EDITOR'S COMMENT
New vision for elderly drivers
Elderly drivers will soon find themselves " banned from the roads should they fail a mandatory eye exam, every three years in new plans floated by the government. It's brilliant news, but I've been disappointed before and news coverage so far has a lot of could and would caveats. In short, I'll believe it when I see drivers having their licenses taken away when their visual acuity is not an accept- able level.
It has been interesting watching organisations, like the AA and Age UK, going into bat for the over-70s while attacking younger drivers over their higher accident statistics. What they fail to appreciate is there are plenty of deterrents for drivers when it comes to speed and new drivers have a two- year period where racking up six points will see their license revoked. There are currently no deterrents for an elderly driver with advanced glaucoma who thinks they will be fine nipping to the local shops.
The proposals raise a lot of questions and details are thin on the ground, but the pieces of the puzzle will hopefully be there for the announcement in the autumn. How the tests will be delivered and funded would be my primary concerns.
Tests shouldn't be free. However, I think there will be an expectation among the demographic that they should be, especially as the DVLA charges nothing to renew a license for those over the age of 70.
Single-provider delivery won't go down well with the sector, but the independent sector feels a bit rudderless at the moment and many are moving away from reimburse- ment-based fees.
Like the automotive industry has done with alcohol sen- sors, I think it's high time the DVLA and optometry sectors embraced technology. I'm not suggesting an eye test before you can drive your car away, but an online refraction every year to monitor changes in vision. If, for some reason, the person fails, the police and insurance companies are notified.
The government's plans have been dubbed the 'most signif- icant shake-up of driving laws in a decade.' It's time to make them feel significant.
SimanJans Editor
CONTENTS
12 Optician Awards
NEWS
4 7 Days News from the past week
7 In Focus Fit for the future
14 50 years of Oakley
OPINION
8 Viewpoint Optical sub-genres
PRACTICE
10 Informed
The latest from inside the industry
11 Showcase
The latest product news
12 Enhancements as standard Enhanced Optical Service Award winners
FRAMES AND FASHION
14 Properties of performance Celebrating Oakley's 50th anniversary
16 Having it large Frames and sunglasses for patients with large heads
CLINICAL
20 Alleviating pressure on the NHS Evidence that community optometry practices can cut patient wait times
22 CPD: Demystifying dementia 2 Vision as a modifiable risk factor in dementia
CLASSIFIED
30 Services
33 Recruitment
Editorial enquiries 020 7501 6660 opticianeditor@markallengroup.com Display advertisements 020 7501 6668 Classified advertisements 020 7501 6686 daniel.doherty@markallengroup.com Subscriber enquiries 716997 subscriptions@markallengroup.com
Optician is the weekly, paid-for information source for optometrists, dispensing " opticians and the optical industry. For 133 years Optician has been the independent voice for eye care professionals, students and business owners offering breaking news, analysis and education. In print and online, Optician provides an array of clinical, business and technology articles, comprehensive CPD coverage along with the very latest in contact lenses, frame fashion trends and spectacle lens technology. Optician offers advice on careers and carries hundreds of job opportunities every week. Optician provides its readers with essential business help and offers a forum for eye care professionals and others in the market.
AWARDS 2024
