Optometry Today

Pre-reg optometrist at Specsavers Stirling, Hannah Silcock, is sharing her journey to qualification with us. In Hannah’s latest article, she reveals the most memorable moment of her pre-reg placement: seeing a patient who was registered severely sight impaired.   Hannah told us: “They were not currently wearing glasses, but wanted to know if there was anything I could do to improve the small area of vision they had. I was able to use plus lenses to improve their vision to a level which they found quite overwhelming. It was touching that they were so thankful that I had spent the time helping them. I think it will be an experience that will stick with me for a long time to come.”    Read more our website: https://lnkd.in/e-BK-vRT

To mark #TalkMoneyWeek, we launched My money diary series, speaking with optometrists in a range of roles about their approach to budgeting and gathering insight on how optometry as a profession is valued. We will be publishing a new story every day this week. Catch up with our stories here: https://lnkd.in/eiQF3QFx

Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas 🪔 The OT team would like to wish every celebrating today a wonderful day. To mark the festivities we caught up with optometrists to find out how they're celebrating the Hindu festival of light and Sikh day of liberation. Read our story here: https://ow.ly/Nlg850TXu4Z Special thanks to Keyur Patel, Ranjesh Rajani, Jagdeep Kaur Gill, Ankur Trivedi, Vijay Anand, Sachin Patel, Deepali Modha, and Kamal Kalsi, for sharing how you celebrate with us all of us.

In the first in a new series of Special Reports, we explore how the roles of hospital optometrists have expanded, the importance of core skills, drivers of change, and key considerations for recognising this workforce. If you work in hospital optometry or have an interest in this area this is one article you'll want to read. Learn more and read the full article here: https://ow.ly/uecn50TSgzS Special thanks to the following people and organisations for providing your insights and sharing your experiences Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Vijay Anand, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Waheeda Illahi, Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust, Thomas Hamper, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

“If it’s an urgent case, patients are willing to travel out further to get that treatment. Getting that treatment in a timely manner is so important, because once the damage is done, it’s difficult to reverse. You have to catch that patient at the right time,” says Sandhya. In partnership with SpaMedica, we spoke to two optometrists, Sandhya Gosai and Deepal Burgess, about the benefits of referring patients into independent providers for NHS AMD treatment. Watch the full discussion ➡️ https://ow.ly/kXI750TRvVr

Want to learn more about ethics in optics? In our latest CPD video the Association of Optometrists clinical and regulatory team discuss navigating ethics and behaving professionally in practice. During this discussion Henry Leonard, Roshni Kanabar and Kevin Wallace reveal some of the common queries they deal with and how to avoid pitfalls. Watch and take the CPD video exam on the OT website here: https://ow.ly/ASoB50TPNOm

Optometrist at Royal Stoke University Hospital, Remlah Issa, shares her experience of working in hospital optometry. Here she shares more about her transition from community to hospital. Remlah shared: "One thing that I get asked about a lot is the journey of transitioning from being an optometrist who has done their pre-reg in the community, to then working in hospital after qualifying, and what that change was like. A lot of my peers say things like, ‘I can’t do hospital. It’s going to be too difficult, too complex. I’ve only ever worked in community, I’m not competent enough. But actually, I would encourage all optometrists to experience the hospital setting. The skills you learn are invaluable, and don’t worry – you will get support and the relevant training. You won’t be thrown into the deep end straight away." Read our full interview with Remlah here: https://ow.ly/Ev5p50TOvEe

🌟 It's GIVEAWAY TIME 🌟 Are you an optometry student or pre-reg optometrist? Or perhaps you know a student who could benefit from this prize? We’ve collaborated with Grafton Optical to offer one lucky student the chance to win this incredible kit. To enter and find out more details visit our Instagram ➡️ https://ow.ly/TcWU50TMEpP

Today organisations, eye care professional and the public got involved in #WorldSightDay. We explored how the eye care sector planned to mark the awareness day this year. If you'd like to learn more read our story here: https://ow.ly/M4mk50TJ8KG Special thanks to International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Sightsavers, UNICEF, World Council Of Optometry, Orbis International, Peek Vision, Priya Morjaria, Vision Action, MODO Eyewear, RNIB, and ZEISS Group for contributing and sharing how they take part in the World Sight Day.

Free eye examinations will be rolled out to all children in special schools in England from 2025. The programme will reach around 18,000 children and young people up to the age of 25 in England, NHS England confirmed. Want to find out more? Read our news story here: https://ow.ly/69fY50TGWqb