I am a dispensing optician who has done continuing education to gain the qualification of CLO. I now find myself in the position of having to gain 36 standard CET points and then an extra 18 specialist CL points to remain on the register.
I would like to know why we need to do the extra points, when optometrists, who also fit contact lenses, do not have to do any extra specialist points, and they get funds to do this!
I would like to know if there are any of my fellows out there who would prefer to study and gain 54 CL points as opposed to having to study for standard points that are in the main irrelevant to our everyday practice. Surely it makes us better CL fitters if our study is all aimed at contact lens fitting as opposed to spectacles.
I feel very strongly about this and am willing to take this further to get this changed. I have already spoken to the lady in charge of CET at ABDO and she has passed my sentiments to the powers that be.
I would be very grateful if you could publish the above letter so I can get the ball rolling. Is there a possibility of people writing to you and then you passing their thoughts on to me please?
Kerry Alexander
Swindon
I should like to compliment CIBA Vision on the launch of its latest product – Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus. Although I didn’t get an invitation to its launch in London last week (maybe next time!), I have studied the details and indeed handled the product in last week’s edition of Optician and I am impressed by the full and detailed presentation by John Pruitt, Karen Lindley and Lynn Winterton.
Although there is the inevitable marketing hype, I am much more confident to consider inserting this lens in my patient’s eyes and indeed in my own eyes than some other products.
I actually wrote to Optician (September 16, 2005) when the
‘1 day Acuvue Moist’ was launched because the manufacturer did not tell us what its ‘moisture-rich ingredient’ was, whereas CIBA Vision has told us exactly what its moisturising agents are. The information may still not satisfy polymer scientists and the like, but as a humble contact lens optician and contact lens wearer I’m impressed.
Finally, whether the product actually works locally and globally remains to be seen.
(I am a locum CLO and have no commercial or other interest in CL manufacturers)
Colin Henry
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
So the Scottish salami slice has begun (News, November 9). Having got themselves into a monopoly situation, it looks as though the Scottish Executive are following the example of the Department of Health and will year on year reduce the fee in real terms until like England optometrists are working for no remuneration and putting their hands in their pockets to subsidise half the overheads as well.
The only way to counter the salami slice is to walk away or reduce what you do for the reduced fee.
Given the perfidious nature of people in power, this is a salutary warning to those who want to see a universal NHS eye test re-introduced. Why give up private patients, to whom you charge a realistic fee, to give such people a monopoly power over you?
Peter Harrop
Caernarfon, Gwynedd