Profit and care are the focus for debate

The debate, hosted by the British Contact Lens Association, will be held at London's Royal Society of Medicine on the evening of March 19. Independent optometrist Nigel Burnett Hodd and consultant ophthalmologist Ian Mackie will propose the motion, 'The clinical care of the contact lens patient has suffered at the joint hands of the multiples and the contact lens industry'. It will be opposed by past chairman of the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers and director of Vista Optics Don Grocott, and former director of Vision Express and Specsavers Jerry Lewis. BCLA meetings secretary Chris Kerr said the debate would question whether profit had prejudiced professionalism and patient care. 'It's going to be a special evening, in fact we have retained a larger hall because we expect full attendance,' he said. 'The speakers have wide-ranging experience and strong opinions on the current and future direction of contact lens practice. Everything seems to set for a unique event.' The evening begins at 6.30pm with the debate at 7pm.