Comment: Déjà vu or change in sight?

The optical profession really is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, to borrow from Winston Churchill.

Last week at the SMC, the master, an ophthalmologist said that optics was now multidisciplinary, with better working relationships between the professionals. If the attendance at the presentation day, with guests from technicians through to optometrists and other ophthalmologists, is anything to go by, it seems that at least there is some common ground at Apothocaries' Hall.

However, look through the latest issue of Optician, and it could be argued that little has really changed in the past 20 years, with all-in pricing still being seen as a means to attract consumers through the doors as the larger retailers compete on price.