What's On

Next LOC Committee Meeting

Wednesday 15^th January 2020

at 6.30 pm

at the Clock House, Teddington TW11 8HA

News

Sir Vince Cable MP hears how community optical practices are playing a greater role in delivering eye care

Sir Vince Cable, MP for Twickenham and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, recently met with members of the Local Optical Committee and the Optical Confederation at Specsavers in Twickenham, to find out more about how community optical practices can play a greater role in delivering eye care – reducing pressure on hospitals and doctors’ surgeries.

During the visit, the work that the LOC has been doing with Richmond CCG was discussed, which will enable local optical practices to deliver additional services soon, including a minor eye conditions service, a cataract referral service and post cataract surgery check, and repeat diagnostic tests to confirm the risk of glaucoma.

The importance of having regular sight tests was also explained at the meeting.

Dr Ahmed Sivardeen, Chair of Kingston, Richmond and Twickenham Local Optical Committee said:

"We’re really grateful that Sir Vince took the time to meet with us to hear about the valuable services optometrists and opticians can deliver over and above the sight test. Optometrists and opticians are an underused resource in the NHS and many additional services can, and should, be delivered in practices like this one."

LOC Events 2017/18

In September 2017, the LOC had the privilege of hosting a talk by Mr Romesh Angunawela, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields and leading corneal specialist. Mr Angunawela spoke on keratoconus and the latest developments in detection, treatment and management. The lecture was extremely well received – ‘informative, clear and relevant’, ‘superb’, ‘good to be updated about new techniques, procedures and developments’. Mr Angunawela remarked on the high levels of enthusiasm to learn among members.

Many thanks to Mr Angunawela, and also to Bayer for their support in sponsoring the venue and catering for the event.

In July 2017, CooperVision sponsored and led an interactive peer discussion workshop for LOC members on astigmatism and contact lenses at Cole Court, Twickenham. Once again the turn-out was very good with a lot of ‘new faces’, and positive feedback.

Thank you CooperVision.

LOC Events 2016/17

LOC events in 2016/17 included two lectures. The first in June 2016 by Mr Hooman Sherafat, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Director of the Royal Eye Unit at Kingston Hospital, who spoke on primary care ophthalmology and referrals into the hospital sector.

The second in November 2016 by Professor David Gartry, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a pioneer in laser surgery, on lasers in refractive and cataract surgery. Both were excellent and engaging speakers who provided a wealth of information and insight in their subject areas.

The LOC also held a CET peer discussion evening at the end February 2017 on presbyopia, in conjunction with Alcon Eyecare UK, with high levels of engagement from the 40 participants.

Feedback on all the events, which were attended by a large number of optometrists and optical practitioners from across Kingston, Richmond & Twickenham, was extremely positive.