Optos supports universities

Optos has partnered with a number of optometry schools across Europe as part of its university programme.

The European School Optometry Programme is designed to support universities that are looking to put ultra-widefield technology on the syllabus and ensure that students enter the profession with an understanding of the importance of it to clinical practice.

Optos’ sales director for northern Europe and distributor markets, Chris Willis said: “Through our partnerships with optometry schools, students are entering the profession understanding the importance of new technology such as 200-degree ultra-widefield retinal imaging and the ‘real-world’ benefits it brings to practice and patients.”

Optometry schools participating in the programme include Aston University in Birmingham, City, University of London, and Glasgow Caledonian University. Plans are also in place to incorporate the technology onto the syllabus at the Dublin Institute of Technology. Devices have been installed in Germany at Beuth Hocschule für Technik in Berlin and Höhere Fachschule für Augeonoptik in Cologne.

At Glasgow Caledonian University’s vision sciences department, the Daytona Plus is being used to help students detect eye conditions such as diabetes and retinal detachment.

Optometrist and vision sciences lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, Dr Alice McTrusty, said: “We must ensure that our students leave university having been trained to the highest standard and with experience of using the most up-to-date cutting-edge technology. This will enable our students to enter the profession with the knowledge to help inform best clinical practice.”

Clinical instructor at Aston University, Ashok Chowdhury, explained to OT that Daytona Plus is an important instrument, which allows the department to teach and explain various peripheral retinal and choroidal lesions to final year students. 

“Having the Optos Daytona Plus at Aston ensures our students are up to date with UWF technology,” he said, adding: “They may also consider its value when equipping their practices of the future. The Optos Daytona Plus is a valuable instrument in our patient clinics as it enables us to detect and diagnose peripheral ocular conditions which may have gone undetected using conventional methods.”

Head of optometry at Aston, Professor Leon Davies, said: “Personally, I am delighted that Optos have chosen Aston Optometry School to house one of their Daytona Plus instruments. This greatly improves the quality of eye care we can provide to our patients, and it enhances the educational experience for our undergraduate optometry students.”