In focus: Profession sets out to restore faith in 'good optometry'

Patients glancing at their daily newspapers in mid-July may have been forgiven for thinking twice about attending a forthcoming eye appointment.

Earlier this month optometrist Honey Rose was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence at Ipswich Crown Court (see last week’s In Focus).

The prosecution successfully argued that Rose should have diagnosed papilledema on eight-year-old Vincent Barker during an eye test in 2012, but the boy died five months later.

Rose was working at Boots Opticians in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich, when the crucial eye examination was carried out.

With sentencing expected next month, the guilty verdict was dreaded among both optical and medical professions – the first time an eye care professional had faced such charges.