LOCSU and the Optical Confederation. 'The new name recognises the increasing contribution made by eye care professionals from across the sector in the development of local eye care services,' said Katrina Venerus, director of operations and commissioning at LOCSU. The conference takes place on October 18 and 19 at the NEC Metropole Hotel.
European optical manufacturing organisations EUROM and the European Sunglass Association are to integrate their organisations much as the Vision Council of America and the US sunglass organisations have done. At a meeting alongside Mido in Milan the ESA, EUROM and the VCA met to agree on a shared common policy of promoting visual health around the world.
Optical trade fair Vision Expo East broke its all-time attendance record this year. The New York event attracted 16,317 eye care professionals, a 10 per cent jump on the previous year (News 30.04.12). There were 575 exhibitors, including 132 presenting at the show for the first time. Next year, the event will be held from March 14-17. Tom Loughran, vice president for Reed Exhibitions, said: 'We are pleased to report that we broke attendance records dating back to the show's inception in 1986.'
Testing equipment worth £3,500 was stolen from the car of a domiciliary optometrist before being returned to his doorstep three days later. Nicolas Hooks, from Bournemouth, said the thief took his Icare tonometer, trial lenses, focimeter, testing chart and trial frames on the evening of Friday March 30. Following the incident Hooks put a poster up in his local area and spread the message he had collected finger prints, before a 'sheepish looking fella' eventually knocked on his door and returned the equipment.