Category: Optometrists
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Contact Lenses for Halloween Costumes: What You Need to Know
Halloween contact lenses enhance costumes but pose serious risks, such as infections, allergic reactions, and vision issues, if not used properly and with a prescription.
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Newly Qualified Optometrist? The Advice I Needed on Day One
The moment a newly qualified optometrist walks into their first solo clinic is unforgettable. I remember my moment vividly. It was a potent mix of pride, excitement, and a healthy dose of sheer terror. The safety net of your supervisor is gone. Suddenly, every clinical decision rests squarely on your shoulders. I recall being plagued…
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Finding a Way: A Personal Reflection on Disability in Optometry
Today, we are honoured to host a guest post from Lucy Pirie-Guy, an optometrist who shares her candid, insightful, and inspiring experience of navigating her career with a limb difference. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience and a vital contribution to the conversation around disability in optometry. An Unseen Presence: The Reality of…
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The Dispensing Optician: Optics’ Best Kept Secret
The role of a dispensing optician is one of the most vital, yet often misunderstood, professions in eye care. They are the experts who turn an optometrist’s prescription into a pair of safe, comfortable, and perfectly fitted spectacles. Today, I am incredibly proud to feature a guest post from someone who champions this profession with…
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Visual Impairment Workplace Assessments: An Employee in the Spotlight
Today on The Eye Care Advocate, we are proud to feature a guest post from Dan Morgan-Williams, founder of Visualise Training and Consultancy. Dan examines the hidden barriers that face employees with visual challenges and the importance of a holistic approach to support. For more information on visual impairment workplace assessments, you can contact him…
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Books About Glasses: Reviews for Parents & Professionals
As an optometrist, a large part of my job is about communication. But as a father, I’ve been reminded that one of the most powerful ways we communicate with our children is through stories. The idea for a new section on The Eye Care Advocate came to me while reading with my son, Arthur. I…
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Providing Eye Tests for Those Experiencing Homelessness
This article for The Eye Care Advocate looks at how the charity Vision Care for Homeless People provide eye tests for those experiencing homelessness. Thank you to Aziza Kharodia – optometrist and clinic manager Vision Care for Homeless People in Gloucester for taking the time to talk to me regarding this important issue. Why Do…
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AI in Optometry: A Clinician’s Guide to Safe and Ethical Use
When tools like ChatGPT first became widely accessible, I was intrigued. How could we use AI in optometry? The life of an optometrist is a constant juggle of patient interaction, clinical excellence, and commercial awareness. The thought of a tool that could help ease some of that cognitive load was exciting. But then came the…
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Survivorship Bias: Looking For the Evidence You Didn’t See
In this article about survivorship bias, we start by reflecting back to the 1930s. During World War II, the Allied forces wanted to make their bomber planes safer. They looked at the aircraft that returned from missions and carefully mapped out all the bullet holes. The logical first thought was to add more armour to…
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Buyer Beware: Unmasking the OpticX ‘Miracle’ Glasses Scam
Introduction As an optometrist, I’ve dedicated my career to protecting and improving vision. I believe in genuine innovation, but I also believe it’s my professional duty to call out dangerous products that prey on the public’s hope for a quick fix. A product called “OpticX” has been heavily advertised online with extraordinary claims, and I…