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The article discusses the pre-visit notification (PVN) requirements for domiciliary eye care in the UK. The aging population has led to an increase in the number of people requiring remote eye care, either at home or in care homes. PVN requirements vary across the four nations, with England still enforcing a minimum 48-hour notice before a sight test. Domiciliary optometrists argue that these requirements are unnecessary, restrictive, and discriminatory, causing delays in care for vulnerable patients. PVN requirements have been removed in Scotland and Wales, leading to improved accessibility and reduced administrative burden for optometrists. [Extracted from the article]

The article examines how optometry practices and optical companies are actively promoting a health lifestyle to the British public in 2016. Topics covered include Boots United Kingdom (UK) are equipped to promote a healthy lifestyle with a wide range of in-store literature and provides training on the role of optometrists in educating patients on lifestyle choices and nutrition for eye health.

The article focuses on the need to improve the domiciliary eye care practices of the optometrists. It states that appropriate portable equipment and flexibility are the main factors in innovating the domiciliary eye care services. It mentions that the demand of domiciliary eye care is expected to increase as more older people are medically cared at home.

Eye care practitioners need to be able to help their patients choose the most appropriate way of managing presbyopia. With the worldwide increase of ageing populations and the consequent increase of presbyopes, the demand for contact lenses to correct presbyopia will inevitably increase. This article will aid the practitioner to evaluate and compare the methods of correcting presbyopia currently available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews how eye care professionals in Great Britain can be effective during the consultation time spent with contact lens wearers to help them get the best out of their lenses. It notes that 21% of new wearers abandon contact lenses in the first month due to issues relating to vision, comfort and handling. It discusses behaviours influencing compliance issues to reduce the risk of microbial keratitis, lens case care, and the role of the contact lens aftercare appointment.

The article focuses on eye care practitioners' responses to a presentation, titled "Your peers and their decision making" and reviews a method for delivering interactive lectures in small groups. Feedback from participants after the continuing education and training (CET) event was reportedly positive. Poll Everywhere technology allegedly offers the ability to provide interactive CET presentations to small groups.

The article discusses shared care pathways. New legislation handing 80% of the National Health Services (NHS) budget to clinical commissioning consortia/groups (CCGs) will allegedly expand the role of community optometrists, reduce the burden on hospital eye service, and improve quality eye care. Effective communication is said to be very vital where shared and co-managed care pathways are in operation. Optometrists should reportedly be accurate and know when to refer patients back.

The UK government stipulates that "before you start to learn to drive, make sure you are aware of the eyesight requirements. If you need glasses or corrective lenses to meet the requirements, it is a legal requirement that you wear them every time you drive." Optometrists and dispensing opticians are frequently asked by patients whether they need to wear spectacles when driving. This article reviews the relevant research in this area and aims to help eye care practitioners to answer these questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a 2011 project focused on communication in optometry consultations which was done by researchers at King's College London. That communication forms the cornerstone of eye consultations through sequences of action, such as question and answer and instruction and response, is discussed. Several examples of communication are presented which show the open and closed questions. The aim of the study is to reportedly provide optometrists with resources to reflect on their practice when interacting with patients.

The article presents a Continuing Education & Training (CET) course for optometrists and dispensing opticians in Great Britain. It discusses the multi-disciplinary nature of the role of eye care practitioners (ECP) and the opportunities presented to ECPs to save sight. The article details the measurement and correction of refractive error, and quality of life (QoL) related to methods of refractive correction. It also discusses how ECPs can enhance their patient's quality of life and measure QoL in practice.

The article discusses the effectivity of the protocols covering repeat and follow up tests requested by optometrists working in community practices, detailing the results of an audit performed prospectively over a three-month period. Topics mentioned include the questions raised for the clinical audit, the standards used in identifying the appropriateness of the test, and the issue of tracking the patient who needs to be called back for a further test. An analysis of tests requested is shown.

The article offers optometry news brief as of November 2014. It mentions the seat availability for the Association of Optometrists (AOP) Student 'Eye Opener' conference in Nottingham, England from November 22-23, 2014. It discusses the funding from the National Health Service (NHS) to provide eye care services to patient's in Wales. It adds the approval of the drug Eylea of pharmaceutical firm Bayer, by Scottish Medical Consortium (SMC) for use in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DMO).

The article focuses on the assessment of practitioners across Wales who are accredited to perform low vision assessments within the Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW). It presents views of clinical lead at the LVSW Rebecca John on recommendations and findings of the assessment report including accredited optometrists spread based on geography.

The article offers news briefs related to eye care from across the world as of May 09, 2014. The bill LB526 in the U.S. introduced by senator Sara Howard has been passed by the senators which will expand the scope of practice for optometrists. Footballer Michael Owen has donated to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, England, for research into inherited eye diseases and treatments. Researcher at Bionic Vision Australia have progressed on functional bionic eye.

The article discusses the auditing of referrals through the Primary Eyecare Acute Referral Service (PEARS) and the Wales Eye Health Examination (WEHE), free enhanced services for patients residing in Wales, Great Britain. Topics mentioned include the questions for the audit, the types and forms of legibility, and the adequacy of information on reports or referrals. Also explained are the audit's outcomes and learning.

This section offers news briefs related to optometry in Great Britain. It outlines the components of the free toolkit launched in support of practitioners during National Eye Health Week. A total of 412 British pounds were raised from the fundraising lunch to celebrate the independence of India for the charity, Sightsavers. A call for nominations of deserving optometrists for two international awards was made by the World Council of Optometry (WCO).

The article discusses the optometric assessment and management of congenital prosopagnosia and related conditions. Prosopagnosia is used as a synonym for face blindness, where in the acuity and optometric measurements are normal but the patient cannot see faces. The difficulty in processing faces causes problems with self-knowledge and relationships. In autistic spectrum disorders, photographs and cartoons have been used to assess facial/emotion recognition problems. The role of eye care professionals in the management of the condition is explained.

A quiz concerning identification of ocular diseases and its management by optometrists is presented.