This month sees the start of the European Championship in France where 24 teams will compete for the Henri Delaunay Cup. In August it’s the return of the Olympics. More than 10,000 athletes from 200 counties will compete in Brazil for the chance to win a gold medal.
Those competing may have been lucky enough to be born with some natural attribute or talent that makes them good at what they do, but in reality the main reason they are able to compete at the highest level is constant training and development. A large team of coaches, including nutritionists, psychologists, and even optometrists, support them in this training.
While only one person ends up winning the gold, they could not have done it without their support team. As optometrists it is also vital to continually train ourselves and our support team to provide the best for our patients.
Our standards of practice demand we continually train and develop, and that can only be a good thing. In Specsavers we are fortunate to have a fantastic professional development team who deliver topical CET-approved training and of course the annual PAC conference. However, we also have the benefit of our in-store teams who support the work we do, and deliver truly exceptional customer service.
This month, my team has been looking at dementia, not only to try to recognise its signs and symptoms, but also to ensure we look after these patients when they are in our care. It is no secret that with our increasingly ageing population, the number of people with dementia will also increase, and in optometric practice a significant proportion of our clients will be affected.
People with dementia may report seeing things that aren’t actually there, which can cause significant concern. Some may also have a different perception of time, which in our appointment-based clinics could lead to increased anxiety about their visit. Dementia can cause a patient to have symptoms of frustration and anger, which could be exacerbated by external factors like having their sight tested, as this can be a stressful experience.
So what can we do? We can try to recognise signs of dementia in our patients and support those affected by being kind and patient. They may appreciate longer appointment slots. It is also important to recognise that people are being diagnosed with dementia in relatively young ‘old age’; it is not just a disease of the very elderly.
In Richmond we have a high proportion of elderly patients, many of whom have been diagnosed with dementia. Speaking with them and their families about the disease has led to a better understanding of how it affects them and their day-to-day lives and what we can do to support them during their sight test.
Could summer finally be making an appearance? As I type, Richmond has been basking in a few
consecutive days of blue skies and warmth. Obviously this is the time of year when sunglasses become more of a priority for us. Firstly as eye health professionals we consider UV protection, but secondly for our patients, who want to have sunglasses to enjoy the summer, or for their holidays abroad.
We also tend to find that the better weather motivates patients who haven’t previously considered contact lenses to do so. The benefit of wearing contact lenses for sport or the convenience of not having to carry around two pairs of glasses is significant. The opportunity with glasses wearers who do not wear contact lenses is vast, and it always amazes me when patients tell me ‘I never thought I would be suitable for contacts’.
It can also be life-changing. I remember during my pre-reg year fitting a lady with custom-made toric contact lenses for her wedding. When asked why she wanted contact lenses she replied that she was bullied so badly at school for wearing glasses she wouldn’t wear them at all. After fitting the lenses she wanted to go and meet her husband-to-be. When she returned to my consulting room she had the biggest smile on her face and told me that, thanks to the contact lenses, it was the first time she had truly seen what her fiancée looked like. Thankfully she wasn’t disappointed as the wedding was only weeks away.
Throughout this summer my team and I will continue to train, so we can continue to meet and exceed the needs of our customers, and even to offer additional services that our patients didn’t know were available to them.
Ross Campbell is ophthalmic director of Specsavers, Richmond, North Yorkshire
