Profitability of contact lenses highlighted at Specialist Club event

The Specialist Club held its second meeting in Birmingham last month (21 March), which had a theme of Astigmatism: contact lens options when disposables can’t cope.

The all-day seminar included presentations and live patient fitting demonstrations of soft, gas permeable, hybrid and scleral contact lenses. 

Speakers at the event included optometrist and dispensing optician, Indie Grewal, who focused on how myopia management is being used to develop his business during Successfully commercialising the niche contact lens practice. 

During his presentation, Mr Grewal said that the benefits of contact lenses for patients provides “a huge sense of satisfaction” to practitioners. 

He explained: “Whether that be putting a young child into contact lenses, or fitting a frustrated presbyope with multifocals, there is a contact lens solution available for most patients.”

“The long-term profitability of contact lenses is overlooked by so many practitioners. A patient who purchases spectacles and contact lenses will be more profitable than a specs-only patient,” he added. 

Held at the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) National Resource Centre, the event was organised by Contamac, Menicon, SynergEyes and UltraVision. It was also supported by Northern Lenses, Visioneering Technologies and the British Contact Lens Association. 

Other presentations on the day included professional services manager at Menicon, Josie Barlow (pictured), who explored how easy it is to fit a gas permeable contact lens. 

Optometrist and clinical director of UltraVision, Lynn White, highlighted the company’s Avanti monthly disposable silicone hydrogel contact lenses. 

Head of professional services at SynergEyes, Phil Thomson, shared how practitioners do not need to use fluorescein to fit its Duette hybrid contact lens. 

The next Specialist Club will take place in September with venue and programme details coming soon. For further information, call 01424 817 035 or email the Specialist Club.