Pre-reg CL training criticised

The motion, proposed by Specsavers' director of professional services Paul Carroll, that 'British Optometric Universities are not delivering suitably trained contact lens practitioners', was carried by a large majority. Opposing the motion, Dr Sudi Patel argued that the universities had no responsibility to train optometrists in contact lenses. The audience's greatest criticism was reserved for the pre-registration year. Association of Optometrists chief executive Ian Hunter said that the profession could not continue to run pre-registration training in the present way. The system produced clever, well-educated people but they were not able to practise competently on their own. Mr Hunter suggested that there should be a rotation of experience within the pre-registration year for certain specialities. 'The attention of the profession, and the BCLA, has got to be on postgraduate and pre-registration training,' he said.