Chris Bennett: Moving optometry up the public agenda

It may be that National Eye Health Week (NEHW) is on the horizon or it may be the aging population driving vision up in the public consciousness but optics is making it into the news quite a bit at the moment.

It would be lovely to be able to say the public has finally got the message about the value of an eye examination, hopefully that is something NEHW (September 19-25) will help foment. Sadly it’s not.

The Daily Mail may have its critics in the science community but it does a nice line in optical – for that read ophthalmology – stories. This week we have been treated to robotic removal of retina covering membranes, cataract operations helping your sleep patterns all in addition to its cataract waiting campaign praised by Verum a couple of weeks ago.