Passport for myopia lens

GOS sight test fees in England will rise by two per cent from April 2022 – following a 1.9 per cent increase in April 2021. The GOS CET allowances and pre-registration supervision grants will also rise by two per cent. The Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) had proposed that the sight test fee should be increased by seven per cent, and called the rise “a real terms cut to funding” and that it was “acutely disappointed with this response”.

The OFNC stated: “We have left the DHSC in no doubt that the proposed two per cent increase will be a blow to primary eyecare providers who have shown an active commitment to delivering health care throughout the pandemic to meet public needs and reduce pressures on secondary care.” NHS optical voucher values will rise by two per cent from April 2022.

Capsule Jensen release

Eyespace has introduced a TR90 comfort bridge concept in its flagship men’s collection, Jensen. Model JN8870 features a stainless steel eye front with a deeper, square eye shape in a masculine two-tone palette. C1 is a matt gun with semi-transparent green tips featuring the understated Jensen branding, and C2 is presented in tones of brown with sleek, clear crystal tips.

Model JN8871 is ultra-lightweight rectangular eye shape, which comes in C1 matt black tones enhanced by deep red crystal tips, and C2 matt navy with crystal grey tips. Both models feature slimline stainless steel temples, enhanced by silver pin detailing and Jensen branded ‘sim card’ plates, which are inlaid into the tips for an added designer touch.

Essilor is supporting the launch of its Stellest myopia control lenses with a new myopia management passport to aid patient engagement. The tool is designed to support communications between the practitioner, the patient and their parents by measuring what has been happening to the child’s myopia between their six-monthly visits to the practice.

Tim Precious, managing director at Essilor, said: “We’ll provide a passport with Essilor Stellest lenses for the eyecare practitioner to share with their patients during an appointment – to help parents realise the importance of return visits to that practitioner. The eyecare practitioner will fill in the passport during each visit and log any changes to the child’s vision. We believe this will act as a gentle reminder for parents to keep coming back,” Tim added.

The General Optical Council (GOC) has approved updated education and training requirements for GOC-approved qualifications for contact lens opticians (CLOs).

One of the key changes is that candidates will acquire a single qualification approved by the GOC leading to specialist entry to the GOC register as a CLO. The approved qualification will be either an academic award or a regulated qualification at a minimum of Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) (or equivalent) Level 6.

Marcus Dye, GOC acting director of regulatory strategy, said: “The requirements will ensure that the qualifications we approve going forward are responsive to the changing needs of patients and service-users, changes in higher education, and the increased expectations of trainees, commissioners and employers.”

Positive Impact (PI) has announced a new agreement with Visioneering Technologies (VTI), making it the exclusive UK distributor for NaturalVue 1 Day Multifocal. The UK will be the first market outside of the US to offer the new NaturalVue Enhanced 1 Day Multifocal lens. Utilising the same fundamental lens design with patented Neurofocus Optics, NaturalVue Enhanced 1 Day Multifocal has two new innovations: a TripleTear lubrication system, offering three comfort agents including hyaluronic acid, and an ultratapered edge profile designed for optimal fit and comfort.

Positive Impact is now fulfilling all orders for trial lenses, 30-packs and 90-packs with NaturalVue Enhanced 1 Day Multifocal and is no longer supplying the original

New deal, new lens

lens. PI professional services director, Phil Thompson, said: “NaturalVue Enhanced 1 Day Multifocal uses exactly the same patented optics generating an extended depth of focus and displays exactly the same fitting characteristics. It fits, and is fitted, exactly the same as the current lens and so there is no refit required for existing patients.”

Reference: 1. Based on >80% agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement ‘The lenses were so comfortable I didn’t feel anything’, in a clinical study wherein patients (n=66) used AOSEPT® solution for nightly cleaning, disinfecting, and storing; Alcon data on le, 2021.

8 Vision Now April 2022 TOTAL30, Alcon and Alcon logos are trademarks of Alcon Inc. 14743 © 2021 Alcon Inc. UKIE-DT1-2100011