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Association News
23 August 2017
Issue 210
WCSM Education Trust Bursary Scheme 2017 now open for applications

The WCSM Education Trust Bursary Scheme 2017 is now open for applications.

Bursaries are available to first year students starting courses at UK universities and colleges which will lead directly to work in the optical professions.

25 bursaries of up to £1,000 will be awarded, through a competitive process, with funds being paid in early November to the successful candidates.

Last year’s winners came from 10 UK universities and colleges and WCSM is hoping for wide distribution of bursaries again this year.

Candidates must answer the questions on the application form and the form must be stamped by the relevant department or institution.

The application form, guidance notes and a statement of process are all now available on the WCSM website.

Read More
ICO data protection webinar and workshops

The ICO Assurance team (formally Good Practice) are in the process of preparing a webinar and some workshops aimed at small businesses in the health sector. The webinar is effectively an introductory session and the workshops will cover the GDPR in more depth.

‘Data Protection and Information Security now and in the future’ is an introduction to the basics for small organisations in the health sector.

The ICO are hosting the webinar on 23 August, and then hosting three one day interactive events for SMEs who are responsible for processing health-related personal data.

  • 11 October 2017 – London Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street
  • 7 November 2017 – Birmingham Crowne Plaza Birmingham City, Central Square
  • 9 November 2017 – Manchester Principal Hotel, Oxford Road

For more information click here

International experts team up to discuss myopia

A panel of international speakers will present an overview of an eye health epidemic which threatens to affect 50 per cent of the world’s population by 2050. Myopia is a growing problem across the world, with latest research suggesting that short-sightedness is expected to become a leading cause of permanent blindness in the years ahead. To tackle the problem – which is rapidly becoming a key topic among optometrists and contact lens practitioners – Aston University is staging a dedicated Myopia Management Meeting.

Experts including Kate Gifford, Jan Roelof Polling, Gillian Bruce and Katie Harrop will all lead discussion group sessions before a round table discussion featuring representatives from the AOP, the College of Optometrists, the General Optical Council and industry. Sponsored by CooperVision and Zeiss and facilitated by the British Contact Lens Association, the event is aimed at optometrists and contact lens opticians in practice with an interest in myopia management and control in children.

Dr Nicola Logan, a senior lecturer in optometry at Aston University, said: “The day brings together a wide range of international speakers who are experts in their field. It will consist of introductory lectures to the topic areas followed by discussion groups facilitated by the speakers.” The expert panel will share their current knowledge of myopia development and explain the current thinking in terms of myopia management and control.

The use of soft dual focus and/or multifocal contact lenses, orthokeratology, atropine and spectacles for myopia control will be explored in detail and there will be the opportunity for delegates to speak with the experts and ask specific questions.

The day will be staged ahead of the 16th International Myopia Conference, which will also feature the Chew Sek Jin memorial lecture, delivered by Dr Christine Wildsoet and entitled ‘Lessons from animal models of myopia – a cautionary tale’, while Ian Morgan will use ‘big data’ technology to look at the association between risk factors and refractive error.

Places for the meeting, which takes place at Conference Aston Meeting Suites, Aston University, Birmingham on Wednesday, 13 September 2017, can be reserved at a cost of £75, which includes refreshments and lunch.

For more information email imc2017@aston.ac.uk or telephone Dr Nicola Logan on 01212 044 128.

Optometry Tomorrow 2018
Tickets for Optometry Tomorrow 2018 are now on sale.

The College of Optometrists' annual two-day conference will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel from 18-19 March 2018 and will offer cutting-edge lectures, seminars, peer discussion and hands-on clinical and discussion workshops. Mr. Kam Balaggan, consultant ophthalmologist, is the first confirmed speaker and will present on VMT macular holes following overwhelming success at the conference in March. The full programme, which will be available on the College's website in late autumn, will cover a range of practice-based topics including OCT, dry eye, myopia control, AMD, contact lenses and glaucoma. Up to 15 CET points are available over the two days.

Click here for more details and to book tickets
Latest OSCE results announced by the College of Optometrists

The results are in for the College of Optometrists’ latest OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). 326 candidates sat the OSCE in July – the Scheme for Registration’s final assessment – resulting in a pass rate of 70%. This is in line with previous pass rates for this time of year.

The OSCE consists of 17 five-minute stations, made up of 16 clinical tasks and a rest station. Each station assesses the candidates’ skills, including history taking, communication, data interpretation, clinical examination and practical skills.

During the OSCE candidates may be tested on any of the stage two elements of competence set out by the General Optical Council. This assessment acts as a final check that competence across the framework has been achieved and maintained.

Read More
New provider of College of Optometrists Higher Professional Certificate in Contact Lens Practice Read More
CET contact lens roadshows Read More
ABDO National Consultation Day

The ABDO National Consultation Day will be held on Thursday 26 October 2017 at the Burlington Hotel, Burlington Arcade, 126 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4JQ.

All ABDO members are invited and welcome to attend. The event provides a chance for members to meet regional leads & board members and find out what is happening in ABDO.

To confirm your attendance email Jane Burnand at jburnand@abdolondon.org.uk.

Professional conference - Excellence in Patient Support

The Macular Society will be hosting a professional conference 'Excellence in Patient Support’ on Tuesday 28 November 2017 at Resource for London, 356 Holloway Road, London, N7 6PA.

The conference will focus on the latest in macular treatments, patient experience of the eye clinic, best practice, depression and anxiety in sight loss. There will also be a a select group of exhibitors. Tickets cost £45.
    
This year’s conference will include the following talks:

  • Overview of current treatment - Clare Bailey, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Bristol Eye Hospital
  • A patient panel
  • Vision and Dementia: Making a Difference - Rakhee Shah, Optometrist/Lecturer, City University of London
  • The Patient will see you now - Pearse Keane, NIHR Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital 

      
Click for the full programme

Buy tickets
Re:View - the ABDO College newsletter

In the September 2017 issue of Re:View you will find information on the new level 4 optical assistants course, there’s also an article on the MSc programme for dispensing opticians, as well as useful tips on producing a dissertation.

The home of ABDO College has been hitting news headlines recently as it’s featured on the new polymer £10 note, the story in this issue outlines Godmersham Park’s connection with Jane Austen, who is also depicted on the new banknote.

Modern technology, and how it can be used to treat childhood amblyopia, was the topic for Stephen Pringle’s dissertation, and you can read about Stephen and the findings of his research.

Jai Kudo Lenses has become the latest addition to the list of industry partners to sponsor ABDO College, you can discover more about the company and their decision to support the College.

Steve Roberts has joined the ABDO College team in the role of courses coordinator, optical support programmes; you can find out more about him in the interview feature.

Re:View - the ABDO College newsletter
ABDO College seeks distance learning tutors

ABDO College is looking to recruit a number of distance learning tutors.

Applicants must have passed the ABDO Level 6 ophthalmic dispensing final theory examination (FQE) at the first attempt.

Commencing in January 2018, a nine week training course will be run for successful applicants.

If you would like to apply, please email Claire Raffill at craffill@abdocollege.org.uk for an application pack.

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