Forecasting the future of eye care is perilous

The lecture on eye health care delivered by Patrick Dixon, the futurist, at the launch of Optegra’s new eye care centre in London was said to be like looking into the crystal ball of ophthalmology.

When I first started my ophthalmic optics course at university in 1972, the experts of the day predicted that due to advanced technology and computer systems, ‘opticians’ (as we were called then) would be working fewer hours each week thus giving us more time to pursue our leisure activities. How wrong they were. Who in 1972 forecasted seven-day working weeks, regular late night opening, and buying glasses and contact lenses online 24/7?