I am just catching up with the news following my holidays, and was interested in the letter from Alan Gilbert (Optician, August 15) entitled 'The profession has been "hood-winked"'.
He touches on the report about behavioural optometry, but seems more perturbed about the use of tints to alleviate the symptoms of Meares-Irlen syndrome ('Scotopic sensitivity syndrome' is a misnomer).
I suspect his reaction has been building up for some time and would be interested to hear if there is specific case which caused him to reach boiling point!
As he correctly states our professional procedures must satisfy credibility in both the eyes of our patients and our peers.
I too, like Mr Gilbert, have a long memory and can remember prescribing the NHS Crookes' tints for light sensitive migraine sufferers...most of whom found great comfort.
However, I was not aware of any real scientific evidence to suggest why this alleviated their migraine, but as a professional I felt validated to prescribe because of the practical results from my patients.
Similarly, if Mr Gilbert was to be asked at the conclusion of his examination by the parent of a child who was complaining of reading difficulty, had he done everything within his remit to help that child and he answered 'yes'...then that's fine.
However, if that parent returns with the child in a year's time wearing Colorimetry-prepared spectacles from elsewhere and reports the child's educational standing has dramatically improved then maybe that's not so fine for him.
Before I entered this area of work, I listened hard and attended numerous conferences and workshops on the subject before I made my own mind up. My judgement was made easier because many of the lecturers and demonstrators at these events I held in high esteem already because of their reputation and quality of research in other unrelated areas of optometry.
Personally, I now have over 15 years of this work under my belt and would not dream of a 'mischievous youngster' controlling the Colorimeter, just as much as not allowing them to rack minus up in their own DIY refraction.
I would finally say to Mr Gilbert, please do take your rose-tinted specs offbut don't be blinded by the light!
Stephen Wilcox
Liverpool
? I was saddened to read Alan Gilbert's response to Bill Harvey's report on behavioural optometry dismissing the use of Colorimetry as 'hood-winking' the profession.
Mr Gilbert obviously considers his opinion to be of greater value to the profession than those who peer-review the wealth of research supporting Colorimetry in OPO and other publications.
The testing process for Colorimetry was developed by leading optometrists and research psychologists and includes a recommended lower age limit for children being assessed. In terms of research, I suggest Mr Gilbert visits www.essex.ac.uk/psychology/overlays, publications before dismissing a system that has benefited tens of thousands of patients and is used by leading optometrists and taught in optometry universities around the country.
I fear that the adage 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' applies in Mr Gilbert's case.
Clive Sangster
CEO Cerium Visual Technologies