National Eye Health Week was shaping up to be a better showcase for optics than in recent years as Optician went to press and not before time.
Optician has long lamented that while dentists get a full awareness month, backed by big business, optics has had more modest means for its few days. This year may mark a change and not just because of the sterling work done by Eye Health UK. Most of those in optics, independent, corporates and academics, have rallied round and put their research, activities and announcements out in the week that was NEHW.
Credit has to go to those leading Vision Matters but, without wishing to rain on David Cartwright’s parade, it reflects a wider recognition from the optical community that it is stronger when it works together.
Perhaps it’s not a surprise that Optrafair chose this week to start the awareness campaign for the optical industry’s exhibition which takes place at the National Exhibition Centre early next April. Rebranded as Optrafair Exchange its future plans for 2020 pull together the multifarious strands of the optical community.
Independents are understandably nervous of the involvement of the big guys in NEHW but credit also has to go to the likes of Specsavers who won a slot on ITV’s This Morning with Holly and Phil no less. The tie up between AIO, Vision Express, Hakim and Leightons on driver’s vision carried more weight this week while the announcement by UCL and Moorfields, which the inimitable Bill Harvey will tackle, may be seen as negative, but adds power to the week’s elbow.
Optics has some great stories. The AOP’s research into kids’ eye exams made it onto Radio 2 when it was released during the bank holiday week. How much more weight it would have carried but for a few days wait? Maybe next year.