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The article reports on the £50 registration fee rise proposed by the General Optical Council (GOC) board members at a meeting held in London, England. The proposal for the increase made by the Finance and Procedure (F&P) Committee of GOC was based on other costs such as the transition to a more board-like Council and the implementation of the government's White Paper recommendations. Proposal being laid would see a late application fee of £10 for students if approved.

The article reports on the collaboration of the Institute of Optometry and the London South Bank University to launch the Doctor of Optometry programme in London, England. Sir Patrick Cable-Alexander said that the scheme involves a taught element in the first two years. It notes that the entry level for the new doctorate will be evidence of work at a masters level, but optometrists who had a paper published or completed a higher diploma or produced high quality written material will be eligible.

Information about several papers discussed at a meeting regarding the implementation of the UK Vision Strategy in London, England. Industry insiders say that the optical sector must step up its lobbying efforts if eye health is to be pushed higher up the government's agenda. According to Lesley-Anne Alexander, chair of the UK Vision Strategy Strategic Advisory Group, eye health is on the political agenda, but people need to do more locally and nationally.

The article features the Japanese kimono displayed by Hodd Barnes & Dickins of Mason's Avenue in London, England in celebration of the new Nodoka optical collection by the Charmant Group. The Uchikake or bridal kimono are the excessively decorated costumes worn, described as beautifully crafted and symbolic. Japanese andon lamps replicating the ancient lanterns once made of paper and wood have accompanied the embroidered dress in the window display. The group has incorporated many Japanese unique designs into the collection.

The article highlights the meeting of the GOC which was held in London, England on June 28, 2007. Members received updates on the white paper working groups and progress within the British Department of Health where they asked to endorse the proposal for fitness to practise hearings to be moved to an independent adjudication body. A new unified competency framework for optics was also proposed to take on board best practice from the Optometrists Association Australia.