Comment: A vital role to play

Pointing out the elephant in the room is never easy or comfortable but always necessary and ultimately useful. Last week’s National Optical Committee conference (see News) gave optometrist Moaz Nanjuwany the opportunity to do optometry a mammoth favour by pointing out the pachyderm preventing the profession playing a proper role in primary eye care. Namely respect and recognition for the optical profession by GPs.

It is not an easy thing to admit, indeed in some areas it simply isn’t the case, but for others the fact that individual GPs and ophthalmologists don’t engage with optometry is because of the attitudes they hold about fellow professionals.