GOC vaccination stance laid out

A host of new styles have arrived in the Titanflex and Humphrey’s collections from International Eyewear. Six new Titanflex styles, engineered in Germany, incorporate the brand’s ‘original’ memory metal flexibility whilst being robust and lightweight. The brand has introduced its first Titanflex x PPSU, a hybrid of the Titanflex material and a new PPSU polymer. Also new is the Trinity Concept in the Titanflex Urban line, a threefold design with low structured eye rims, Ti nose pads and a monoblock hinge.

In the street style-inspired Humphrey’s collection, there are 10 bold new designs geared towards the younger market. Interplaying transparent based shades with bold colour accents and unusual lamination techniques create added interest, while super slim HD acetate eye fronts and streamlined metal temples in creative colour combinations allow wearers to create their own fashion statements.

Refreshing styles from Humphrey’s Seminar places available

Bookings for the 100% Optical seminar programme are now live again, and can be made at www.100percentoptical.com. There are still spaces available on several sessions – and the organisers are encouraging delegates to ensure they don’t miss the chance to join in the education programme produced in partnership with the Association of Optometrists. 100% Optical will take place on 23-25 April at London’s ExCeL. It will be the first major event for the optical industry in two years.

Supporting the planet and communities

One year after CooperVision established the first plastic neutral contact lens through a trailblazing partnership with Plastic Bank, the equivalent of nearly 28 million plastic bottles have been prevented from polluting the oceans. In addition, 171 coastal communities have directly benefited from exchanging ocean-bound plastic for necessities such as clean water, groceries, cooking oil, school tuition, and even health insurance.

CooperVision’s partnership with Plastic Bank is the largest plastic neutrality initiative in the contact lens industry. The expanding programme is expected to prevent the equivalent of nearly 90 million plastic bottles from reaching oceans in 2022 – more than three times the amount collected in 2021. Dan McBride, executive vice president, COO of the CooperCompanies, said: “There is no single approach that achieves sustainability, so we need to manage plastic use on many fronts. There is no finish line either, so we invite contact lens wearers and the rest of the eyecare industry to join us.” Turn to page 24 to read more about CooperVision’s sustainability journey.

Registrants should be vaccinated in all settings in which care is delivered – and should encourage other patient-facing colleagues and support staff to do the same, says the General Optical Council (GOC).

As the UK government consults on removing the requirement for health and social care professionals to be vaccinated against Covid-19, GOC chief executive, Leonie Milliner, commented: “Our registrants, including business registrants, must continue to meet their obligations to protect patients and the public through taking steps to ensure that the environment in which care is delivered is safe and any risk of infection is mitigated.

“Getting vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, patients and the public is a personal professional responsibility and a vital part of meeting this obligation,” added Leonie. The requirement for health and social care professionals to be vaccinated – in order to be deployed in Care Quality Commission regulated healthcare settings in England – has been in force for care homes since 10 November 2021 with plans to introduce this requirement in other settings from 1 April 2022.