DO January 2024 WEB

NEWS, INFORMATION AND EDUCATION FOR OPTICIANS JANUARY 2024

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Front Cover 2024 Love Eyewear Award judges: Nuria Gomez Fernandez and Miguel Mazon Varela Read more on page 10. JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 3 features 14. CPD: C-107280 Young adult myopia by Kathryn Webber and Dr Matthew Cufflin 19. CPD MCAs: C-106040 Your wellbeing matters by Sheena Tanna-Shah 21. CPD: Plans for 2024 New year, new CPD plans? by Alex Webster 22. Research review: Part 1 Research changes practice by Dr Neema Ghorbani Mojarrad 24. In practice: Coaching Unlock your potential by David Samuel 26. ABDO Annual Plan 2024 Priorities and purpose by Alistair Bridge 27. Preview: Student Revision Event Revision road to success 28. Preview: 100% Optical Time to shine by Nicky Collinson regulars 5. Comment 6. Newsome's Notes 6. News 11. OSA meet the member: BIB Ophthalmic Instruments 12. Product spotlight: Eyewear 29. DO'ing something different Eyecare FAQ OA Corner inserts Re:View Issue 46 DO Online DO X DO Instagram ABDO Facebook ABDO X ABDO LinkedIn contents JANUARY 2024 stay in touch 22. 28. 10 29. 8. 12.

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 5 DISPENSING OPTICS The Professional Journal of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians Volume 39 No 1 EDITORIAL STAFF Editor Nicky Collinson BA (Hons) Telephone 0797 903 3542 Email [email protected] Assistant Editor Jane Burnand Telephone 0793 993 6827 Email [email protected] Design and Production Duncan Taylor-Jones Email [email protected] EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING Telephone 0797 903 3542 Email [email protected] Website www.abdo.org.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS UK £150 Overseas £175, including postage Apply to: Edward Fox FBDO Association of British Dispensing Opticians Godmersham Park, Godmersham, Kent, CT4 7DT Telephone 01227 733911 Email [email protected] Website www.abdo.org.uk ABDO CPD Head of CPD Alexandra Webster MSc PGDipE FBDO CL FHEA FBCLA ABDO CPD, Unit 2, Court Lodge Offices, Godmersham Park, Godmersham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7DT Telephone 01206 734155 Email [email protected] CPD REVIEW PANEL Josie Barlow FBDO CL Andrew Cripps FBDO PG Cert HE FHEA Kim Devlin FBDO (Hons) CL Stephen Freeman BSc (Hons) MCOptom FBDO (Hons) Cert Ed Clare Hayes FBDO CL SFHEA Claire McDonnell FAOI Graeme Stevenson FBDO (Hons) CL Alex Webster MSc PGDipE FBDO CL FHEA FBCLA Gaynor Whitehouse FBDO (Hons) LVA EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Nicky Collinson BA (Hons) Antonia Chitty PhD MCOptom MCIPR MPRCA Alex Webster MSc PGDipE FBDO CL FHEA FBCLA Max Halford FBDO CL Daryl Newsome FBDO R CL SMC (Tech) Alistair Bridge Jane Burnand Duncan Taylor-Jones DISPENSING OPTICS IS PUBLISHED BY ABDO, Unit 2, Court Lodge Offices, Godmersham Park, Godmersham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 7DT Dispensing Optics is printed by P&P Litho Ltd, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 1AB © ABDO: No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means whatever without the written prior permission of the publishers Dispensing Optics welcomes contributions for possible editorial publication. However, contributors warrant to the publishers that they own all rights to illustrations, artwork or photographs submitted and also to copy which is factually accurate and does not infringe any other party’s rights ISSN 0954 3201 AVERAGE CIRCULATION: 6,846 copies (January to December 2023) I hope you had a fantastic break over the festive period and have started 2024 feeling refreshed. To kick off the new year, ABDO will be publishing its Annual Plan (see page 26) highlighting the activities we will be focusing on in supporting and representing members, enabling them to develop their careers, promoting awareness of their roles, and advancing the profession as a whole. A key priority will be the launch of the FBDO apprenticeship in the autumn. ABDO’s degree-level FBDO diploma is ideally suited to the apprenticeship model – as for many years students have combined working in an optical practice with studying through blended learning or day release. What makes the approval of an apprenticeship for dispensing optics so exciting is that employers will be able to draw down the money they have paid through the government’s apprenticeship levy, and use this to fund student dispensing opticians. Historically, there might have been reservations about the status of apprenticeships – and whether they have the same value as other degree-level qualifications. However, times have changed and with doctors, accountants and even the Bank of England embracing apprenticeships, we are in good company. It is time for us to embrace this opportunity and attract more students, expand the profession and raise the profile of dispensing opticians as vital members of the primary eyecare team. January is also the time to plan your continuing professional development (CPD) for the year ahead. With 2024 being the final year of the current three-year CPD cycle, there is obviously the need to satisfy all the General Optical Council's requirements to continue practising. Even without this incentive, there is huge value in developing your skills, reflecting and learning with colleagues, and staying on top of product, technology and research developments. For ideas and inspiration, look out for the article by ABDO’s head of CPD, Alex Webster, on all the opportunities on offer to you (see page 21). Here’s to a stimulating and successful 2024. Alistair Bridge Chief executive IN GOOD COMPANY

6 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 Newsome's Notes OUR MONTHLY COLUMN FROM THE ABDO PRESIDENT DARYL NEWSOME Ready for the next chapter? I was fortunate to have attended quite a few clinical and technical training sessions last year – sometimes as a delegate, sometimes as a facilitator. In either role, I always learn something – and I’m still processing everything that I learnt at ABDO’s inaugural Myopia Management Conference last October. What is particularly gratifying in my role as a facilitator is seeing delegates grow in confidence as they learn new skills. At a recent ABDO Extended Services Day at the National Resource Centre, we delivered training on acute eyecare procedures to prepare delegates for their Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC) objective structured clinical examinations to then be qualified to deliver minor eye conditions services (MECS). All the delegates have to be contact lens optician (CLO) qualified and, before attending this course, complete the WOPEC online theoretical training. Over the course of the day, I shared my experiences since qualifying as a MECS CLO in 2021. I highlighted the variety these skills throw into my day, and the end-of-day satisfaction that having extended skills has given me. As an example, I recounted removing a foreign body from someone’s eye, and the double lid eversion I performed to access said foreign body. Often, dispensing opticians (DOs) and CLOs do not realise they are able to expand their scope of practice – provided that they have received the appropriate education and training. Our extended services course is one way to develop your skills and knowledge. While foreign body removal will not be for everyone, there are many interesting roles that DOs can undertake with the appropriate education and training. Your scope of practice is certainly not frozen in time on the day you qualify. If you would like to explore the opportunities available to you, as your professional body, we are here to help. Daryl Newsome FBDO R CL SMC (Tech) President of ABDO CLOs to benefit from CPD scheme changes General Optical Council (GOC) registrants with a specialty, such as contact lens opticians (CLOs) and optometrists with prescribing rights, can now obtain points in the specialty domain through self-directed CPD following an internal review of the GOC's CPD scheme. Self-directed CPD allows registrants to count learning from sources other than GOC-approved CPD providers towards their points totals. Examples include reading a relevant article, giving a lecture or talk, or mentoring or supervising a colleague. The GOC's MyCPD portal has been updated to allow for self-directed specialty points – and registrants can now claim points for activities completed at any stage in the current CPD cycle. Following the review, CLOs are also now able to participate in peer review with optometrists, in line with the CPD rules (2021). The changes come after an internal review of the CPD scheme to see how it was being received, whether it was meeting its objectives, and whether further guidance or changes could be enacted where necessary. Steve Brooker, GOC director of regulatory strategy, explained: “Our CPD review was a valuable exercise in helping us reflect on the progress of the scheme so far, and seeing if we needed to make modifications to the scheme this cycle. We hope our announcement brings clarity and benefits registrants, particularly those with a specialty, as we approach this cycle’s final year." He added that uptake of self-directed CPD had been low so far, so the GOC was planning to promote it more effectively to support registrants "to take advantage of this easy and flexible way of gaining CPD points". Commenting on the changes, ABDO head of CPD, Alex Webster, said: "It is very welcome to see the postreview changes the GOC is bringing to the CPD scheme in the current cycle. "CLOs have the potential to directly benefit from both of these scheme developments, with the ability to undertake self-directed learning in areas relevant to their professional practice, and to undertake peer review with a broader range of contact lens eyecare practitioners than has been possible over the last two years. "This latter change will enable CLOs and optometrists to share their contact lens practice, knowledge and clinical experiences to support improved patient care and inter-professional practice working," Alex added. Turn to page 21 for more guidance from Alex on meeting the current CPD cycle's requirements. Learning new skills Peer review alongside optometrists now open to CLOs

Dr Andy Hepworth BSc (Hons) FBDO has been awarded Life Membership of ABDO for the major contribution he has made to the Association – and to the dispensing profession – over many years. Andy graduated from Anglia Polytechnic University in 1996 with an honours degree in Optical Management, and following two years in practice management, joined Essilor as a lens account manager. He was appointed as Essilor's professional relations manager in 2003, a role that includes creating and delivering presentations to optical universities and colleges along with CPD to optical professionals. Known to many as Essilor's "resident technical expert", Andy received the ABDO Medal of Excellence in 2014 for his exceptional services to the optical community, the youngest person receive this honour. As a member of the Optical Suppliers Association (OSA) board, and as a past chairman, Andy is recognised as being instrumental in raising the profile of dispensing opticians (DOs) and their vital role in primary eyecare. Andy was presented with his award during the OSA annual lunch at the Bloomsbury Hotel in London last month by ABDO president, Daryl Newsome, who remarked: "Your passion for optics and unwavering positivity have proved to be enormously important and inspiring to all who work with you." Andy said he "was amazed" to receive the award. "Along with being grateful for this Life Membership presented by ABDO's president, I love being a registered DO working within an optical supplier. Thank you so very much." ABDO Life Membership for "resident technical expert" Andy receiving his award New principal for ABDO College NINA MCDERMOTT NEWS JANUARY 2024 JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 7 ABDO has welcomed the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's (DVSA's) intention to consider how vision assessments are administered during the driving test, in its newly-published business plan for 2023/24. The DVSA has stated it will engage with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s medical panel "to ensure that any new procedures meet the current standards". The current driving test checks that motorists meet the minimum eyesight requirement for driving by reading a number plate from 20 metres. Potential changes to how the vision assessment is conducted were subject to a DVSA public consultation, which ran between 25 January and 8 March 2022 with 20,960 people responding. Most respondents supported the proposal to have more flexibility about how the DVSA checks the standard of vision, including looking at options to introduce an alternative means to conduct the assessment that is not dependent on good daylight – or reading a car number plate. Almost 60 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the latter proposal – with one commenting: "I do not understand why a road safety organisation such as the DVSA conducts such a rudimentary eyesight check as asking someone to read a number plate from the very short distance of only 20m. If we’re going to be serious about road safety, then anyone wishing to apply for a driving licence should be required to take a full eyesight examination with an optometrist." Max Halford, ABDO clinical lead, said: "ABDO welcomes the DVSA’s intention to consider how eyesight checks for driving should be carried out and would support a more robust and scientific approach, such as a practice delivered vision assessment. "Ensuring that the vision of drivers is assessed at appropriate intervals and, if necessary, improved through well-fitting spectacles or contact lenses, is vital for the safety of other road users and pedestrians – and for drivers themselves.” Adam Sampson, chief executive of the Association of Optometrists, said: "We have long argued that the way drivers’ vision is assessed needs to change. The number plate test is not a reliable indicator of whether someone can drive safely because it does not check all the relevant aspects of visual function. It is also only carried out once with a driving instructor, meaning someone can pass their test and then never have their vision checked again. "The solution is to replace the number plate test with a modern and adequate evaluation process that is carried out by a trained eye health professional, much better placed to assess vision.” Driving test vision assessments under review Nina McDermott has joined ABDO College as its new principal. A higher education consultant, Nina's most recent role was as executive director of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at King’s College London. She will steer the College as it prepares to launch the new apprenticeship in dispensing optics alongside its current range of courses. Nina said: "It is evident that ABDO College is a very special place with an outstanding reputation in ophthalmic dispensing. I feel privileged to support the College, staff and students in the next stage of development." Read more ABDO College news in Re:View, out with this month's issue of Dispensing Optics.

NEWS 8 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 Cloth that doesn't cost the earth Caseco has introduced a microfibre cloth that breaks down in the soil. Unlike traditional microfibres, which persist in the biosphere due to their plastic composition, Caseco’s new Bio cloth is engineered to break down naturally in the soil. The composting process is facilitated by oxygen, water and soil flora and fauna. The cloth is certified to industry standard ISO 14855-1:2012, confirming its fibres break down by 70 per cent within 45 days, and by 95 per cent in 45 weeks. Julian Clarke, Caseco managing director, said: “This is a major opportunity for practices to reduce their microfibre plastic impact by 95 per cent, and we’re delighted to play our part. Our Bio cloths can be personalised in full digital colour and enclosed in a Kraft card wallet, adding stand-out individuality to a practice’s sustainability.” As part of Caseco’s commitment to sustainability, the company has relocated to the Eco Business Centre in Bicester – a carbonneutral building. It also offers British-made lens cleaning bottles made from recycled PET plastic. Spotlight on myopia lens evidence Hoya Vision Care has launched a global Confidence Through Evidence campaign, highlighting the evidence supporting the use of its Miyosmart spectacle lens in practice. To date, the lens is supported by more than 25 scientific publications and is the subject of a six-year follow-up clinical study – the longest on a myopia management spectacle lens – showing its myopia control effects are sustainable over time, with no rebound effect if use is stopped. Hoya's global medical affairs team is also conducting a three-year observational study in the UK, which reached its one-year milestone early last year. The results demonstrate similar effectiveness of the lens in Caucasian versus Asian children, particularly in children aged eight to 13 years. “It’s important to choose treatments to slow the progression of myopia in children based on best evidence available,” said Professor Saw Seang Mei from the Singapore Eye Research Institute, in a campaign expert interview published by Hoya on LinkedIn.   The campaign aims "to educate practitioners on the importance of evidence in childhood myopia, as well as bring attention to the robust Miyosmart evidence, which will allow eyecare professionals to confidently manage myopia in their everyday clinical practice" – the company stated. Membership renewals All members are reminded to visit the ABDO website to renew their membership by 31 January – to continue accessing the complete range of benefits, resources, CPD events and courses to support everyday practice and career progression. Please note: members with a direct debit in place will have their membership renewed automatically. Electronic claims now mandatory As of 1 January 2024, it is now a contractual requirement that all GOS claims are submitted electronically via the practice management system or Primary Care Support (PCSE) Online. A new process for submitting claims electronically in respect of uncollected glasses and back vertex distance changes has also been introduced. Additionally, the claim window for submitting GOS 1, 5 and 6 forms has been reduced from six months to three months. PCSE has worked with NHS England to update the current Business Continuity Plan, including a new paper slip to capture patient signatures during system outages or for domiciliary providers working in low signal areas. "This will bring significant benefits for domiciliary providers, who have found that mobile signal limitations have been a major and long-standing obstacle to delivering care," said a spokesperson from the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC). "The OFNC has been pressing NHS England for action on this issue since it was first raised by domiciliary providers. We will continue to monitor these arrangements and provide feedback to NHS England as the paper switch off progresses. Practitioners should contact their OFNC member body if they experience any issues." Promoting confidence through evidence New eco solution

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 9 Eyespace joins B Corp community Eyespace has become the latest optical industry firm to achieve B Corporation (B Corp) status. CEO and co-founder, Jayne Abel, said: “We are delighted to be participating in a growing global movement striving for positive change, and to receive this recognition through B Corp, which is one of the world’s most stringent voluntary certifications for environmental and social impact, is incredibly rewarding for each one of our Eyespace colleagues.” Product director and chief sustainability officer, Emily Andrews, said: “We are thrilled to join the B Corp community and hope to continue to drive the conversation forward. As a company we seek to infuse sustainable thinking into every area of our product and service offerings, thus ensuring our social, ethical and environmental practices lead the way”. JANUARY 2024 Holistic approach to myopia control Driving dry eye services Shamir Optical Industry, part of the EssilorLuxottica group, has launched a new holistic solution for managing childhood myopia in the form of Shamir Optimee lenses. Clinically proven to manage myopia progression, the lenses are also designed to support a child's natural posture. Shamir Optimee integrates Shamir Focusflow next-generation defocus technology, said to provide a clear central vertical zone that enables flexible eye movements without the wearer overflexing their neck. Manufactured with Shamir Metaform, the company claims the lenses are up to 18 times stronger than the US Food and Drug Administration standard requirement. A clinical trial currently running in Israel, led by Professor Yair Morad, is comparing the progression of myopia and axial elongation with Shamir Optimee vs single vision lenses in 126 children aged six to 13 years. First-year results shows that axial elongation in children under 10 years was slowed by 43 per cent on average. Full year one results can be found in the American Journal of Ophthalmology (January 2024). Yagen Moshe, Shamir CEO, said: “The launch of Shamir Optimee is an exciting step for Shamir. It continues our long legacy of developing innovative, highperformance lenses and establishes a new childcare category range, in which we focus on safeguarding the eyesight and wellbeing of children, supporting their safety, comfort, confidence and sharp vision, now and in the future.” The lenses are set to be available in the UK this year. On Monday 8 July, Proven Track Record (PTR) will stage its 2024 Independents Day (iDay) conference at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham under the title: ‘Unlocking your practice’s dry eye potential’. PTR director, Nick Atkins, said: “Enhancing dry eye services, or establishing a dry eye clinic, has long been on the ‘to do’ list of many independents. I think focusing on the commercialisation of dry eye will, once again, strike a chord with our independent audience.” Following the retirement of PTR co-founder, David Goad, Maxine Green has joined the company as a director. Maxine commented: “As the most significant and unique conference in the independent optical events calendar, I’m delighted to now be directly involved in its future development and continuing to provide the sector with topical and thought-provoking business programmes.” Visit the new iDay website at www.independentsday.co.uk for more details and to take advantage of early bird booking prices. Hairy Biker backs eyecare strategy Hairy Biker star, Dave Myers, whose early signs of glaucoma were diagnosed during an eye examination, is supporting a sector-wide call for a national eye health strategy. Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Vision Impairment, has been leading a campaign in parliament to have a strategy introduced. She said: "Health strategies have delivered positive outcomes in Scotland, as they have in England for other diseases, but at present England is the only country in the UK without an eye health strategy. It is extremely worrying that the government is refusing to introduce a strategy – and its inaction is undermining efforts to deliver better eyecare in England. "That’s why I introduced a private members bill [last year] calling for a national eye health strategy, which would improve the quality of life of people with sight loss, eliminate the postcode lottery, address health inequalities, and link up patient pathways for overall improved health outcomes," added Marsha, who was born with nystagmus. The campaign is backed by Specsavers, whose Access to Care Report 2023 found that more than one million A&E attendances last year were for eyerelated conditions; more than half of these could have been treated in community optical practices. The report also found that people with eye-related conditions account for five million GP consultations every year, also treatable by community eyecare practitioners. ABDO CEO, Alistair Bridge, said: "It is disappointing that Marsha de Cordova's private member’s bill did not progress further during the last session of parliament, but we will continue to work with sector partners to highlight the vital role that optical practices play in safeguarding the nation’s eye health and the particular value that dispensing opticians provide as part of the primary eyecare team." Hairy Biker, Dave Myers MAXINE GREEN New childcare category created

NEWS 10 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 New channel for cases and cloths Optoplast, part of Millmead Optical Group, has acquired the cases and cloth business of Louis Stone Optical and is now the sole distributor of these products. "This collaboration brings together two reputable entities, each renowned for their commitment to quality and excellence in the optical accessories market," said James Conway, Millmead Optical Group CEO. "Louis Stone Optical has long been recognised for its cases and cloths, and Optoplast is eager to integrate these products into its already extensive offering." The acquisition comes following the retirement last month of Louis Stone Optical's co-directors, Judith and Paul Gaba. They had run the Cardiffbased spectacle frame, case and optical instrument distributor for the past 42 years alongside their daughter Clare as head of marketing and communications. Flying the flag for accessibility Mido has relaunched its website ahead of its 2024 edition, taking place from 3 to 5 February at the Fiera Milano Rho. Apart from having undergone a 'less is more' visual refresh, the site now complies with the European Accessibility Act, due to come into force in June 2025. "The creation of the new website, a tool available to all stakeholders at the eyewear tradeshow, represents an important step for Mido in raising awareness among operators in the industry on the issues of digital accessibility and inclusion, which will continue with further technological developments, promoting sharing and dissemination," said a spokesperson. The site has been optimised for users with mobility and cognitive disabilities, offers more than 100 features to adapt and customise the browsing experience, and has a font option specifically for dyslexic users. Visit www.mido.com for all the latest show news. At last month's AGM and annual lunch of the Optical Suppliers Association (OSA), members celebrated a successful year and a new tagline – 'Empowering the profession'. Members heard about the progress being made by the DICOM Task and Finish Group in preparing new standards to drive inter-operability between devices and optical communities. "The DICOM group is essential for moving optics forward, with the OSA acting as independent assessors during this part of the process," said OSA chair, Roy Stoner. "We are developing a long-term partnership with the NHS to support their eyecare transformation plans, not just on the present topics, but for everything else which will emerge in the near future, where supplier engagement will benefit the common goal." Members also received an update on the OSA's E-Health Group. “Our E-Health Group has been fantastically successful, with businesses seeing the importance of working together and collectively addressing the grey areas in e-health and the routes to adoption," added Roy. The gathering saw professional body representatives engaging and networking with OSA members, including (L-R): Ian Humphreys (College of Optometrists), Leonie Milliner (General Optical Council), Luke Stevens-Burt (British Contact Lens Association), Roy Stoner, Daryl Newsome (ABDO president), Elizabeth Shilling (Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers) and Alistair Bridge (ABDO CEO). Influencers join judging line-up Media 10 has announced a new line-up of influencer partnerships for 2024, who will also join the panel of judges for this year’s Love Eyewear Awards. Collaborating with the 10th anniversary 100% Optical next month are: Carolina Lober, a personal image consultant from Barcelona with 11 years' experience in eyewear-specialised consulting; eyewear bloggers Nuria Gomez Fernandez and Miguel Mazon Varela, who is also an optometrist; and Grégoire Vuilleumier, vintage eyewear curator. The shortlisted nominees for the 2024 Love Eyewear Awards will be announced on 22 January – and the winners revealed on 24 February. Turn to page 28 for more show news. Empowering the profession Promoting inclusion ahead of the curve Nuria Gomez Fernandez and Miguel Mazon Varela Stakeholders connect with industry in London

ABDO College at 100% Optical 24–26 February 2024 Excel London Visit ABDO College on Stand: B351 to learn about courses and training. Discover how to: • plan training for your practice team • become a dispensing optician • become a contact lens optician • upgrade your optical assistant skills And order competitively priced dispensing, optometry, ophthalmology and contact lens books and equipment such as rules, gauges and charts from the ABDO College Bookshop. Special offer: free postage with every item ordered at the event. Call 01227 738 829 (Option 1) or email [email protected] www.abdocollege.org.uk | www.100percentoptical.com abdo COLLEGE OPTICAL SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION MEET THE MEMBER Tim Baker was considerably ahead of the curve when he started his optical business in 1999. Nearly a quarter of a century later, the sustainable choices for reconditioned and restored technology have come of age. “I was always horrified by the amount that was going to landfill," says Tim. "It was a massive waste when so much technology had so much use left in it, and so there was a great opportunity in the market for recycling and refurbishing." Still a major part of the Stevenagebased business, Tim and his team continue to offer trade-ins with businesses looking to upgrade. “Apart from frames and lenses, we now supply everything that a practice needs to get up and running – from practice essentials and furniture to clinical and diagnostic instrumentation," Tim explains. "Always striving to lead the technology race and looking at future demands, we feed back what we learn from our customers to our manufacturing partners. It is vital to work closely with the R&D sector to develop future pathways of care.” BIB recently entered the world of CPD education for its customers. “The launch of our BIB education portal was a huge initiative for us, along with a series of live seminar events around the country," says Tim. "Working with key opinion leaders, we are bringing education to the entire practice team; for example, empowering delegates to set up and run successful myopia management and dry eye clinics." BIB is a long-standing OSA member and values the sharing of industry information that this enables. Along with many other members, it ensures its business model is as keenly mindful of the environment as the products it supplies. BIB is fully WEEE compliant, tracking and ensuring the disposal of waste, electrical and electronic equipment – reducing its burden on landfill. It has also invested in electric vehicles and charging points for the team – and all lighting has been converted to low power LED throughout the offices and warehouse. It is also planning to install off-grid power supply via solar panels in the future. “All our in-bound packaging is recycled and re-used wherever possible and all new packaging, as and when required, is sourced from 100 per cent recycled waste material. Sustainability was high on the agenda from the outset, and remains at the forefront of BIB's ethos to this day,” adds Tim. BIB Ophthalmic Instruments: ahead of the curve JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 11 Managing director, Tim Baker

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - EYEWEAR 12 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 Fellowship of the 3D rings Ørgreen’s latest innovation is the integration of a 3D ring within the rim of its Aries, Leo Minor and Ursa Major models. The frames also feature a side shield adding greater depth and dimension. Pictured is Ursa Major RX 3D Ring, which juxtaposes a precious metal finish with a 3D-printed element crafted from PA12 material. It comes in an Antique Gold and Coffee Brown combination, or a Matt Deep Space Blue metal finish, complemented by a tone-on-tone colour ring. Starry sunglass styling The glamorous world of Victoria Beckham is exemplified in the brand's latest collection of sunglasses and ophthalmic frames, available from Marchon.    Model VB239S is a chic metal sunglass style boasting a feminine tea-cup shape. On the sides, the Victoria Beckham logo is framed by three lines, while adjustable nose pads offer optimal comfort. Pictured in Striped Blue, this style is also available in Tortoise, Blonde Havana and Striped Brown. Pick of the bunch Italy based Spectaful has unveiled its feminine model Patty as a best-seller in its lightweight Cloud collection. Boasting a cat-eye shape, Patty is characterised by distinctive angular edges that create a striking geometric look. Designed for smaller faces, the style comes in a palette of chic and vivid colours including popualr Cobalt Blue and Deep Purple. Aloha spirit Maui Jim's new Rooftops sunglass style offers a sleek and versatile square-shaped silhouette. With PolarizedPlus2 lenses, Rooftops is available in four colours: Black with Crystal, Blue Tortoise, Black with Tortoise, and Pink Tortoise with Pink. Other new styles include square nylon frame, Good Fun, and Mokupuni – a new rendition of a rounded retroclassic silhouette paired with MauiBrilliant lenses. Victoria Beckham model VB239S Patty from the Cloud collection Ursa Major RX 3D Ring from Orgreen Maui Jim Rooftops in Pink Tortoise with Pink

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - EYEWEAR JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 13 Jewels of the Nile For the 2024 season, the design team at Swiss company Invu have been influenced by designers of ancient Egypt, who first created the legendary rope jewellery embellishments. The frames' luxurious, yet understated sides merge with fashionable feminine acetate fronts and tips in an array of pastel colours. The new rope designs come in both gold and silver – engineered and crafted in Switzerland. Criminally fashionable Inspired by the famous criminal duo, Bonnie and Clyde from Götti Switzerland are additively manufactured for an authentic retro look. The two styles form part of the company's Dimensions collection and are a reinterpretation of the narrow frame, often ridiculed as a 'fashion crime' of the past. Manufactured in Switzerland using a 3D printing process, the retro frames feature rounded edges making them appear visually softer. They are available in 15 colours as ophthalmic frames or sunglasses. Dash of youthful appeal Dibble Optical has added to its Dilli Dalli children's eyewear brand portfolio with Demi + Dash. The frames feature the brand's IntelliFlex 2 hinge, building on its IntelliFlex technology. The hinges offer a more 'grown-up' design whilst maintaining vertical and horizontal flexibility. With the look of acetate, the styles offer the flexibility of SoftTouch frames. Candy-coated colours, sporty styles and maximum flex are all available with the Flexyz collection from Demi + Dash. Premium material combination Zeiss has unveiled two new Essentials ophthalmic frame styles crafted with Ultem – an ultra-light, ultra-resistant injected material combined with premium acetate for the end-tips. Slim-structured model ZS23539 boasts a minimalist rectangular front, adjustable nose pad and metal sides and acetate end-tips to enhance its clean look. The Zeiss logo on the integrated custom hinges, and the signature indigo-blue lamination on the tips, are subtle symbols of brand identity. Colour options includes Matte Blue, Matte Black, Matte Red, Matte Acid Yellow and Matte Petrol. Jewellery-inspired Invu frames for women Zeiss model ZS23539 Connie from Götti Switzerland Demi + Dash from Dibble Optical

CPD CODE: C-107280 14 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 CPD We know that myopia is becoming increasingly common around the world1 and that there are several interventions that have been shown in research to slow the progression of myopia in children by an average of around 50 per cent2-4. An area that has received less attention up until now is myopia onset and progression in young adults. This article examines the evidence around myopia in young adults and discusses the implications for how young adult myopes are managed in practice. For the purposes of this article, 'young adults' will be defined as those aged 18 to 25 years. Myopia progression is commonly seen in older adults, but this is normally due to changes in the crystalline lens (e.g. nuclear sclerosis) and not due to growth of axial length, which will be discussed here. Axial length is the distance from the anterior surface of the cornea to the retinal pigment epithelium at the back of the eye, with the average axial length for an emmetropic adult being 23.75mm5. Most myopia is axial in nature and each 0.1mm of extra axial growth equates to 0.25-0.30D of myopia6. The increase in axial length, which is most commonly the cause of myopia progression, is the factor that increases the risk of future ocular health complications such as retinal detachments and myopic maculopathy7. However, myopia can also be refractive in origin, where the cornea or crystalline lens are steeper (and therefore more powerful) than average, so performing topography or keratometry is useful to understand the contribution of the cornea to overall refractive power (Figure 1). Axial length is vital to look at when considering the risk of future ocular pathology. A -2.00D myopic eye with very flat corneas and a longer than expected axial length may be at greater risk than the prescription alone suggests, while a -4.50D myopic eye with very steep corneas may be at lower risk. A crosssectional study in the Netherlands found a cumulative incidence of visual impairment of 3.8 per cent in adults aged 75 years with an axial length of 24-25.99mm while this rose to 90 per cent for those with an axial length of 30mm or greater7. Axial length can be measured quickly and easily in practice using optical biometry, which is a non-invasive technique (Figure 2). If you do not have access to a biometer in practice then axial length can be estimated by use of a formula or an online calculator by inputting keratometry readings and the results of a cycloplegic refraction8. Young adult myopia By Kathryn Webber BSc (Hons) MOptom DipTP IP (Higher Cert) CL MCOptom FHEA and Dr Matthew Cufflin BSc (Hons) PhD MCOptom FHEA LEARNING DOMAINS PROFESSIONAL GROUPS This CPD session is open to all FBDO members and associate member optometrists. Successful completion of this CPD session will provide you with a certificate of completion of one noninteractive CPD point. The multiplechoice questions (MCQs) are available online from Tuesday 2 January 2024. Visit www.abdo.org.uk. After member login, scroll down and you will find CPD Online within your personalised dashboard. Six questions will be presented in a random order. Please ensure that your email address and GOC number are up-to-date. The pass mark is 60 per cent. CPD CODE: C-107280 MCQs AVAILABLE ONLINE: Tuesday 2 January 2024 CLOSING DATE: 8 April 2024 ANSWERS PUBLISHED: May 2024 FIGURE 1: Topography showing refractive myopia. This individual has an axial length of 23.98mm, corneal curvatures of 7.20/7.11mm and a resultant refractive error of -4.50/-1.25x90

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 15 If you are using this method to monitor any axial length progression, then it is important to use the same formula each time as the results vary between the different versions. Axial length growth curves are available that allow for comparison of a patient's measured or estimated axial length with the average for that age. They can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of any myopia management undertaken9. Axial length (when measured by optical biometry) is a much more accurate and repeatable measure than objective or subjective refraction and can detect smaller changes10. This makes it an ideal measurement to be used both in clinical practice when engaging in myopia management and also in research studies looking at myopia progression. MYOPIC PROGRESSION IN YOUNG ADULTS For this article, adult onset myopia is defined as onset of myopia in an emmetrope or hyperope over 18 years of age and adult myopia progression will be defined as an increase in myopia in an existing myopic individual over 18 years of age. These are both less common than juvenile onset myopia which we will briefly review here first. The majority of myopia is classed as juvenile onset and this most commonly begins between the ages of eight and 13 years11. The average age of stabilisation was found to be 15.6 years (+/-4.2 years) in the COMET study in 2013 (Figure 3). There was some variability found due to ethnicity in this large study FIGURE 2: Image of a biometer (MYAH, Topcon Healthcare) which can measure axial length based in the USA, with African Americans stabilising at a mean of 13.8 years and White and Asian participants stabilising at ~16 years12. There was no difference found due to sex, unlike in an earlier study which found myopia to stabilise earlier in female participants than male13. However, the COMET study also found that 23 per cent of myopes were still progressing at age 18 and 10 per cent at age 21, showing that a significant minority of these juvenile myopes continue their progression into adulthood. Several studies have examined myopia progression in young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years. A recent large study based in Australia examined 691 participants at the age of 20 and again at the age of 2814. They found that 38 per cent of the participants experienced a myopic shift of -0.50D or greater over the eight-year period and the mean annual rate of progression was -0.04D. Two large practice based studies in France15 and the Netherlands16 found similar annual rates of progression in myopes in this age group at -0.10D and - 0.08D respectively. A cohort of myopic Finnish schoolchildren were followed for up to 23 years into young adulthood, and 45 per cent of them continued to show some progression while aged 20 to 24 years. The mean annual progression in this group was -0.06D17. Another recent longitudinal study in Singapore examined the change in refraction from visits in adolescence (ages 12 to 19 years) and young adulthood (ages 26 to 33 years) and found that 38.7 per cent of participants progressed more than -0.50D in 10 years with annual mean progression of -0.04D18. Female participants had higher odds of progression (odds ratio 1.7) and those of Chinese ethnicity were more than two times more likely to show progression.   Other studies have looked specifically at university students, and they have typically found the proportion of participants progressing and the rates of progression to be higher than in the studies looking at general populations. This might be explained by the association that has been found both in Asia and Europe between increasing educational attainment and myopia19. A two-year study of medical students in Denmark found mean progression of -0.20D per year20 while a three-year study of Norwegian engineering students found 32 per cent of myopes progressed by at least -0.50D and a mean annual progression of -0.22D21. A three-year study of Portuguese university students found a lower mean annual progression of -0.09D, while 22 per cent progressed by at least -0.50D over the study duration22. Two similar studies were completed with Chinese university students over a two-year period and they found similar mean annual progressions of -0.18D23 and -0.19D24. A study of Chinese medical students found that 27 per cent progressed by at least -0.50D over the two year duration and the mean progression was -0.20D25. 100.0 90.0 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 Percentage with stable myopia Age (Years) % of cohort FIGURE 3: Data redrawn from the COMET study12 showing the percentage of myopes that were stable across age groups IMAGE: Topcon Healthcare, Japan

CPD 16 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 These studies all looked at participants with myopia, hyperopia and emmetropia – but when results were broken down by refractive status, the largest average progression values were seen in myopes. A recent Australian retrospective practice study highlighted the differences in progression between student and general populations26. Participants were split into those in a ‘high learning environment’, which included students and academics, and ‘others’. Mean annual progression for all myopic participants aged 18 to 21 years was -0.10D, while it was slightly lower for those aged 22 to 26 years at -0.08D; 18.3 per cent of participants aged 18 to 21 years progressed by -0.25D or more per year, as did 10.9 per cent of those aged 22 to 26 years. Being in a ‘high learning environment’ increased the odds of progression by more than two times. There were many methodological variations in the way that these studies were conducted, for example, in the average age of participants, the duration of the study, whether or not refraction was measured under cycloplegia, and the amount of change in prescription that was counted as progression. A selection of these studies are included in Table 1. Some of the studies only looked at myopes, who are more likely to progress, while others looked at all refractive errors. These factors explain some of the variability in the results. Overall, the proportion of patients still progressing in this age group was found to be between 22 and 56 per cent27. In summary, a significant minority of young adults aged 18 to 25 years are still progressing and some population groups, for example, students, are more likely to keep progressing. This adult progression has been shown to be due to an increase in axial length20,22 rather than corneal and lens changes, and so carries the same ocular health risks as juvenile myopia progression. ADULT ONSET MYOPIA In addition to considering myopia progression that continues into adulthood, it is important to look at myopia that begins in adulthood in those who were previously emmetropic or hyperopic, which we will term 'adult onset myopia'. There are two research techniques that can be used to study adult-onset myopia: cross-sectional studies look at a group of participants and use questionnaires or surveys to ask them when they first became myopic, while longitudinal studies follow a group of participants over a time period and see how many become myopic. A recent review27 looked at the results of 14 cross-sectional studies and found that between 15 and 81 per cent of the myopes reported adult onset. These studies can again be divided up into those that looked at the general population and those that looked at a student population. A study into university staff in the USA found that 37 per cent of them reported adult onset28, although in this paper adult onset was defined as above the age of 15 years. A study on Australian twins found that 28 per cent of them reported receiving their first prescription at or after 18 years of age, and more than 90 per cent of these adult onset myopes were between the ages of 18 and 30 when they first started wearing spectacles or contact lenses29. Cross-sectional studies that looked at student populations include a cohort of Norwegian medical students, in which 43 per cent reported onset of myopia after 20 years of age30 – and a cohort of Turkish medical students, 15 per cent of whom reported onset after 18 years of age31. All these cohort studies are relying on people self-reporting when they first became myopic, and this will add some significant variability into the results. The studies also vary in how they defined the criteria for adult onset and how far into the past they were expecting people to remember based on the average age of the participants.   Nearly all longitudinal studies looking at adult onset myopia have been completed on student populations, the exception being the Australian birth AUTHORS POPULATION MEAN ANNUAL PROGRESSION (D) MEAN AXIAL ELONGATION (mm) CYCLOPLEGIA USED Lee et al 14 Australian birth cohort -0.04 (a) +0.02 (a) Yes Ducloux et al 15 French practice population -0.10 (m) Not measured No Polling et al 16 Dutch practice population -0.08 (m) Not measured No Parssinen et al 17 Finnish adults -0.06 (m) +0.04 (m) Yes Li Lian et al 18 Singapore school cohort -0.04 (m) Not measured Yes Jacobsen et al 20 Danish medical students -0.20 (m) +0.07 (a) Yes Kinge et al 21 Norwegian engineering students -0.22 (m) +0.13 (m) Yes Jorge et al 22 Portuguese university students -0.09 (a) +0.04 (a) Yes Lv & Zhang 23 Chinese medical students -0.18 (m) Not measured Yes Bai et al 24 Chinese university students -0.19D (a) +0.06mm (a) No Duan et al 25 Chinese medical students -0.20 (a) +0.05 (a) Yes Khan et al 26 Australian clinical trial cohort -0.09D (m) Not measured No TABLE 1: Comparison of studies discussed above in order discussed in text (m =values represent myopes only, a = values represent all refractions)

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 17 cohort which was followed between the ages of 20 and 28 years – with 29 per cent of all myopes in the cohort having adult onset14. The percentage of adult onset myopia amongst myopes in the student populations studied in seven longitudinal studies reviewed recently27 range from one to 27 per cent with the majority around the 20 per cent mark. The two lowest percentages found, at one and six per cent, were both in Chinese student populations – where the prevalence of juvenile myopia is extremely high meaning that the vast majority of students were already myopic before reaching adulthood23,25. Examining the results of all these studies we can see that adult onset myopia affects a significant minority of patients over the age of 18 years and yet there is variability in the data reported. This may be due to different cut-off ages being used, different study designs, different populations being studied and the inherent variability in questionnaire data especially when asking participants to remember an event which may be some time in the past. The takeaway message here is that myopia can begin in adulthood and these patients, especially those in higher risk categories such as students, should be made aware of advice as we would for higher risk children and continue to attend for regular eye examinations. MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE So, what does this research about adult myopia progression and adult onset myopia mean to eyecare practitioners seeing these patients in practice? Firstly, as we know that a significant minority of juvenile myopes, who may be using a form of myopia management, will continue their progression beyond the age of 18 years we need to take this into account when making any decisions on when to cease treatment. This judgement should be based on stability of refraction and the lifestyle of the patient, for example considering if they are they still studying. This suggests that older patients who weren’t started on myopia management in childhood could still potentially benefit from an intervention as a young adult, if there is evidence of continuing progression. We can also see that a significant proportion of young adults will have adult onset myopia and, although these patients are less likely to end up with very high prescriptions, using some form of myopia management may enable them to retain a useful functional level of uncorrected vision. It is important to remember that even very small annual changes in prescription can add up over many years increasing the risk of future ocular health complications; an increase in myopia of -0.05D per year between age 20 and age 40 is an extra -1.00D of risk.   Being able to identify young adults who have the potential to benefit from myopia management techniques is the first stage in the process, but thought must then be given to the management technique that will best suit the patient and their lifestyle. Research has shown that both myopia management soft contact lenses and spectacle lenses work best when worn full time32,33. Adult onset myopes who have only a small prescription may not need or want to wear their correction on a fulltime basis, so careful counselling would be required to make sure they are getting the full impact of any myopia intervention. Orthokeratology lenses have the benefit of freeing the patient up from their glasses or contact lenses during the day but take an additional commitment of time and cost beyond a standard refractive correction. All the interventions can potentially affect the quality of vision34, particularly low contrast visual acuity, and while we have evidence that children adapt quickly to these corrections33 we do not know whether the same acceptability will be found for young adults. We have some short-term data on how adults adapt to MiSight contact lenses over a week of wear which show that ghosting and haloes seem to be an issue that restricts the lens wear time initially35 (Figure 4). Young adults may adapt to these issues in the same way that children do, but patients would need to be counselled on what to expect when wearing these options in much the same way that we would give advice when dispensing a first pair of varifocals or multifocal contact lenses. There is currently no published research on the efficacy of any of the myopia management interventions in this age group, although adult progression is related to growth in axial length in the same way as juvenile progression so it may be reasonable to assume that they should work in a similar way. MiSight contact lenses and the spectacle lens options are licensed up to the age of 18 years so their use in a young adult would be considered to be ‘off-label’. The latest myopia management guidance published by the College of Optometrists states that products can be used off-label if there isn’t a licensed alternative, the clinician has good reason to think that the treatment will work36. Informed consent for the patient is vital when we are using a treatment offlabel, being especially clear on where we have evidence and where we don’t, as well as the risks and benefits of any treatment. Advice can also be given about working distances and outdoor time just as it would to younger age groups. Stable adult myopes can be warned about the signs and symptoms of ocular diseases and the importance of regular eye examinations, while any myopic parents should be informed about myopia management, preferably before their child becomes myopic, so they have time to consider the evidence before making a decision. SUMMARY In summary, the effect of adult myopia onset and progression should be considered in practice as the research shows that significant minorities of the population will fall into one of these categories. By identifying patients who fall into these groups as early as possible, we can offer advice and possibly myopia management. FIGURE 4: MiSight topography image showing the front surface of the lens

CPD 18 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 KATHRYN WEBBER is an independent prescribing optometrist and educator working at the University of Bradford where she founded and runs the Myopia Management Clinic. She was awarded the British Contact Lens Association's Myopia Management Practitioner of the Year Award in 2023. She is also a part-time PhD student at the University of Bradford where her research is looking at interventions to manage young adult myopia. DR MATTHEW CUFFLIN is an optometrist and lecturer in optometry at the University of Bradford, where he teaches low vision and ocular pharmacology. He was awarded his PhD in 2008 for an investigation into the response to blur in myopes and emmetropes. His current research investigates accommodation and myopia progression in young adults. LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THIS CPD ARTICLE DOMAIN: Communication 1.3: Assist young adults at risk of progressive myopia and those with adultonset myopia to make informed decisions about their eyecare. DOMAIN: Clinical Practice 5.3: Be aware of the latest clinical research in the area of young adult myopia and consider how this may impact your clinical practice. 7.5: Provide effective and evidencebased care and treatment to young adults with myopia. DOMAIN: CL speciality Consider how the current understanding of young adult-onset myopia and myopic progression in young adults influences your contact-lens practice and patient communication. PLAN YOUR CPD TODAY For all the latest available CPD from ABDO, visit www.abdo.org.uk. All online and face-to-face interactive CPD events open for booking can be found on the Events pages. CPD articles and recorded lectures can be accessed in your personal membership area. Resources to help you plan and reflect on your CPD are available in the Professional Development Toolbox. GOC registrants are now responsible for submitting their own CPD and points are no longer uploaded by providers. On successful completion of this CPD session, log into your MyGOC account and follow the steps to submit this session using your certificate of completion as evidence. For more information on the new GOC CPD scheme, visit www.optical.org Wednesday 7 FEBRUARY SWANSEA Village Hotel, Langdon Road, SW1 8QY Tuesday 12 MARCH LONDON Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, SE1 9RT Tuesday 19 MARCH PORTSMOUTH Village Hotel, Lakeshore Drive, Cosham, PO6 3FR Monday 15 APRIL LIVERPOOL Village Hotel, Fallows Way, Whiston, L35 1RZ Wednesday 15 MAY WORCESTER Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower Smite Farm, Hindlip, WR3 8SZ Thursday 13 JUNE LEEDS Village Hotel Leeds North, 186 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS16 5PR Tuesday 9 JULY DERBY Derby Leisure and Events Venue, The Pavillion, Moor Lane, DE24 9HY Wednesday 18 SEPTEMBER TRURO Truro Rugby Club, St Clements Hill, Truro, TR1 1NY Thursday 26 SEPTEMBER LONDON Governor’s Hall, St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7EH Tuesday 1 OCTOBER WASHINGTON Holiday Inn Washington, A1 Junction 64, Emmerson Road, NE37 1LB Monday 4 NOVEMBER CAMBRIDGE Cambridge Rugby Club, Volac Park, Granchester Road, CB3 9ED ABDO CPD REGIONAL EVENTS 2024 ALL EVENTS OFFER • Six Interactive CPD Points including Peer Review • Refreshments and Light Buffet • Interaction time with sponsors All events start at 6:30pm and finish at 9:30pm unless otherwise specified All events will open for booking on the ABDO website Events page approximately six weeks prior to the event start date. Visit www.abdo.org.uk

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 19 MCAs According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) how many working days were lost due to anxiety and depression? a. Fifty million b. Two hundred and fifty million c. Five billion d. Twelve billion The correct answer is d. The World Health Organisation recently stated in an article that poor working environments including work-overload, long hours, and limited support from colleagues posed a risk to mental health. Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year due to depression and anxiety. In the UK, how many annual working days were lost due to stress, depression and anxiety in 2021/22? a. Seven million b. Seven-hundred thousand c. Seven billion d. Seventeen million The correct answer is d. In the UK alone, 17 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2021/22. In 2021/22 depression or anxiety accounted for 51 per cent of all work-related ill health cases. What are the five ways to wellbeing? a. Connect, delegate, be active, take notice, keep learning b. Give, disconnect, be active, take notice, keep learning c. Connect, be active, take notice, keep learning, give d. Self-time, take notice, connect, keep learning, give The correct answer is c. The five ways to wellbeing from the mental health charity Mind are: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning, give. Evidence says that these are five ways to look after your mind. More information can be found on the Mind website: www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-atwork/five-ways-to-wellbeing If you become aware that your behaviour at work is negatively influencing your colleagues, what would be worth considering as the possible reason for your change in behaviour? a. You have no passion for your job b. You are bored in your job role c. You only go to work to support your life d. All of the above The correct answer is d. It’s always important to question your workplace purpose to ensure you are still enjoying it and giving it 100 per cent. Very often when we do the same thing for a number of years it can feel sedentary, ‘routine’, and boredom can set in. We begin to see going into work as a place we have to go to support our life rather a place of that fulfils our work passion and brings us joy in doing a role we love. This can lead to poor wellbeing. Why is it important to be mindful of your wellbeing at work? a. Poor wellbeing can affect your behaviour at work, which may cease to be professional and may negatively influence colleagues b. You will not get any new friends c. You will have to gain extra CPD points d. Poor wellbeing will mean your manager will give you higher transaction targets The correct answer is a. The General Optical Council (GOC) Standards for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians 13: Show respect and fairness to others and do not discriminate, includes 13.5: Be aware of how your own behaviour might influence colleagues and students and demonstrate professional behaviour at all times. CONTINUED OVER PAGE Multiple choice answers CPD CODE: C-106040 Published September 2023 Six of the following questions were presented online to entrants to comply with the General Optical Council’s (GOC) best practice specifications for this type of CPD. Your wellbeing matters By Sheena Tanna-Shah BScOptom

The GOC standards for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians include your responsibility to reflect on your practice. What does the author suggest using when assessing your strengths and weaknesses? a. An online poll b. A 360-degree feedback form c. Your college reports from when you trained d. How recently you received a pay rise The correct answer is b. Sometimes if you work in a setting with other people, it is a good idea to get a 360˚ feedback form, asking others to feedback to you your strengths, and areas you could improve on. It isn’t always easy to read but can be a great way to see a different perspective. If you become concerned about a colleague’s wellbeing, what should you encourage them to do? a. Talk to a manger to seek support b. Hand in their resignation c. Buy some new dispensing equipment d. All of the above The correct answer is a. As a GOC-registered optical professional, you should support your colleagues. A senior member of staff is best placed to offer support for your colleague. Though it is not always easy to communicate feelings, it is important to have the conversation about what support is required. If a lack of enjoyment in your role is negatively impacting your wellbeing, what could you look into to improve this feeling? a. Completing CPD in a topic that you enjoy b. Putting music on at work c. Increasing your hours at work d. Cutting out caffeine The correct answer is a. As professionals, we have to keep on top of continuing professional development – and as part of this we can choose to specifically target particular topics that interest us professionally. The author recommends that you go back to why you chose this career and consider what interested you then, and what interests you now. Take a look at where you are now and which areas you would like to work on, and enhance your knowledge as this may lead to a reignited feeling of purpose. What is an easy way that you can use to show support and appreciation to your colleagues? a. Offer them a chair to sit on b. Leave them to serve all of the customers so that the manager can see how hard they work c. Say ‘thank you’ and acknowledge their work d. Ask them to give you feedback on your skills The correct answer is c. When you feel valued as part of the team, it can give you the lift to carry on. A simple ‘thank you’, ‘well done’, or acknowledgement of any sort can leave a person feeling positive, motivated and supported. 20 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 MCAs THIS IS THE YEAR TO TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY AT www.abdo.org.uk/businesshub What’s on offer in 2024? • Management and leadership diploma • Management essentials certificate • Continuing improvement certificate • Growing leader certificate • Change and Conflict workshops Develop your management and leadership skills and turn your informal learning into recognised qualifications ABDO MANAGEMENT and LEADERSHIP TRAINING COURSES and WORKSHOPS • RECOGNISED LEVEL 5 CMI QUALIFICATION • STUDY ONLINE WITH TUTOR SUPPORT • CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA LEVEL STUDY • DISCOUNT FOR ABDO MEMBERS • CPD POINTS AVAILABLE NEXT INTAKE DEADLINE - APRIL 2024

J anuary is the perfect month to reflect on your personal development plan (PDP) and review your continuing professional development (CPD) journey. The General Optical Council (GOC) CPD scheme requires everyone to create and maintain a PDP. However, the recent GOC CPD rapid review has shown that some registrants still need to take action and stay on top of this planning requirement. When it comes to creating your PDP, my biggest piece of advice is: don’t overthink it. Your PDP is for you. The GOC requires you to create one and upload it to their CPD platform, but the purpose of this is to support you in your ongoing professional development, not to catch anyone out. Everyone’s PDP will vary, as it is your way of tailoring the life-long education you take part in to learning that is relevant to you. The GOC provides step-by-step guidance on creating your PDP, accessible when you log onto the MyGOC platform. This takes you through the process, as well as the next steps of coming back to your PDP and evaluating what you have done. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Where do you see yourself in three years’ time? Let’s use an example: say you are a dispensing optician (DO) who wants to move into management? It's likely that some of the training for this career plan will be CPD-accredited. CPD within the learning domains of Professionalism, and Leadership and Accountability, are likely to be relevant here. Consider the skills and knowledge you may be lacking for where you want to be. For example, maybe you are not confident in handling a patient complaint. A learning outcome on your PDP, such as ‘Appropriately respond to complaints in optical practice’, would be possible to achieve by seeking out CPD in the learning domain of Professionalism that covers the Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians number 19: Be candid when things have gone wrong. Whatever your future plans, reflect on your current knowledge and abilities to identify your personal ‘gaps’ and target your PDP and CPD on filling them. WHAT ABDO CAN OFFER ABDO has lots of different ways to support your learning journey in 2024. Each of our regional CPD events will open for booking approximately six weeks in advance. Our popular online, interactive-CPD programme continues with three new peer reviews for DOs and optometrists annually – each repeated over three months. Following a change in GOC regulations, we can now offer our contact lens peer review to optometrists as well as contact lens opticians. Look out for three new contact lens practitioner online peer reviews coming up. We will discuss three new papers in our Journal Club, with each research-exploring session offering three CPD points, and webinar lectures will run across the year on a range of relevant topics. Places on all interactive CPD sessions are booked via the ABDO Events page. Look out for details on practical Masterclass CPD days and our clinical conference later in the year. ABDO also has lots of ways for you to complete CPD in your own time – from our regular Dispensing Optics CPD articles to recorded lectures, and our Child and Adult Level 2 Safeguarding courses. Additionally, you can access our CPD Standards of Practice modules to undertake short online CPD in areas where you may have gaps in your knowledge. All our non-interactive online CPD is accessed when you log into your personal membership area of the website. Don’t forget, the new CPD scheme allows you to submit self-directed learning (SDL) as part of your requirement. The GOC has information on its website about SDL, what is eligible and how to upload this. A great way to complete interactive three-point CPD, which can be uploaded as SDL, is by running or attending a registrant-led peer review in your practice. Learning in your team about cases relevant to your practice can help you work together to improve patient care and outcomes. Just pick a theme so you can identify the GOC learning domains that the session will come under, then identify relevant cases to discuss. Remember: you need to make sure your cases are fully anonymised before sharing. You don’t require GOC approval in advance to run registrant-led peer review. Simply upload the details of the cases you discussed, and something such as an invite email, to show the details of when the session took place, along with your usual reflective learning statement ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Check out the Professional Development Toolbox in the ABDO CPD pages for resources to support your learning journey, including templates for writing up cases for peer review and articles to help you do this. Visit our new CPD news page for the latest CPD available, including details about the content, target groups and learning domains, so you can see if the session fits in with your CPD plans. If you are feeling unsure about any aspects of CPD, join our January online CPD Clinic. Maybe you’re unsure about completing your PDP or have questions about reflection or SDL? At this session you will be able to put your questions to a member of the CPD team, where we will endeavour to support you. Join us on 17 January from 12 noon until 2pm. Joining instructions can be found in the Events section of the ABDO website. ALEX WEBSTER MSc, PGDipE, FBDO CL, FHEA, FBCLA is head of ABDO CPD. New year, new CPD plans? CPD – PLANS FOR 2024 ALEX WEBSTER JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 21

22 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 RESEARCH REVIEW – PART 1 DR NEEMA GHORBANI MOJARRAD As part of current changes being implemented by the General Optical Council (GOC) in line with its Education Strategic Review, all GOC registrants – including dispensing opticians (DOs) and contact lens opticians (CLOs) – will be expected to keep up-to-date with relevant research and learn how to apply new evidence-based practice techniques and approaches in their day-to-day practice. The aim of evidence-based practice is to provide patients with the best level of care, and the best outcomes. It’s also important for a practitioner’s confidence in their own clinical decision-making, because keeping up with the latest research means providing patients with the most current information and recommendations. This is, in part, why continuing professional development (CPD) was developed: research changes practice. For example, up until the 1970s, pilocarpine was the only eye drop used for glaucoma. However, by the early 2000s, it had become one of the least prescribed – as alternative eye drops were developed. This trend has shifted again as recently as 2022 – with selective laser trabeculoplasty (an out-patient surgical procedure) now recommended as the first-line therapy for recently-diagnosed glaucoma patients1. This may not impact your typical patient in practice, but it has potentially changed the advice we may give to patients who’ve been referred to the Hospital Eye Service for suspected glaucoma. Another example, perhaps more relevant to DOs and CLOs in practice, is the evidence that an initial, gradual buildup of contact lens wear doesn’t demonstrate any benefit to the patient. Studies on soft contact lenses have shown no difference in anterior eye physiology, or a patient’s reported comfort, when they start to wear soft contact lenses for a full day with either gradual adaptation compared to a quick adaptation (both in daily disposable2 and re-useable soft contact lenses3). Despite this, many practices in the UK still advise patients to build up their soft contact lens wearing time over the first week. Ophthalmic research is a busy and vast field, with several new research articles published daily. I don’t claim to be adept in all subject areas. Therefore, this series will focus on selected updates related to: contact lenses and the anterior eye; and paediatric eye development including refractive errors and myopia, with occasional studies related to other topics. As with all scientific works, it’s greatly recommended that if you want to know more about the particular topic or piece of research, that you read through the papers themselves directly. MYOPIA AND REFRACTIVE ERROR DID COVID-19 CAUSE AN INCREASE IN MYOPIA? This retrospective study4 reviewed the record cards for children aged seven to 18 in Puerto Rico between 2018 and 2021. This time period captured the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated lockdowns. The study authors found a significant myopic shift in all of their age groups except for the seven and eight-year-olds. Twenty per cent of the children were myopic at baseline, which increased to 26 per cent after confinement. This is likely more than expected with the predicted increase in myopia prevalence, and thus suggests an increase related to the lockdowns. NON-OPTICAL TREATMENT FOR MYOPIA A 2023-published longitudinal study5 saw 711 Danish children given various doses of a caffeine metabolite, called 7-methylxanthine (7-MX) over an average of a 3.6-year period. Modelling the data demonstrated that an 11-year-old taking 1000mg of 7-MX would develop -1.43D of myopia over six years, but would be expected to develop -2.27D if they weren’t provided this treatment. This suggests a 62 per cent efficacy, although we no longer try to discuss myopia in relation to a ‘relative’ percentage effect due to suggestions of a potential ‘absolute/fixed’ effect, which indicates a greater effect in the first years of use6. Note that this wasn’t a randomised controlled trial and, therefore, will be somewhat limited to determine full causal effects. RISK FACTORS FOR ANISOMETROPIA IN CHILDREN Over a two-year longitudinal study in Taiwan7, the incidence and risk factors for anisometropia in more than 7,000 children initially aged eight was performed. The annual incidence of Research changes practice Welcome to our new series exploring developments in optometric and ophthalmic research, written by Dr Neema Ghorbani Mojarrad – assistant professor and optometrist based at the University of Bradford. All practitioners are expected to keep up-to-date with relevant research Examining the link between myopia and Covid-19

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 23 anisometropia was 3.8 per cent, with a higher frequency found for those who had higher myopic refractive errors and who were female. Using parental questionnaires, they found that reduced outdoor time, and particularly shorter working distances, were risk factors for increasing anisometropia levels. ANTERIOR EYE AND CONTACT LENSES DRY EYE CLINICAL PRACTICE PATTERNS A survey of 131 UK optometrists8 found that the most common tests performed for diagnosis and monitoring of dry eye disease were fluorescein/invasive tear break-up time, anterior lid assessment, and corneal staining. Most respondents (60 per cent) indicated they felt their patients were satisfied with the management of using eye drops alone, with a strong preference for providing preservative-free options. Interestingly, very few practitioners appear to utilise the developments of recent dry eye research – such as tear film osmolarity and tear film biomarkers – which have been shown to potentially provide better diagnosis and monitoring. The authors suggested more can be done to further improve the translation of dry eye research into clinical practice. CONTAMINATION OF DRY EYE MULTI-USE DROPS AND GELS This study9 looked at 271 multi-use dry eye drops, gels and ointments used by 168 patients. They found bacterial contamination in 12 per cent of samples, which was significantly higher in ointments (32 per cent) than gels (12 per cent) and drops (eight per cent). This included high-risk bacteria such as pseudomonas aeruginosa. The authors advised that patients should remain cautious when using multi-dose products, and that the results indicated that bottles are preferable to avoid infection compared to squeezable tubes. The author would like to thank Bausch + Lomb, Professor James Wolffsohn, and Dr Amy Sheppard for sharing their monthly research update. This helped to support the preparation of this article, which is partly adapted from this content, alongside a review of data from other sources. Dr Neema Ghorbani Mojarrad PhD BSc (Hons) MCOptom FBCLA FIACLE Prof. Cert. Glaucoma and Low Vision Dip. SV FHEA is an assistant lecturer at the University of Bradford and locum optometrist. He finished his PhD at Cardiff University, investigating whether genetic information could be used to predict children who would go on to develop myopia. Previously he worked full-time in an independent practice, winning a Newly Qualified Optometrist of the Year award. His current research interests include the genetics of refractive error, contact lenses and anterior eye, understanding the causes of myopia, and interventions for myopia management. 1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Selective laser therapy recommended to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension. [Online] 26 January 2022. Available at www.nice.org.uk/news/article/selectivelaser-therapy-recommended-to-treatglaucoma-and-ocular-hypertension 2. Wolffsohn JS, Dhirajlal H, Vianya-Estopa M, Nagra M. Madden L, Sweeney LE et al. Fast versus gradual adaptation of soft daily disposable contact lenses in neophyte wearers. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 2020;43(3):268-273. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pi i/S1367048419301936?via%3Dihub 3. Wolffsohn JS, Ghorbanin-Mojarrad N, Vianya-Estopa M, Nagra M, Huntjens B et al. Fast versus gradual adaptation of soft monthly contact lenses in neophyte wearers. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 2022;45(4):101469 Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pi i/S1367048421000898?via%3Dihub 4. Rodriguez NM, Acevedo A, Torres VP and Romero A. Refractive error changes Due to COVID-19 pandemic confinement in children from Puerto Rico: a retrospective study. Optom. Vis Sci. 2023;100(9);638-644. Available at: https://journals.lww.com/optvissci/fullte xt/2023/09000/refractive_error_change s_due_to_covid_19_pandemic.7.aspx 5. Trier K, Cui D, Ribel-Madsen S and Guggenheim J. Oral administration of caffeine metabolite 7-mexthylxanthine is associated with slowed myopia progression in Danish children. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2023;107:1538-1544. Available at: https://bjo.bmj.com/content/107/10/15 38 6. Brennan NA, Toubouti YM, Cheng X and Bullimore MA. Efficacy in myopia control. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 2021;83:100923. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/ pii/S1350946220300951 7. Lee CW, Chiang CC, Tsai DC, Tsai CY and Liou YM. Risk factors for anisometropia in schoolchildren: a population-based, longitudinal cohort study. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt. 2023;43(6):1500-1509. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.111 1/opo.13215 8. Casemore RK, Wolffsohn JS and Dutta D. Dry eye clinical practice patterns of UK optometrists. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 2023;46(5): 101889. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pi i/S1367048423001133 9. Yilmaz OF, Sarmis A, Mutlu MA, Sahin ZB, Kaya SP and Oguz H. Bacterial contamination of mulit-use tear drops, gels and ointments. Contact Lens and Anterior Eye 2023;46(6):102064. Available at: www.contactlensjournal.com/article/S13 67-0484(23)00298-9/fulltext References Can more be done to translate dry eye research into clinical practice? RESEARCH REVIEW

I f you are reading this article, it is likely that you are someone interested in learning something new, keeping up-to-date, or keen to know what is happening in the world of dispensing optics. You are perhaps working in practice, either with your own business, partnership or franchise? You may be working for someone else, either as an experienced professional or perhaps you are new to the profession and are training and starting to find your feet. Whatever your situation, you will, at certain times in your life, face various challenges in both your professional and personal life. Whether it's managing your business, working with colleagues, looking at career progression, improving relationships or achieving personal and professional goals, your journey to success will be both exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming. Identifying these challenges, we can see that they fall broadly into two categories: shorter term issues, which can often be dealt with in isolation; and longer-term challenges, which may require a number of steps to resolve. Whatever the timescale, one way of helping to overcome these challenges more successfully is by using the services of a coach. Coaching is a powerful tool you can use, to receive guidance, support, new thinking, accountability, and the motivation to navigate through to a successful outcome. It is a collaborative process, which will allow you to achieve your goals or come to an important decision. Rather than advising you on what to do, a coach will empower you to make the decision for yourself, by helping you to discover the answers or work out where to find the answers for yourself. Here are some of the benefits of coaching... IN PRACTICE – COACHING DAVID SAMUEL Unlock your potential CLARITY AND FOCUS People I work with in a coaching capacity often say that one of the main benefits is the ability to bring clarity to a situation which may seem at first muddled or confusing. Gaining clarity is a crucial element of coaching, as it helps you break down the challenge into clear, manageable steps. This, in turn, allows you to create a roadmap or timeline, which can both be managed and measured. By asking you thoughtful questions, digging deeper into the issues and reflective exercises, you will be able to create a sense of direction and purpose as well as understand how you can move forwards. IMPROVE YOUR DECISION MAKING Have you ever had a tough decision to make in your life, which you struggled with to the point that you decided simply to do nothing? If you have, you will not be the only one. Many of us will default to kicking the can down the road, rather than risk upsetting someone else or run the risk of making the wrong call. Unfortunately, by doing nothing, we often allow the problem to get worse, making the decision even more difficult. Coaching can provide a structured process for looking at such challenges, exploring the options and evaluating the potential consequences of both action and inaction. Essentially, what this is doing is developing your critical thinking skills and equipping you with the tools to make sound decisions aligned with your own goals and values. OVERCOMING LIMITING BELIEFS You are a unique individual, with your own unique set of experiences, which has brought you to where you are today. Some of these experiences will be positive in nature and some negative. Whilst the positive ones can be helpful, the negative experiences can hinder your progress by introducing self-doubt or negative thinking. As a coach, one of my important roles is to help you to identify and challenge these limiting beliefs, offering you the opportunity to reframe your perspective and use this experience to move forwards. In this way, coaching can be extremely empowering by helping you to adopt a positive mindset and, as a result, unlock your true potential. 24 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 A coach will empower you to make decisions for yourself

PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT As well as addressing immediate challenges and decisions, coaching can act as a catalyst for personal growth. As the trust builds between yourself and your coach, your coach will be able to ask more searching questions, and through this dialogue help guide you to develop more self-awareness, emotional intelligence and resilience. This will enhance your ability to face new challenges and help set you on a path of continuous self-improvement. ACCOUNTABILITY If you are your own boss, or you have a high level of autonomy in your life, it is easy to either avoid difficult decisions or take the easy route. Although this brings short-term comfort, you may find yourself, in hindsight, regretting not pushing forwards as much as you might have done. One of the unique aspects of coaching, and a favourite of mine, is the emphasis on accountability. A coach will not only help you to set realistic and challenging goals, but they will help to establish a plan of action and hold you accountable for what you say you will do. This focus on accountability creates a powerful, supportive structure that motivates you to take action and stay focused on your objectives. This, in turn, naturally leads to an increase in the likelihood that you will achieve what you set out to achieve. I f you are curious about whether coaching might help you, the first step is simply to have a conversation with some coaches. It is essential that when selecting a coach, you choose someone who is the right fit for you; you will only find this out by talking through what you would like to achieve and getting a sense of whether you can work with the coach concerned. Here are my seven tips for helping you to select the right coach for you: 1. CLARIFY YOUR GOAL Have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Whether it's developing your business, career advancement or an element of personal development, having a clear understanding of what you want to achieve will help you find a coach with the right expertise. 2. QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS Consider whether you want a coach who has worked in optics or someone who hasn’t. A coach with relevant experience in your industry will be more likely to understand your context and provide valuable insights. 3. REFERRAL AND RECOMMENDATION Ask for recommendations from colleagues, friends or mentors who have had positive experiences with coaching. Personal referrals can provide valuable insights into a coach's effectiveness. In the same way, testimonials and case studies from previous clients can help you understand the coach's success in helping others like you. 4. CONSIDER COACHING STYLE Different coaches will have different ways of operating; for example, a directive versus a facilitating selfdiscovery approach. Choose a coaching style that resonates with the way you learn can be beneficial. 5. THE COACHING PROCESS Talk to potential coaches about their modus operandi. Understand how and when the sessions are structured, and the methods of measuring progress, and select a coach who aligns with your preferences. 6. CONNECTION Schedule a discovery call initially to see how you and your potential coach communicate. Is there a connection, which makes you feel you can be open and develop a trusted relationship? Trust your instincts and intuition. If you feel a positive connection and a sense of trust with a coach, it's likely that the relationship will be more productive and fulfilling. 7. DISCUSS FEES AND LOGISTICS Clearly understand the investment you are making and any terms and conditions of working together, including the duration and frequency of sessions, cancellation policies, the investment and the overall commitment required. JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 25 CONCLUSION In a world of constant change, coaching can be a powerful tool in your self-development. As more and more people recognise the benefits of coaching, its positive influence continues to ripple through businesses and professions. For the individuals concerned, coaching helps to shape a future where both personal and professional success is not just a destination – but a continuous journey of learning and a crucial element in unlocking your potential. DAVID SAMUEL is an independent business coach, who helps business owners, managers and professionals to improve their performance and the performance of their practices. He also facilitates Business Owners Peer Groups and round workshops for practice teams on a wide range of business improvement topics. With over 40 years experience in the optical profession as DO, CLO, Practice Manager and Business Owner, David also holds an MBA, a Degree in Marketing and is a Certified Coach in Positive Intelligence. David can be contacted through the ABDO Business hub, where he offers ABDO members a complimentary discovery call to see if he can help members who think that coaching might be right for them. SEVEN TIPS FOR SELECTING THE RIGHT COACH Connection is key when choosing a coach I N PRACTICE

The past few years have been a rollercoaster. The ripples of the Covid pandemic are still being felt – not just in health and the way we work in practice, but in everything from global finance to procurement, supply and political stability. Against this difficult backdrop, ABDO members are continuing their vital work, providing eyecare and eyewear across the UK and beyond. The Association has continued to fulfil its purpose to support and represent members, to enable them to develop their roles, to promote the roles of members, and to advance the profession as a whole. Autumn 2023 saw the first Myopia Management Conference enabling ABDO members to hear from those at the forefront of this fast-developing field. Myopia management is an area where members can develop their roles, and the profession can advance. ABDO also introduced the new FBDO syllabus to ensure students are prepared for future roles in practice. The end of 2023 showed the potential for recovery and growth, as inflation finally dropped leading to hopes of improving finances in 2024. In optics, there is a positive outlook too: alongside myopia management there is renewed interest in paediatric dispensing. These foci reinforce the value of the dispensing optician (DO) and the contact lens optician (CLO) in practice and to patients. Looking to the future, ABDO is ready to seize opportunities on behalf of members and face the challenges that lie ahead. The Association will be carrying out work in relation to all five elements of its purpose. Below, you can read about the key areas of focus in each area. ABDO’S PRIORITIES FOR 2024 • Introducing the FBDO apprenticeship following approval of the apprenticeship standard • Launching a new professional certificate in paediatric eyecare • Providing an excellent service for members, now and into the future Read on to discover ABDO’s priorities in each of the five areas of its purpose... SUPPORTING MEMBERS PRIORITIES • Strengthening engagement through proactive interaction with members and employers to understand and respond to their needs • Ensuring ABDO’s policy and clinical guidance is updated to reflect developments in practice, research and regulation • Reviewing ABDO’s insurance products to ensure the Association meets members’ needs • Reviewing ABDO’s membership categories and expanding involvement in the profession by introducing a new affiliate membership category for those aspiring to become DOs REPRESENTING MEMBERS PRIORITIES • Engaging with the General Optical Council (GOC) to ensure that the voice of DOs is heard as the GOC updates the standards of practice for DOs and optometrists, and the standards for optical businesses. • Ensuring that DOs are represented effectively at local and national level by supporting members to participate in local optical committees and gain roles with national bodies, such as the GOC and Local Optical Committee Support Unit • Contributing to effective engagement with the NHS and governments across the UK, ensuring that the interests of DOs are represented effectively ENABLING MEMBERS TO DEVELOP THEIR ROLES PRIORITIES • Introducing the FBDO apprenticeship with students starting on the apprenticeship route from September 2024 • Launching a new professional certificate in paediatric eyecare in Q1, enabling members to build on their core paediatric expertise • Introducing a new contact lens syllabus in Q3 to reflect developments in practice and minimise practical barriers to students completing the course • Holding a clinical conference at the ABDO National Resource Centre in Q3 • Providing a comprehensive programme of CPD enabling members to meet the GOC’s requirements PROMOTING AWARENESS OF MEMBERS’ ROLES PRIORITIES • Engaging with large and small employers plus other key stakeholders across the UK to highlight the value that DOs and CLOs bring to practice • Continuing the ‘Yes a DO can’ campaign • Promoting ABDO’s award-winning Careers in Eyecare campaign to inspire the next generation of DOs and allied professionals ADVANCING THE PROFESSION PRIORITIES • Relaunching the ABDO research fund in Q3 to support members to carry out research and add to the evidence base for the profession • Promoting ABDO’s research to enhance members’ understanding, highlight the importance of dispensing expertise and encourage the development of wellfitting spectacles for the benefit of patients and members • Finalising and launching ABDO’s research strategy, which will set out its longerterm objectives as ABDO seeks to advance the profession Underpinning all this work will be activity to ensure that the Association is a professional, modern and sustainable organisation providing an excellent service to members now and into the future. Download a copy of the ABDO Annual Plan 2024 from the About us section of the ABDO website. ALISTAIR BRIDGE is CEO of ABDO Priorities and purpose ABDO ANNUAL PLAN 2024 ALISTAIR BRIDGE 26 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024

JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 27 PREVIEW – STUDENT REVISION EVENT 13-14 FEBRUARY 2024 The ABDO Examinations Department is delighted to offer its face-to-face practical revision event for final-year students in early 2024. Taking place on 13 and 14 February, the two-day event will be held for the first time at the home of ABDO practical examinations – the ABDO National Resource Centre (NRC) in Aston, Birmingham. Sponsored by Stepper UK, the ABDO Student Revision Event is designed to help students prepare for Unit 12 of the Level 6 Diploma in Ophthalmic Dispensing (2015 syllabus) and will include a number of workshops specifically tailored to each of the examination sections. ACCESS TO EXPERTISE The event will utilise a variety of methods, including lectures, hands-on practical workshops, peer discussion and visual recognition to cover all sections of the final qualifying examination (FQE). It will also include case records discussion as well as general examination techniques and tips. Organised by Miranda Richardson, ABDO head of professional qualifications and education, this is the only revision event delivered by the ABDO Examinations Department using ABDO practical examiners. Miranda said: "Now in its eighth year, we are thrilled to be able to offer our next revision event at the ABDO National Resource Centre for the first time. At the NRC, ABDO, with invaluable support from Stepper UK, will provide students access to our examination experts, as each member of the team is a current and experienced ABDO practical examiner. We have developed a bespoke training kit with the relevant answers allowing students to review their own work alongside the feedback from each examiner, helping to gain a better understanding of the knowledge and skills required for the examinations.” Miranda added. "The two-day event is fairly intense as we cover all sections of the FQE allowing students the opportunity to recognise which areas they need to focus their own revision. However, the structure of the days will be informal, allowing the students every opportunity to ask questions and receive expert advice from of our examiners. The two days are specifically designed to support and maximise the chances of first-time success in the FQE examinations.” The format for each section is planned to be as follows: SECTION A1/A2: Full practical practice session including answers SECTION A3: Full practical opportunity to practise all six repair options SECTION B: All dispensing practice, including facial measurements, paediatric and bespoke progressive dispensing SECTION C: Prescription analysis delivered as a peer discussion, delving into all the topics covered by the three viva-voce assessments SECTION D: an interactive lecture on all elements of Section D, followed on day two by a timed OSCE (objective structured clinical examination) style assessment with answers PORTFOLIO: This interactive lecture explores sample case records to appraise and discuss, followed by a Q&A session to help advise on specific cases EXAM TECHNIQUE: Communication skills are an important aspect of preparation for each section, how to manage time, how to write, and how to approach the viva sections, for example Dean Dunning, ABDO deputy head of professional qualifications and education, commented: "We would like to thank the team at Stepper for their generosity in supporting the event this year to help keep the costs to the students to a minimum. We know that in previous years students have been extremely complementary about the event, and it does tend to become fully booked. As numbers are limited, I would advise booking as early as possible." The cost of the event is £80 for the two-day event, including lunch and refreshments. Attendance for both days is mandatory. At the time of going to press, the event had sold out. However, students can join a waiting list by visiting the Events section of the ABDO website. Revision road to success HONING PRACTICAL SKILLS FEEDBACK FROM PAST STUDENTS “ Had a fab few days. Feel so much better about entering the exams now. Great work all round. Gold stars to the examiners” “ Examiners were great, and sessions were well constructed. Would have liked a bit more time in each session” “ Great experience for the lessons offered and the time” “ It had a nice atmosphere. Made me feel relaxed and welcome. Examiners were friendly and answered questions that were asked”

PREVIEW – 100% OPTICAL 2024 NICKY COLLINSON Awards feature 13 categories including New Designer 2024, Sustainable Frame of the Year, Eyewear Retailer of the Year and the newly introduced Best Innovation of the Year Award, which will celebrate and commend exciting advances in the industry. Headline sponsor of this year's awards is ShopAR by DeepAR – a leading AR and 3D commerce platform adding ultraHD 3D models and AR try-on to any website or mobile application. New for the 10th anniversary show, ShopAR by DeepAR have also helped 100% Optical create an interactive filter taking shortlisted designs digital for people to try on virtually. Marlon said: "We’re excited to have ShopAR by DeepAR on board and can’t wait to get a look and feel – be it virtually – using the new filter we’ve collaborated on.” DeepAR will demonstrate its ShopAR and 3D commerce platform at the show, explaining how AR and 3D visualisation technology works for any website or mobile app, as well as for in-practice solutions. It will also be offering two companies the chance to make their entire product suites AR and 3D enabled both online and in-practice. George Berkowski, DeepAR CEO and co-founder, said: “We believe that this year’s awards will be even more exciting and interactive with the extra dimension of AR and 3D. We are so excited to be able to showcase these amazing designs from some of the world’s best designers in a format that allows anyone to experience them – from their smartphone or laptop computer in unbelievable realism." The winners of the Love Eyewear Awards will be crowned on the catwalk on the Saturday 24 February during an evening of celebration and entertainment. Register at www.100percentoptical.com With a new show director at the helm, 100% Optical 2024 (24-26 February) will feature an expanded Studio area dedicated to independent exhibitors. Sponsored by Nikon Lenswear UK, the Studio sits in the Eyewear zone and will welcome the likes of Salt, Einstoffen, Götti, Ørgreen, Danielle Rattray, Tavat, Nirvan Javan, Blackfin and Leisure Society to highlight their latest innovations designed using environmentally-friendly materials. Independent eyewear brand first-timers will include Vakay Eyewear, Neubau Eyewear, Frost Eyewear and Ultra Limited. Show director, Marlon Cera-Marle, said: "Ten years ago, 100% Optical launched to give independents a national platform to shine, so naturally this has always been an area of focus for us. Highlights from the show last year demonstrated the increasing popularity of the Studio industrial space, and so we adjusted the floor space accordingly to make room for more brands joining – and an incredible display of innovative optical designs that hero sustainability. “The positive conversations the whole team is having and the exciting plans we’re making are all aligning to bring over 10,000 optical professionals and eyewear enthusiasts from around the globe together once again for the biggest celebration to mark a decade of the show.” Robyn Milner, head of brand and communication at Nikon Lenswear UK, commented: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring the Independent Studio Bar again this year and bringing the community of premium optics together. Throughout 100% Optical 2024, we will be showcasing the Nikon difference when it comes to supporting luxury premium businesses, from our newest and true innovations to the unparalleled value of our Nikon Lenswear Partner Programme. We invite our partners, customers and those new to Nikon entirely to join us at the Studio Bar and on our stand E130. We look forward to seeing you there.” VIRTUAL EYEWEAR WORLD With the shortlist of potential winners due to be announced on 22 January, this year's Love Eyewear Time to shine 28 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSIGHTS CELEBRATING INDEPENDENT DESIGNS Visit the ABDO College stand at the show to learn all about the courses and training on offer. Staff will be on hand to answer any training queries, and to help practice owners plan career development for their practice teams. Details will be available about the College’s ophthalmic dispensing courses, including the FBDO Ophthalmic Dispensing Programme, and the popular contact lens course. Information will also be available on the College’s low vision and revision courses, as well as the two courses to help optical assistants develop their practice skills. The ABDO College Bookshop will also be on the stand offering competitively-priced dispensing, optometry, ophthalmology and contact lens books – plus equipment such as rules, gauges and charts. Free postage is offered at the event so that visitors don't have to carry their purchases around at the show.

DO’ING SOMETHING DIFFERENT A my Milliken is a dispensing optician for Specsavers Domiciliary, alongside which she runs a weekly pole fitness class. Amy says: “My first experience of pole fitness was for my hen party in 2013 where a class had been organised for the group of girls. From that point on, I was hooked. I booked in at my nearest pole studio and was instantly addicted.” Considering the benefits, Amy says: “If you have the right people around you, it becomes a supportive family that pushes you to go further with your tricks and celebrate your successes. All of this makes you feel awesome but then to be actually helping your fitness and flexibility at the same time is even better. You're working out without realising.” Amy moved to Cyprus with her husband’s job in 2015 and decided to become an instructor. She explains: “I hit a few barriers preventing me from teaching, but I did continue classes in Limassol with a Cypriot Instructor, Stella.” On her return to the UK, she continues: "I finally started up my own classes in the village hall in August 2021. It was amazing. My classes grew from eight people a week to 18 people within a year. Due to the nature of my husband's job, we were then moved to another RAF base in October 2022 and I have had to start from scratch again – but continue to share my love of pole.” If you’d like to get fitter but are unsure if pole fitness is for you, Amy suggests: “I hear people say, ‘I don’t have any upper body strength’, ‘I’m not flexible, ‘I’m too old’, or ‘I’m too big’. Honestly, pole fitness is for everyone of any body shape, any age and any fitness level. For every trick, there is progression and regression. My mum even started pole fitness classes two years ago and she’s 61. So if you've wanted to try it, try it.” EYECARE FAQ OA CORNER PART 37 SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS: HEALTHY START TO THE NEW YEAR We are kicking off the New Year with a focus on health, eye diseases of old age, careers in eyecare, and myopia. Here are some suggested social media posts: 'Does my diet affect my eyes? Eat a balanced diet to stay healthy: it has benefits for your whole body as well as your eyes'; 'Have you had an eye exam in the last two years? If not, you’re probably due! #eyecareresolutions'; 'Giving up smoking? Did you know smoking can increase your risk of sight loss? Book an eye exam #eyecareresolutions'. Find Q&As on all these topics in the EyecareFAQ section of the ABDO website and graphics in the EyecareFAQ resources for members section. Find EyecareFAQ on the ABDO website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. GET TO KNOW YOUR GOS FORMS There are many GOS forms in existence, which the optical assistant (OA) may come into contact with. This month, dispensing optician Sue Deal look at some of these forms – including the GOS 1 to 5 forms – and explains what they are used for and who is eligible to use them. For example, the GOS 2 form is the NHS copy of the patient’s prescription, and this should be given to all patients following completing of the NHS eye examination. Remember: from 1 January 2024, NHS England is mandating that all GOS submissions be made online. Read OA Corner Part 37 in full DO Online. GOS FORMS IN POLE POSITION JANUARY 2024 DISPENSING OPTICS 29

NOTICES 30 DISPENSING OPTICS JANUARY 2024 HERE FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN 2024 The ABDO National Resource Centre is ready and waiting to help your business. Visit DO Online Jobs Vacancies to place your recruitment adverts – or search for new opportunities. Your advert will reach some 8,000 ABDO members via eNews direct, making DO Online one of the most cost-effective platforms for DO recruitment. Vacancies are also promoted through ABDO’s active social media channels. FREE BRONZE ADVERTS FOR MEMBERS. Would you like to work with Careers in Eyecare to inspire the next generation of eyecare professionals? We are always looking for people who will tell us about a day in their working life. All you need to do is answer a few short questions and send three to four photos of yourself at work. Visit www.careersineyecare.org.uk/contact-us/inspre-the-next-generation or email [email protected] CALL FOR CASE STUDIES Visit www.careersineyecare.org.uk to explore existing case studies. The ABDO Benevolent Fund is a registered charity that assists those members, past and present (or their dependents), who are suffering financial hardship. As an ABDO member, if you know a colleague who you feel might benefit, or if you find yourself facing a difficult financial situation, please contact Jane Burnand by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 0207 298 5102. All enquiries are handled in strictest confidence. Any ABDO member can make a charitable donation to the fund. ABDO BENEVOLENT FUND A LIFELINE FOR MEMBERS

KEEPING EXCELLENCE IN YOUR SIGHTS Make ABDO College your first choice for competitively priced: • Rules, gauges and charts • Dispensing, optometry, ophthalmology, contact lens books • Essential packs of books for student DOs • Useful study guides • Spread payments with PayPal Credit. eBooks now available for a range of key texts. Order online at abdocollege.org.uk/bookshop/ Items not listed on the website can be sourced for you. Email [email protected] or call 01227 733904 Books and Equipment from ABDO College abdo COLLEGE BOOKSHOP

NETWORKING AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ABDO MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE: • Professional indemnity insurance • Personal accident cover • Counselling helpline - FREE 24-hour service • CPD • Dispensing Optics • DO Online • Access to selected British Standards • FREE legal helpline • Discounts on everyday purchases • Member benefit plans with HMCA • Access to over 3,000 + health clubs, gyms and leisure centres • Mobile phones on the best rates available from EE • Savings on all your travel needs • Totum Pro card powered by NUS Extra • Save on travel insurance policies • Savings on Apple products • Advice and Guidelines Your membership Your benefits * Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. Some ABDO Membership benefits are arranged and managed through Parliament Hill and some are arranged through ABDO, please see website for details. The ABDO membership benefits web page is managed and run on behalf of ABDO by Parliament Hill Ltd. Offers are subject to change without notice. All offers correct at time of going to print. Your ABDO membership provides a range of rewards and services that will benefit both your personal and professional life, saving you money every month. BENEFIT SPOTLIGHT Home savings All ABDO members have access to offers and discounts to make significant savings in and around the home:- • Building and contents insurance • Grocery shopping at Morrisons • Home health tests • Seasonal blooms • Whirlpool appliances • Apple products FINANCE AND ADVICE