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The article discusses the white paper "The General Ophthalmic Services (GOS)," which examines the aspects of GOS in England and Wales. Topics include the call for urgent review of the GOS claiming that optometrists only perform basic tests as compliance with the National Health Service (NHS) England, the warning of NHS to withdraw the fees that were inappropriately paid and actions to be taken by the NHS ahead of the May 2015 general election.

The article focuses on the issues concerning the General Optical Council fees in Great Britain as of November 2005. Renewal fees will not rise provided there is no last minute rush of those who still use paper to attain continuing education and training accreditation before the 2007 deadline. The Council heard that efforts to agree a 2006-2007 registration fee at the same level as the current year could be halt by a minority of practitioners who continue to use written answer sheets, rather than go online.

The article comments on the exclusion of optometrists from a British paper that lists medical practitioners who can diagnose and treat allergy. Optometrists have once again been overlooked by the British Department of Health in its 2006 paper. There is no reason optometrists should not promote the investigation and treatment skills they have.

The article presents information on the 36th Association of Optometrists' (AOP) Hospital Optometrists Annual Conference, held in Heathrow, England, from November 5-7, 2010. Nilpah Shah presented the results of a study of visual acuity measured using vanishing optotypes and conventional letters while Michael Grossland and Roger Anderson presented on reading and writing papers and posters. Information on other sessions is presented.

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.

Presents news briefs on optometry in Great Britain as of March 2003. Information on the 2003 Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians; Main themes of the 2003 conference on issues concerning people with sight problems; Acquisition of the U.S. prescription sunglass lens maker Specialty Lens Corp. by French lens maker Essilor.

The article focuses on why optometry is not a career choice in Great Britain. It is noted that the starting salary for optometry is poor with no prospect of rising to a level comparable with similar professions after graduation and tough professional exams. It is stated that non-professional managers often bully employed optometrists at work.

The article offers suggestions for optometrists on how to improve NHS care, meet healthcare needs and build an excellent NHS for future generations. It is suggested that one should insist that all non-emergency ophthalmic referrals are routed via specialist optometrists accredited and administered through Local Optical Committees (LOCs).

In this article the author discusses the good news of the new professional qualification for optometry. He explains that a second assessor will do a continuous assessment and objective checking of skills and a structured practical that presents everyone with the same problems. He points out that the results are now particular about the abilities of the student and less about which assessor and examiner they ended up with.

The article offers information regarding the use of anti-reflection coatings which will benefit the patient, and broaden the knowledge base of staff involved when dealing with patients. According to data from consumer research companies, consumers are expecting more information on their purchases from informed staff. It is argued that the popularity and extensive use of anti-reflection coatings provide benefits to both patients and practitioners.

Reports on the aim of the General Optical Council to approve several proposals to optometry at its summer meeting held on July 1, 2004. Resolution of the reform to students' insurance procedures and contact lens regulations; Introduction of code of conduct for optometrists and dispensing opticians; Purpose of the code of conduct; Debate among council members over proposals about contact lenses and insurance for practitioners and students.

Discusses the prospect of compulsory continuing education and training (CET) for optometry practice in Great Britain. Information on the online access to CET program for optometrist; Concern on ocular therapeutics; Discussion on the variety of CET.

Presents an update on optometry as of October 2003. Mission for Vision project of optometrists Stephen Abery and Kathy Thorrold in Uganda; Retirement of Batemans Tavistock managing optometrist Alan Maddock; Price given to Vijay Anand by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.

The article focuses on the implications of the free-form technology for both optometry practitioner and contact lens wearer. The best form for an ophthalmic lens to be made in a higher refractive index material is, generally, more steeply curved than the form required for a normal index material. Normal index materials are defined as those whose refractive index is less than 1.54, the author said.

Comments on a research on British optometrists regarding the prescription of spectacles. Role of deception in the research.

Discusses the development of a certificate or diploma that would enable optometrists to work anywhere in Europe. Details on comparable standards in the training of optometrists; Main activities of the board of management of the European Council of Optometry and Optics; Aim of a competence-based approach.

The article highlights the results of the study on Mallet fixation disparity test for the diagnosis of binocular vision. A questionnaire was distributed to approximately 90 optometrists practising throughout the UK, who were randomly selected through various sources. The questionnaire assessed the frequency with which several binocular vision tests are used in practice including the Mallett fixation disparity test (Karania, 2004).

Explains the application of the Data Protection Act 1998 in the practice of optometry in Great Britain. Registration of optometrists as data controllers; Definition of a data controller and a data processor according to the legislation; Responsibilities of data controllers; Principles of data processing.

The article reports that the Optical Confederation and LOCSU believe that community-based optometrists and opticians can and should play an important part in delivering primary eye care in Great Britain. According to consultant ophthalmologist Nikhil Kaushik, the outsourcing of care to optometrists for medical conditions had resulted in fragmentation of care and multiplication of demand.

The article presents the author's views on an article by Michael Clarke published in a previous issue of the "British Medical Journal." He opines on explanation on all the good points of what optometry offers by professional bodies. He asserts that some very important points which sadly seem to have been ignored in the replies are made in the article by Clarke.

The article reports that the College of Optometrists has supported the use of fluorescein strips while a statement clarifying the circumstances in which CE-marked fluorescein strips can be used has been published by the General Optical Council (GOC). According to College president Kamlesh Chauhan, this issue is a significant issue for all optometrists. It is noted that GOC will receive a complaint about a registrant using fluorescein.

The article presents information on Batty and Dexter Opticians optometry practice which received this year's Optician Paperless Practice of the Year Award. The firm's three optical practices in Liverpool are owned by Karl Spinks and his wife, Beverley. Spinks believes that independent practices cannot afford not to be paperless in the digital age.

The article offers information on the Croydon Optometric Referral Scheme (CORS) that was introduced in Croydon in London, England two years ago. It informs that the scheme was developed to manage and prioritise eye care referrals and its aims included providing in-depth patient assessment, and reducing the number of patients referred to the hospital and also discusses the results of the CORS.

The article presents the author's opinion regarding the increase in retention fees for 2010/11 for both optometrists and dispensing opticians by the General Optical Council (GOC) in Great Britain. He comments that a profession needs a strong and effective regulatory body and the increased fees represent the workload and cost that the GOC faces. He reminds that there must be constant vigilance as the GOC is spending registrants' money. He believes that the increase should be supported.

The article explains how professor James Wolffsohn has been involved in a project extending awareness of optometry. Academics are no longer judged on the quality and quantity of their research output, their teaching and community engagement citizenship is also being rewarded. It is noted that community engagement is harder to define, but includes enhancing the life of those near the university campus. Wolffsohn encourages others to get involved in certain activities outside their daily work.

The article presents an interview with optometrist Michael Johnson regarding winning the Contribution to CET Award of the "Optician." Johnson considers the award as a surprise because he was not aware of his entry to the competition. He provides information on his optometry research at Cardiff University. The criteria used in selecting the Johnson's article for the award are mentioned.

This article reports on the response of the optometry profession to questions by the British Department of Health (DoH) on the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) review, as of April 2006. The comprehensive response by optometry to the GOS review by the profession underscores and adds to previous discussion about the immediate future of optometry in England. Optics has told the DoH that where given the opportunity general practitioners have proved very willing to refer to optometrists. The optical bodies suggested a PEARS-style scheme could treat conditions such as red eye, excessive tearing, dry eye and blepharitis, and that accredited optometrists could manage primary open-angle glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract and visual impairment due to age-related macular degeneration.

The article offers views on the developments in the primary eye care efforts of the British College of Optometrists. The author emphasized that the College is to be congratulated on its initiative in proposing a new three-tier approach to primary eye care. The publication of the report Developing a New Partnership Contract for Community Eye Care in England is another significant development.

Presents information on a training opportunity for specialized optometrists. Inclusion by primary care trusts of ophthalmology in local delivery plans; Need for optometrists to have ophthalmological skills; Structure and delivery of the training in ophthalmology.

Criticizes the implementation of the Continuing Education and Training scheme of the College of Optometrists in Great Britain. Ownership of a structured personal development plan; Role of college as representative of the profession in national policy making bodies; Compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Presents an article on various issues confronting optometrists in Great Britain as of September 2003. Danger faced by hardworking practicing professionals; Crisis facing the General Optical Council; Failure of Eyecare Trust to persuade the public to visit an optometrist.

Explores the controversies concerning the charges imposed by ophthalmic opticians to their patients in Great Britain. Complaints of patients against opticians; Background of optometry in the country; Average earnings of dispensing opticians.