A boosted service offering

“A happy and supported practice team will boost the service offered to patients and help create a loyal customer base. Staff will also be more open to change and new business opportunities presented to them,” Mr Garnett said.

He added that the AOP’s education programme of CET lectures and workshops are designed so that every member of the team can benefit from the latest guidance.

100% Optical will also feature product launches from eyewear, contact lens and equipment exhibitors, enabling the practice team to discover the latest trends and innovations that can help create a unique point of difference for the practice.

“Offering multiple services under one roof will help distinguish your business and offering this one stop shopping experience has never been more accessible,” Mr Garnett shared.

Education

Economic benefits

Optos will host US optometrist, Dr Jeff Gerson, from Grin Eye Care in Kansas, who will present a lecture entitled, Retina masterclass: The periphery simply cannot be ignored.

Dr Gerson shared that, with diabetes reaching epidemic proportions in the UK, optometrists have an important role in the identification and prevention of the disease. He will highlight that ultra widefield imaging can benefit the patient with early detection and can provide direct and indirect economic benefits to the practice.

Dr Gerson said: “I find my patients are more likely to listen to me about diet and health advice if we detect early signs of diabetes and teach them how to reverse the damage. This masterclass will set out how we can work collaboratively to hopefully see ultra widefield imaging become standard practice and ultimately save the eyesight of more patients.”

Clinical niche

The AOP’s head of education, Dr Ian Beasley, and senior optometry lecturer at Aston University, Dr Nicola Logan, will jointly present The positive and negative sides to axial growth.

Speaking about the session, Dr Beasley said: “By exploring the evidence base, Dr Logan will outline the options available to manage myopia in order to deliver the best outcome for patients, while at the same time allowing practitioners to carve out a clinical niche and create additional revenue streams for the practice.”

In the second part of the presentation, Dr Beasley will share progress on a clinical trial on refractive error modulation in hyperopia that is being undertaken at Aston University. The study aims to implement lessons learned from myopia research in order to improve visual outcomes for this often-overlooked refractive cohort.

Exhibitors

Folding frames

Bondeye Optical will showcase its Roav Eyewear brand. Designed and engineered in Los Angeles, Roav claims to be the world’s thinnest folding frame with a patent-pending screwless micro hinge.

The stainless steel frames are pocketable at 10mm thin when folded, weighing just 15g. A spectacles range – Vision – will launch following the success of its Origin sunglasses range.

Future proof

“The contact lens market is worth £500 million in the UK and it’s growing. There has never been a better time for eye care professionals to ensure that they have a robust, future proof contact lens business. Offering the latest innovations in both daily and reusable lenses will ensure that they can retain existing patients and attract new ones. We are really looking forward to demonstrating at the show how our brands like Biotrue OneDay and Ultra can help eyecare professionals achieve these objectives.”

Business unit head UK and Ireland for vision care at Bausch + Lomb, Amy Rothwell

Siberian materials

Siberian eyewear brand, Brevno, will return to 100% Optical for the second time in 2019.

Brevno will showcase its frames created by CEO Fedor Smirnov and chief designer Artyom Korovin from the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. Mr Korovin shared that Krasnoyarsk is one of the most effective aluminium producers in the world. 

Mr Korovin said: “Brevno’s beloved material is wood because of its authentic texture, natural touch and unique pattern of grains on each frame. This year, we will introduce another local material from our region – aviation aluminium.”