Education takes centre stage at 100% Optical
100% Optical returned last week, 4-6 February 2017, for a fourth year. Optical professionals, from all areas of the practice team, took the opportunity to make the most of the world-leading education and trade exhibition, with footfall increasing to a record 8051 over the three days.
Educational content, which is organised by the Association of Optometrists (AOP), ranged from career development and clinical skills, to sessions on the future of optometry.
The AOP opened the main stage on Saturday with ‘On the record: A complaint has been made’, as the Association’s Legal and Regulatory Services Director, Gerda Goldlinger, and Assistant Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Fiona Mitchell, discussed avoiding legal pitfalls, following a viewing of the AOP’s 2016 legal film. AOP member, Osarugue Adeyemi, said the session had been insightful, commenting: ‘The movie clip was so real, it brought a lot of things into focus.’
Education at the AOP lounge was also a hit; peer discussion sessions were popular with many practitioners enjoying the chance to discuss cases with their colleagues. AOP member and optometrist, Anita Hughes, said: ‘It was interesting hearing other people’s views’. Her comments were reiterated by AOP members who attended Richard Edwards’ session, ‘Improving CL wearer compliance to reduce risk/ dropout and complaints.’ Optometrist Jennifer-Molly Ibennah, who attended the session, said she had found the research, as well as listening to other practitioners, particularly useful.
The AOP lounge timetable also addressed opportunities and threats within the optical profession, with ‘Optometry is doomed!’ and ‘The rise of the robots’ examining how optical roles are changing. Students were also catered for with a ‘pre-reg boot camp’ covering practical skills.
Throughout the event, sessions offered a variety of educational content. Highlights included Bruce Evan’s session, ‘The role of the optometrist in dyslexia’ and Maggie Woodhouse’s, ‘Tips for tots’, which provided guidance on sight tests for children.
Locum optometrist and AOP member, Purvi Gala, who attend Bruce Evans’ talk, rated the session highly, saying: ‘Excellent topic and lots of clear information and facts’, adding 100% Optical was ‘brilliant overall’. Optometrist and AOP member Izhak Simkin, echoed her sentiments, commenting that the session had been useful and that overall he would recommend the event, explaining 100% Optical was: ‘The best show in the UK, 100% fantastic’.
100% Optical will return to ExCel, London on 27-28 January 2018.
Ends
High quality images can be downloaded via Dropbox. For more information, please contact Emily Campbell, PR and Marketing Officer, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 020 7549 2040.
Notes to Editors
Association of Optometrists
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading representative membership organisation for optometrists in the UK. We support our community of more than 16,500 members to fulfil their professional roles to protect the nation’s eye health. As a founding member of the Optical Confederation we work with others to improve eye health for the public good. For more information, visit www.aop.org.uk
Optometry Today
Optometry Today (OT) has a readership of 15,000 members and subscribers. OT was named as the ‘Best Professional Association or Royal College magazine’ at the MemCom 2016 Awards. Organised by MemCom – the networking organisation for membership marketing professionals – the awards recognise and celebrate excellence within the membership sector. The OT website offers subscribers exclusive access to over 65 CET exams per year, including bi-monthly CET video content. For more information, visit www.aop.org.uk/ot
100% Optical
100% Optical is delivered in partnership with the AOP and our journal Optometry Today. It's London's only annual trade event for industry professionals including optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens practitioners, ophthalmologists and undergraduates. Working alongside award-winning events company, Media 10, 100% Optical has become the industry’s flagship annual, international event – combining creativity and innovation to expand the delegate experience.