The minutes from the APPG meeting on Children's Vision Screening held on 22nd October 2008 are now available.

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Following reports of eyelash growth by users of bimatoprost eye drops (Lumigan?) for glaucoma, Allergan Inc is now seeking FDA approval to market this new use under the brand name Latisse?. Growth of eyelashes is listed as an adverse effect in the SPC for this product

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The College of Optometrists is delighted to welcome Dr Susan Blakeney and Trevor Warburton to Fellowship by Portfolio.

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The College of Optometrists has updated its infection control guidance. Members of the College are able to access the document.

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The 8th President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists will be Mr John Lee.

president royal john college leethe announc

Just over 11 million NHS sight tests took place in England in 2007-08, nearly 1.4 million more than in 2002-03, new figures from The NHS Information Centre show.

million tests sight cent rise nearly show information centre england figures

Article written by Fiona Rowe, Senior Lecturer at Liverpool University for the NLH Eyes & Vision Specialist Library. This article has been timed to coincide with the Stroke Rehabilitation Annual Evidence Update being hosted this week by the NLH Stroke Specialist Library.

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The Paediatric Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion on the Paediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) for Luveniq? (oral voclosporin), a next-generation calcineurin inhibitor, being investigated for the treatment of sight-threatening non-infectious uveitis.

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From 1st August 2007, the new Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) curricula will be introduced for all specialities. This will effect new trainees and have implications for doctors who wish to apply via PMETB for a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR).

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Changes have been made to the Guidelines for professional conduct on the Routine Eye Examination (B02).

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The European section of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists website has been updated.

royal website european college update section information ad pagesthe

Work is underway to develop RNIB's Strategy for the period 2009 to 2014. The RNIB have opened a consultation period as they would like to involve people who have an interest in shaping the future direction of RNIB.

strategy rnib

The Department of Health announced last week in a written statement that it would not pursue further plans to transfer the adjudication of fitness to practise cases for the General Medical Council (GMC) and the General Optical Council (GOC) to the Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator (OHPA). The transfer of the GOC?s hearings was expected to take place in 2012 following the transfer of GMC hearings in April 2011. Responding to the statement, GOC chief executive and registrar, Dian Taylor, said: ?We have had very fruitful discussions with OHPA as to the future shape of the hearings process, and the Council was impressed with the ideas presented to it by the OHPA chair, Walter Merricks, at its June meeting in Birmingham. As outlined in the GOC?s strategic plan 2010-15, the Council is committed to enhancing and modernising its fitness to practise processes to ensure maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We will now take on board the ideas generated by the discussion with OHPA, and look to embed those in our hearings process going forward?. The Council will be consulting on proposed changes to its FTP processes in the autumn.

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The GMC has launched a major consultation on proposals for a new process of medical regulation to assure patients, employers and other healthcare practitioners that licensed doctors are up to date and fit to practise. In future, all licensed doctors will need to revalidate on a regular basis if they wish to keep their licence to practise.

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The College of Optometrists triumphed at last week?s Thames and Chiltern regional Chartered Institute of PR ?PRide? Awards 2008 winning a Gold award in the Not for Profit category and Silver award for Best Use of Media Relations.

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The Eyes & Vision Specialist Library present a collection of the evidence that has been published over the past 12 months about glaucoma.

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Following a competitive tender process the College of Optometrists has been selected to provide the secretariat for a new European Academy of Optometry and Optics.

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The College of Optometrists have issued a statement following revelations that students are pouring alcohol shots into their eyes in a bid to get drunk more quickly.

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Optometry Today TV (OTTV) the new web based TV station for optometry is now live and freely available.

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On 20 November the GOC announced that the annual retention fee for 2009/10 is rising from £169 to £219.

registration annual fees rising november yearson four announc retention

The GOC met on 20 November 2008 to discuss draft budget and business plan for 2009-10, late payment and student restoration fees, revalidation, code of conduct, Welsh Language Scheme, FTP guidance, performance assessments and bid farewell to the Council Chairperson.

council november plan code farewell optical guidance restoration chairperson payment conduct discuss late draft revalidation general news language meeting welsh

The Appointments Committee has appointed Dr Geoffrey Harris as the new chair of the General Optical Council (GOC).

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The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has been notified by Novagali Pharma S.A. of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralised marketing authorisation for Vekacia? (ciclosporin) 0.05% eye drops.

ciclosporin marketing drops authorisation vekacia application medicines agency withdrawnthe emea novagali withdraw decision pharma notified centralis european

RNIB research specification for a study to investigate the impact of sport and physical activity on the wellbeing of blind and partially sighted people, in particular BME communities, and factors that act as barriers and enablers to engagement.

partially activity blind sight specification impact physical research sport wellbeing investigate engagement enablers people community particular factors study peoplernib rnib

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and The Macular Disease Society are jointly calling for all eye doctors to warn patients with macular degeneration they may develop visual hallucinations - Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

college macular royal charles bonnet jointly develop syndromethe society syndrome press hallucinations visual disease warn doctors patients degeneration calling release

Bionic Vision Australia will pursue the development of the most technologically advanced bionic eye to improve the sight of people with degenerative or inherited retinal disease

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Jonathan Cohen, clinical director of the award-winning Zacks Kings Cross Eye Clinic in London, is holding a Mother and Toddler Week (20 to 28 November) to heighten awareness of the importance of testing children?s eyes from an early age.

toddler testing importance mother week awareness cross school children eyesjonathan holding london award heighten launches eyes childrens focus clinic director

Researchers supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as researchers working on-site at NEI will present recent advances in vision science at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

national neuroscience working institutes site society support advances science vision researchers recent institute annual present meeting health

Strong turnout and a robust scientific program marked the largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy) 2008 Joint Meeting in conjunction with the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE), held in Atlanta November 8 to November 11.

meeting joint scientific turnout ophthalmology november academy mark european strong educational ophthalmic rich comprehensive conjunction world robust programstrong held program

The Summary Product Characteristics for lucentis have been updated.

lucentis ranibizumab characteristics revis summary spcthe product update

Nine treatment centres will be established across Wales to help ensure faster, fairer treatment for patients at risk of losing their sight, Health Minister Edwina Hart announced today.

minister treatment health establish across help wales patients risk programme ensure faster edwina fairer announc announces hart spee centres treatmentnine

Application information for Membership and Fellowship of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists is now available.

royal packs application college examinations examination availablethe

The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announces the release of more than 10 years of data collected during the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which looked at the progression of age-related macular degeneration and age-related cataract in 4,757 adults aged 55 to 80.

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The Institute of Ophthalmology is launching a brand new Masters course in the Biology of Vision, to commence in September 2009.

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The summary product characteristics of azopt (brinzolamide) have been revised.

azopt brinzolamide indication drops therapeutic revis characteristics summary product

Essilor hosts a free CET article open to all UK registered Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians.

free essilor hosts dispensing optometrists register opticians open article

Call for research - brief prepared by RNIB on visual impairment and learning disabilities.

impairment visual research brief disability learning detectioncall prepar rnib under prevalence

The College of Optometrists has issued calls for Nomination to Council for 2009. There are vacancies in seven regions, and practising members in each of these regions are encouraged to stand.

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The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) and Merck & Co., Inc. are pleased to announce a series of awards that honor young scientists throughout the world for their innovative contributions to ophthalmology research.

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Register for the 3rd EGS European Glaucoma Course being held in Geneva, Switzerland on 16 and 17 January 2009.

january european glaucoma held switzerland genevaregister residents geneva

Boots Opticians is to sponsor National Eye Week 2008, the 14th annual awareness week running from 24 to 30 November.

week opticians national partnership trust announces annual november eyecare sponsor awareness boots running

The OIA Zeiss Photographic Competition 2008 has been extended until 14 November 2008.

competition zeiss photographic until november extend

Summary of the conference held on 2nd October on Sensory Impairment in the Aged - Fight for Sight and RNID.

conference sensory ag summary impairment rnid sight october fight held

The deadline for application for the Mark Bradshaw Award is 1 December 2008. The award was established by the AVA to support junior researchers.

mark award bradshaw application junior awardthe researchers vision applied establish december deadline support association

The pass list for the FRCOphth Part 1 examination in October 2008 is now available.

pass frcophth list october websitethe examination ad college royal

Patient-led charity RP Fighting Blindness has been awarded a lottery grant to work in collaboration with London's UCL Institute of Ophthalmology to investigate potential treatments for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a blinding genetic disease of the eye.

blindness grant lottery pigmentosa london institute work charity disease genetic collaboration blinding ophthalmology award retinitis fighting treatments investigate researchpatient potential

The summary product characteristics for macugen 0.3mg solution for injection (pegaptanib sodium) have been revised.

macugen injection solution revis summary sodium product spcthe characteristics pegaptanib

This month the NLH Eyes & Vision Specialist Library (EVSL) celebrates its 3rd birthday. As part of the celebration, EVSL has a new look homepage allowing easier access to the most popular sections with a streamlined taxonomy providing more intuitive access to the resources.

vision homepage eyes access specialist evsl taxonomy resources celebrates easier birthday popular month librarythis allowing intuitive library providing celebration streamlin

According to research, every year ten people lose their sight due to fireworks and over half of all firework related injuries are suffered by children. With eighty-one per cent of the injuries occurring in October and November, eye experts at the College of Optometrists are highlighting the need to take safety precautions when using and watching fireworks this bonfire season.

year lose injury fireworks people half october precautions suffer bonfire watching eighty season research occurring safety college experts children sight

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Eye Health and Visual Impairment met on Wednesday 22 October to discuss Children?s Vision Screening.

vision children consider wednesday health discuss party group october visual appg screening meet screeningthe impairment parliamentary

Optical practices are continuing to receive telephone calls from a recruitment agency posing as the General Optical Council.

calls optical bogus practices council recruitment posing continuing general receive agency updateoptical telephone

Ballot papers and information on the election process will be sent out by the Electoral Reform Services on Friday 24th October and the ballot will close at NOON on MONDAY 1st DECEMBER 2008.

election close services monday college ballot december october sent reform president information noon royal process papers electoral friday

Following consultation with the membership, at the AGM in March 2004 a new set of Bye-laws were approved, to be implemented from the 2005 AGM. Amongst other changes, the new Bye-laws introduced an age rule, as follows:

laws membership consultation rule college introduc changes approv follows following march implement council amongst

The College has this week issued Calls for Nomination to Council for 2009.

council college calls week nomination issued stand elections optometrists

For those of you who are intending to sit the College of Optometrists Final Assessment and NonEEA Qualified Optometrists Examination, the optometry blog will be building here a comprehensive list of useful links and downloads.

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The AOP and FODO have announced the formation of new joint committees and are inviting other optical partners to join in.

partners joint optical fodo committees inviting call jointhe formation join announce announc

RNIB and Action for Blind people have agreed in principle to combine regional services.

action people blind principle join services rnib forcesrnib agree regional combine

Patients at the Bristol Eye Hospital, run by the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, are the first in the West Country to benefit from a new sutureless eye surgery technique.

benefit bristol sutureless surgery hospitals hospital university west patients foundation country trust technique

The examinations calendar produced by the College of Optometrists has been updated.

examinations update optometrists college calendarthe calendar produc

With Halloween approaching, the American Optometric Association (AOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription from an eye doctor.

halloween warning without damage american accessory association wear contact decorative eyeswith wearing optometric permanently approaching risks doctor lenses consumer consumers

The latest Network 1000 report presents findings from a survey of nearly 900 people who are registered blind or partially sighted.

people network services latest impairmentthe register information partially support blind presents survey findings report access nearly visual sight

Angry over their unfair exclusion from a vital mobility benefit ? and Government's failure to deliver a change - blind and partially sighted people from across the UK march in protest on Parliament on Wednesday 15 October.

blind people unfair vital parliament exclusion mobility partially across benefit march sight october government wednesday failure benefitangry deliver protest

The Optometry Blog has joined the social networking revolution with the creation of a Facebook page.

blog social page join networking face facebookthe revolution optometry creation facebook

Part 2 of the frequently asked questions to help pre-registration trainees with the upcoming assessments.

registration assessments faqs questions upcoming trainees help ask binocular frequently visionpart

The College of Optometrists have responded to the article about glaucoma which appeared in The Times on 13 October.

college article glaucoma optometrists times timesthe respond response appear october

The Eye Health Alliance have recently launched their website.

recently alliance launch health websitethe website

World Sight Day this year was dedicated to raising awareness of visual loss amongst older people. To coincide with this awareness raising event a visually impaired couple launched an innovative venture which hopes, in some way, to help partially sighted older people and younger ones too!

people raising launch awareness older sight cardsworld visually dedicate help greeting ones year innovative event amongst couple visual younger coincide

The Online Application System for the 2009 Clinical Excellence Awards is now available.

clinical application excellence online awards

Summer edition of Focus published by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists is available.

royal focus autumn college ad websitethe website

Summer edition of College News published by Royal College of Ophthalmologists is available to members.

college ad royal news autumn access website members websitethe

Dr Susan Blakeney, Optometric Adviser to the College of Optometrists, has highlighted the importance of regular eye examinations in a short film published online by NHS Choices website.

film regular importance college choices highlight blakeney publish online optometric stress website examsdr examinations susan short adviser optometrists

From Painted Jezebels?to Synthetic Beauty: The Story of Eye Make-Up explains how cosmetic products for the eyes can alter the colour of the surrounding flesh or lashes and create an illusion of shape or form. It tells the story of how women, and less frequently men, have used them for ceremonial, social or psychological reasons.

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If you need a question answered on any aspect of the exam or understand anything specific about working as an optometrist in the UK, including employment options.

employment anything answer qualified aspect understand exam question specific options examinations examiner optometrist working optometristsif including

In a recent study of South Londoners released to mark World Sight Day (9th October) by the sight loss charity, Thomas Pocklington Trust (1), over 50% were found to have correctable eye problems.

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The summary of the key recommendations of the interventional procedure on Corneal implants for the correction of refractive error is now available in Welsh.

procedure corneal summary refractive interventional correction welsh implants nice errorthe recommendations error information

The summary of the key recommendations of the interventional procedure on Corneal implants for keratoconus is now available in Welsh.

welsh corneal interventional summary procedure implants keratoconus recommendations nice keratoconusthe information

The consultation period for the NICE glaucoma guideline due to be published in April 2009 is now open (29 September to 24 November 2008)

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The College once again opened its doors to the public on Sunday 21 September as part of London?s annual Open House weekend - a celebration of the Capital?s new and historic buildings.

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The results of the Final Assessment are available to Pre-Registration trainees online as well as by post.

final assessment optometrists resultsthe college trainees summer registration online

At this time of the year, pre-registration trainees are once again completing their Assessments. Following the popular ?Ask the Examiner? threads over the past two years, we have compiled all of the questions and answers as FAQs and regrouped them all according to subject.

registration faqs examiner subject year following popular questions compil investigative once completing years assessments threads trainees again ocular answers past

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been associated with a new gene, according to an article released on October 7, 2008 in The Lancet.

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Alcon is partnering with non-profit ORBIS International to address the need to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries.

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A new National Eye Health Epidemiological Model (NEHEM) will, for the first time, make data on the prevalence of four common eye conditions freely available.

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MLX 351 seeks views on proposals for amendments to medicines legislation to allow dispensing opticians access to certain prescription only medicines (poms).

medicines certain opticians proposals dispensing legislation access allow amendments seeks november views pomsmlx responses poms consultation public prescription deadline

The Committee on the Safety of Devices is looking for candidates to replace The Chair, one lay member and 12 specialist members with current experience in 12 fields including ophthalmology.

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New web resource available from 26 September. The website is a guide to the life-cycle of new medicines, from their first scientific discovery through to licensing and on-going monitoring.

resource september medicinesnew life website cycle scientific licensing guide monitoring discovery medicines

Baby boomers are more concerned about losing their vision than they are about losing their memory, physical mobility and other attributes of personal independence as they get older, according to a new survey conducted on behalf of the Canadian Association of Optometrists to kick off Eye Health Month this October.

losing concern health vision month personal baby older survey kick association physical boomersbaby independence boomers memory mobility conduct canadian attributes

The Autumn edition of the Fight for Sight newsletter is now avaiable.

newsletter autumn sight fight avaiable availablethe

World Sight Day takes place on Thursday 9 October 2008.

sight world global vision takes impairmentworld attention thursday focus october

Following wide consultation, the General Optical Council last week formally made the rules that will implement the civil standard of proof in fitness to practise (disciplinary) hearings with effect from 3 November 2008.

standard council practise fitness proof formally rulesfollowing week approves consultation implement hearings changes optical disciplinary wide civil november rules general

The General Optical Council (GOC) has now opened its public consultation on proposed changes to its Committee Constitution Rules 2005.

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Carol Cox, Professor of nursing at City University London, urged nurses to be more aware of hereditary genetic auto-immune condition HLA-B27 positivity at the RCN Ophthalmic Nurses Forum Conference on 20 September.

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Novartis has changed the presentation of ranibizumab (Lucentis®) solution for injection, such that the vial now comes as a 0.23mL vial containing 2.3mg of ranibizumab.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) Sept 23 - U.S. health officials warned companies on Tuesday to stop selling unapproved versions of an eye-surgery solution and a prescription wound cream that have been linked to serious health problems.

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Applications for the Fight for Sight Awards are now invited from young ophthalmologists and scientists working in the field of ophthalmology in the UK.

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The online community of the Ophthalmic Nursing Forum has now launched.

community ophthalmic online nursing forumthe launch forum

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Department of Health have endorsed a new guide aimed at helping Local Authorities boost their overall performance in the care of blind and partially sighted adults.

services endors blind social guide boost sight adult adults helping people partially adass overall association performance authority directorsthe aim care

The Eye Health Alliance is looking for optometrists and dispensing opticians to help promote the importance of regular eye tests to the public.

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The summary product characteristics (SPC) for exocin eye drops (ofloxacin) have been revised.

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V.I.N.C.E (Vision Impairment Network for Counselling and Emotional Support) newsletter update September 2008.

network support emotional vision impairment newsletter counselling september updatev update