But what about our costs?

CET is now compulsory, and rightly so. There does, however, seem to be some concern about recording our points.

These points can only be recorded by computer. If you are not familiar with internet use, the GOC advises help from colleagues, friends or relatives. Alternatively, the hapless internet-challenged registrant can find his weary way to a public library or internet cafe, which will no doubt be overflowing with internet literates enthusiastic to help. So that's all right then? Well, not really.

We appear to be responsible for more or less everything concerned with our CET that must be resolved by logging on or by email. This will help Vantage by keeping its costs low. Also, they will not be blamed if anything goes wrong. A further reduction in costs is possible by Vantage having only one employee engaged to record our points. She is very helpful indeed and hopes to have a part-timer to help.

But what about our costs? In her letter published on January 28, 2005, Dian Taylor, the GOC deputy registrar, said: 'Should the GOC be required itself to input the CET points for each of the approximate 16,000 registrants, it would incur significant workforce costs, such that the CET levy charged to each registrant would be significantly above the £27 per registrant.

What that seems to mean is that if 16,000 people pay £27 each, the income would be £432,000. A princely sum indeed. Our internet friend is by now sodden with pessimism, unsure of referral protocols, confused about visual field requirements, depressed about PPV and domiciliary visits, and reduced to twittering ineptitude about his monthly visits to internet cafes. He is aware that he is a familiar, but not too popular figure in internet cafe circles and, amid his bewildering depression, wonders why it is more difficult to record points than to obtain them in the first place.

The College did record our points for us by letter. They went out of their way to help. It was even possible to record points retrospectively. They did not charge. Our local optometric committee is unanimous in offering its services for the recording of CET points by any means, which can be confirmed. We also offer retrospective recording. We will do this for half the present price.

RH Gray Morris
Chairman, North Wales LOC