CLEAR VISION
WIN A PAIR OF DESIGNER SUNGLASSES FROM GUESS
TEAM GB CURLING TEAM
SOCHI 2O14 WINTER OLYMPICS
SPRING/SUMMER 2014
SPRING/SUMMER 2014
WELCOME
CONTENTS
Welcome to the Spring / Summer issue of the Black & Lizars patient magazine. It has been an unusually wet winter and so we have lots of exciting new frame designs and a prescription sunglass offer to raise your spirits for the summer weather ahead. I am delighted to congratulate the men’s curling team who recently won silver in the Sochi Winter Olympics. We are particularly proud of their achievement, not least because David Murdoch (Captain) and Greg Drummond (Vice-Captain) are long standing patients of Black & Lizars. To learn more, please refer to an exclusive interview with them both on pages 6 and 7. As part of our ongoing commitment to raising clinical standards, we are also pleased to have invested in the new Optomap, a revolutionary Scottish designed and built scanner that takes an ultra-wide screen image of your retina. These innovative scanners are now available in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. We have also extended our network of advanced OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography) scanners, an instrument that creates a 3D image of your eye using light waves. Further details of both the Optomap and 3D OCT Scanner can be found on page 20. Finally, we also review the importance of children’s eye examinations to their development, particularly before the age of 8 when the development of their eyes can still be corrected. See pages 10 and 11. As always, we value your feedback, so please get in touch with us either via our website at www. blackandlizars.com, by email enquiries@blackandlizars. com, telephone 0141 445 8380 or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Mark Ross, Chief Executive Nikon Optical We are proud to use Nikon spectacle lenses to give you the highest optical quality and make the most of your vision.
CLEAR VISION
04 Specs appeal
Season’s most wanted
06 Medal men
Olympic heroes are our patients
08 Expert’s view
Why macular degeneration is not a cause for panic
10 Child check
Kids’ eye examinations can avoid problems later
12 Contact lenses
Why not wear part-time?
14 Style file
Black & Lizars staff show us their favourite eyewear
16 Home visits
We’ll come to you. Plus: help with your hearing
18 Sports sunglasses The right pair for you
20 Technology
How the latest scanners can flag up problems
22 A day in the life of Christine McEwan, lab manager at central support office
Contact us on 0141 445 8380 or find us at
www.blackandlizars.com 3
Specs APPEAL This season’s most wanted brands
Ørgreen Lennox
Ørgreen Dean
People either wanted him or they wanted to be like him. That’s the famous reference to James Dean, the real life Rebel Without A Cause and inspiration behind our DEAN frames.
Annie Lennox is the inspiration for this frame. Merging feminine lines with a striking keyhole detail on the bridge. It’s our tribute to this talented icon. Sweet dreams are made of this …
Ultra-thin and ultra-light – these OKO by OKO Paris frames are exactly what you need to look stylish through the spring and summer. The frames, made of acetate and surgical steel, are available in five models and a delectable range of colours. 4
This new collection is a balance between detail and simplicity, with a mix between perforations and multicoloured decoration. Available in a selection of colours.
Prodesign 7634
Prodesign 7632
With a design inspired by nature and architecture, these frames feature a combination of a 45-degree rotation hinge and a high-quality flex. Technical parts are perfectly integrated with no visible screws.
JK London Golders Green Chloe CE2634
The renowned French fashion brand is a byword for elegance, and these frames are no exception. Model CE2634 is embellished with tiny metal studs; the CE2631 has a distinctive four-stud motif. Featuring the discreet ChloĂŠ logo.
Chloe CE2631
Golders Green for girls feature colourful, abstract patterning on the temples to add a hip, individual element, with a softly feminine eye shape. Pictured in Red/Check Pattern.
*available in selected practices only.
CLEAR VISION
INTERVIEW
Our resident Optometrist at our Gordon Street practice, Colin Moulson, managed to catch up with the men’s Curling Team who recently won silver in the Sochi Winter Olympics. t was a particularly special moment for Colin given that the Captain, David Murdoch, and the Vice Captain, Greg Drummond, are both long standing patients of his specialist contact lens clinic.
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How did Sochi compare with other championships you’ve been to in the past? David Murdoch: for the first couple of days, I’d never seen anything like it. The whole infrastructure and the fact that they put so many of the stadia in a compact area allowed easy access to go and see all the sports. You could tell they’d obviously spent a lot of money on the project. The Quarter-final was obviously very dramatic – it all came down to the last stone. Talk us through what drove you 6
to take that high risk, all or nothing approach? DM: I think the shot against Norway that got us into the semi-final was very important. The coach called a time out and we looked at a tough shot. It was a chance to win the game, by taking two points, or to play safe and take just one point to tie the inning, but we only had a 20% chance of winning the game. It was a big risk to go for it but we were confident we had the angle to get the shot and we made the effort to get it right. How did you all feel going into the final? Greg Drummond: We had a really tight game with Canada earlier in the week. The final was an opportunity to win a gold medal. We had already secured a silver medal when we beat Sweden in the semis. In the final, the result wasn’t what we hoped it would be,
but we’re still going to take a lot of positives from it. David, how did it feel winning a medal after – if you don’t mind me saying – a few attempts in the past? DM: We had a few heart breakers in ’06. Losing the semi-final by about an inch against Finland – that was pretty tough to take. We had a bit of success in between then and the next winter games in Vancouver. We were World Champions going into Vancouver and we were expected to do well but we didn’t – we had a bad week and that was pretty tough to take – eight years of training and not getting anything out of it. So in Sochi, we wanted to achieve something.
lucky enough to have the announcement about the centre of excellence at Stirling and we want the rinks around Scotland to get more people through the doors.
You’re obviously all in high demand at the moment, what other activities have you been up to? DM: we’ve been into some primary schools – showing off the medals. We’ve been promoting the sport quite a bit: we’ve been on radio, we were on the Alan Titchmarsh show, A Question of Sport, Eggheads and we have Sport Relief coming up as well. GD: We went to 10 Downing Street as well – that was pretty cool. DM: Yes, we even sat in the Prime Minister’s Chair in The Cabinet!
David, you’ve been a patient of Black & Lizars for some time now, how important would you say good vision and good eye care is for you? DM: I’ve been a patient here for about a decade. It’s incredible the difference for myself and Greg. Clear vision is an important thing. Hand-eye co-ordination is vital in our sport and it’s over quite a distance, so we need as close to a perfect prescription as possible. I remember being in the world championships at Victoria last year and not being able to see the score board clearly, but then I saw you (Colin) and you corrected quite a few things with my eyes that day. So yes, it’s hugely important – you need perfect vision.
On that point of developing the sport, how do you feel that curling can capitalise on your success? DM: I think it’s the breakthrough that curling’s been needing. A lot of things have changed this time with social media and the amount of coverage that our sport got. On the back of the London Olympics, I think people are genuinely interested in sport. We’re
What are your plans going forward, with regards to the next Winter Olympics and competitions in between? DM: The next winter Olympics are along time away, 2018, it’s too early to think about right now. But we’ve just come off the back of a successful games in Sochi, so we’re going to enjoy the moment and take a couple of weeks off practising and fulfil a lot of other duties.
CLEAR VISION
Life after
MACULAR degeneration
The right advice can help optimise your vision n my time as an optometrist our understanding of this common condition has grown dramatically. We now know that there are two types of risk – ones we can modify and ones we cannot. We can lessen our risk by giving up smoking, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and wearing UV-absorbing spectacles and sunglasses. Factors we can do nothing about include inheritance, ethnicity and being female! We now know the macula contains three damage-preventing pigments that help the eye get rid of waste products. These are not produced by the body, so if they are low the only way to get the levels up is to take a supplement, such as Macushield. The best approach is to have the pigment levels measured by an optometrist (available at some Black & Lizars practices) and to follow advice given. If the diagnosis is made, don’t panic. Macular degeneration will eventually cause a loss of central vision, not blindness, and the progress of the
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condition can be slow. I still have patients that can meet the driving standard 20 years after the diagnosis was made, though not everyone is as fortunate. We need, however, to optimise our chances so please follow your optometrist’s advice. Wet and dry are terms used to describe the two main forms of the disease. ‘Dry’ is usually a gradual process; ‘wet’ is where there is an active leak of fluid and/or blood. This needs speedy intervention, so if you notice wavy or distorted lines in your vision, come to see us urgently. All Black & Lizars practices can advise on macular degeneration and arrange for macular pigment level measuring. See www. blackandlizars.com or ask at your practice. Finally, stem cell research to replace the damaged cells at the back of the eye is proceeding rapidly and within a few years should let patients continue to enjoy good sight until the end of their lives. Colin Black, Principal Optometrist E: enquiries@blackandlizars.com
CLEAR VISION
KIDS at
e y e n’s
re d l Chi aminations ex t birth our eyes are only partially developed. They need exposure to light and other visual stimuli to continue the process to clear, sharp vision. As very young babies our world is quite limited; as we grow, our world expands and in most cases our eyes develop to reflect this surge of visual information. If clear vision is affected by a child being particularly short-sighted, or longsighted, this process can be interrupted. These ‘refractive errors’ are usually caused by the eye being slightly too big, or smaller than normal, meaning that any image is not focused on the retina but slightly in front of or behind it. These refractive errors are easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses but if they are undetected in a child they can affect the development of their vision. If the
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eye can only produce a blurred image, the nerve pathways and visual parts of the brain will only develop to that level. We can influence the development of our vision until we are about 8 years old, meaning we have a fantastic opportunity to ensure that children see well if we see them before this age. Unfortunately if children have a refractive error and it is detected too late then they can be left with less than perfect vision for life. Once we are out of this developmental phase it is unusual to see a significant improvement. One of the reasons some children are missed is that they very rarely voice concerns over poor vision. This is because they do not know what they are seeing could be better! We have seen many children over the years gaze in wonder through their new glasses
© 2013
at the world opened up to them whilst their parents have been unaware of a problem. Most children will attend a visual screening, normally before starting school. This screening is good at picking up children with problems but it only checks certain aspects of their eye health. Bringing your child in to see one of our optometrists will allow a full eye examination to be done, checking many things including; vision, 3D vision, colour vision and eye health. Many parents worry that their children won’t sit for long enough, or that as they can’t read we can’t check their eyes. We have tests specifically designed for children, and our optometrists are adept at holding your little one’s attention!
CLEAR VISION
TIME TO MAKE
Contact Why both contact lenses and glasses might be best for you
any people would never be without their contact lenses, and others just don’t feel right without glasses. More and more people are now finding a combination of the two is ideal for them. Advances in daily lenses mean part-time wear has never been easier, with fantastic lens materials and designs now available for most people. If you are a glasses wearer are there times you would prefer to do without them but still see clearly? In the rain when hill climbing, playing tennis, a romantic meal out or as a wedding guest? There have been two big advances in lenses that mean these situations can be solved. Silicone Hydrogel materials have improved, meaning greater comfort and health, there are now a range of daily disposable lenses in these materials from various manufacturers. One of these lenses is in a unique ‘water gradient’ design meaning the surfaces of the lens have a high water content whilst retaining the health benefits of a silicone core. For
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anyone who has experienced eye dryness or has been unsuccessful with contact lenses in the past due to discomfort these lenses may be the answer. Multifocal lens designs have revolutionised our ability to help the 45-plus age group to read up close whilst keeping good distance vision. These designs, which almost unbelievably balance both distance and near vision in the same small lens, have improved beyond all recognition in the last few years. Design and manufacture is now so refined that daily disposable versions are available including the fantastic clariti® multifocal which allows easy part-time wear without the fuss of solutions. So if you think contact lenses would enhance your leisure time, and even if you have tried them before, it is time to ask your optometrist about your options next time you see them. Morven Campbell, Clinical Services Manager E: enquiries@blackandlizars.com
WHAT’S NEW at
Investing in our practices As part of our ongoing commitment to modernising and improving our practices, we have given our latest additions to the Black & Lizars family, Clarkston and Helensburgh, exciting new makeovers. Both practices have been updated with
Helensburgh 7 Sinclair St, Helensburgh, Tel: 01436 674141
new modern interiors and benefit from the latest clinical technology. The existing staff continue to provide the highest levels of clinical care with an extensive range of designer frames on offer, as you would expect from all Black & Lizars practices.
Clarkston 80 Busby Road, Clarkston, Tel: 0141 638 2292
CLEAR VISION
STYLE FILE Black & Lizars staff from around the practices tell us about their favourite glasses
Mary Beek
Ashley Di Troia
Danielle Tonner
NHS Administrator,
Clinical Assistant, Lothian Road,
Optical Assistant, Gordon Street,
Central Support Office
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Wearing Paul Smith PM 8179
Wearing Dior Coquette 2
Wearing Tom Ford – Charles
“As I have been wearing glasses for a few years I wanted to choose something different. I like these frames as they have a bold but subtle look as well as being quite retro looking.”
“I usually struggle to find sunglasses to suit me, as most tend to be too big for my small face. These are a great fit, and will be perfect for posing on my honeymoon.”
“I choose these frames as I love the retro look of the aviator sunglasses. I also like the light colouring of the frame, which suits me as I have quite a pale skin complexion. They are comfortable and stylish!”
Kirsty Inkster
Jennifer McCaig
Claire Sommerville
Optical Assistant, Dalkeith
Optical Assistant, Ayr
Optometrist, Helensburgh
Wearing Chanel CH 3242
Wearing Prada VPR 15P Grey
“I chose my Chanel glasses as I liked that they were petite and fitted on my face perfectly, I loved how they had little bits of glitter through them and the bows on the side I thought were lovely.”
“I just love my new Prada glasses. They are comfortable to wear and complement my colouring. I’ve never had so many compliments on my glasses from all age groups.”
Wearing Rayban ORB 2140 Sunglasses
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“I like the jazzy colours of the frame as it’s unusual but still subtle and it goes well with the grey graduated tint. The frame gives good coverage and fit. Just waiting for the sun to come out!”
Competition winner
You may remember we ran a kids competition in the last edition of Clearvision for the chance to win a Samsung Galaxy 7” tablet. The lucky winner was Emma Connolly, age 12. Emma was presented her prize by Sharon Martin, Practice Manager, Clydebank.
I SEE SPRINGTIME
through Nikon spectacle lenses
Stress-free vision In spite of the many technological advances in varifocal lenses, most wearers can still experience visual stress in specific situations such as driving. These are moments where discomfort may be experienced, even with the best lenses and designs. Nikon’s brand new ‘MASTER’ varifocal lenses provide wearers with stress-free vision, thanks to Nikon’s 3rd Generation Aberration Filter Technology. Master offers the lowest level of distortions possible thanks to this advanced technology; providing the wearer with clear vision, allowing them to see freely without restriction. Master is available to order now at your local Black & Lizars Optometrists. For further information, please visit www.nikonlenswear.co.uk
www.nikonlenswear.co.uk www.iseenikon.com
See Clearly This Spring With Nikon Ask your optometrist about upgrading your Nikon lenses
For more information, please visit www.blackandlizars.com
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Hearing care digital hearing aid specialists Our three dedicated Hearing Care centres in Milngavie, Giffnock and Aberdeen, and our Home Visit service provide a comprehensive audiology service that focuses on maintaining a tailored and personal approach to every client consultation. We employ the most advanced technology and offer independent advice that can be trusted. Our advanced digital hearing aids are customised to your exact needs and fit discreetly into the ear. You can be assured of our integrity
and expertise through our approach to hearing impairment: • Free hearing assessment • No obligation trial • No quibble guarantee* • Comprehensive aftercare included Giffnock: Milngavie: Aberdeen: Home visits:
0141 621 1122 0141 956 1900 01224 646 143 0141 621 1122
Or visit www.blackandlizars.com
* Simply return your hearing aid within one month of purchase, in its original condition for a full refund if you are not satisfied; your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Home visits We’ll come to you If you or someone you know is housebound and cannot attend one of our practices due to mobility or health problems, Black & Lizars provide a home visit service which allows you to have your eyes examined by one of our experienced optometrists in the comfort of your own home. This service is now available in the Aberdeen area and the Stirling area in addition to our well established services in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas. 16
To make an appointment or to find out more in your area call: Glasgow area: Aberdeen area: Edinburgh area: Stirling area:
0141 445 8396 01224 646 143 0131 226 5485 01786 473 661
Performance
is a contact lens ® called ACUVUE
Ask your optician for a consultation and a FREE* ACUVUE® trial today ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses – designed for comfort, vision and health. So much so, that we’re offering you a free trial* in store. Available at
T THE CONTAC LENS BRAND S AN MORE OPTICI 1 TRUST
Also available for astigmatism
All ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses have UV-blocking to help provide protection against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye. UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed by your Eye Care Professional. *Professional examination and fitting fees may apply and are not included. Offer open to UK and Republic of Ireland residents who have a valid contact lens prescription only. Simply book a contact lens consultation with your local participating optician and if your optician determines that ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are suitable for you, ask for a free trial. Free trial lenses are limited to 5 pairs of daily disposables or 1 pair of reusable lenses and are subject to availability at the time of your appointment. No refunds are available for any free lenses returned. One trial per person. Closing date 31 December 2014. By participating in this offer, you accept these terms and conditions. Promoter: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd, Pinewood Campus, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3EW, UK. 1 More Eye Care Professionals rank ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses first for trust than any other brand. JJVC Data on file 2013. Survey conducted 2012 by Millward Brown, Independent MR Agency, with ECPs who wear CLs (n=840) in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain & UK. ACUVUE® and SEE WHAT COULD BE® are registered trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd. © Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd. 2014.
Vision of fitness
You love sport. You adore the sun. All you need to enjoy both to the full is a pair of prescription sports sunglasses he good news is that prescription sunglasses are not vastly expensive items intended only for luxury yacht owners. Many are so affordable, and such a joy to wear, that you will wonder how you managed without for so long. Whether cycling, running, hill-walking, golf, sailing or swimming is your thing, Black & Lizars have the eyewear for you. Kate Gamley, Practice Manager, Rose Street, Edinburgh, says: “There are so many fantastic options available that it can be bewildering – so the best thing is to come into one of our practices and let us help you make a choice. The right quality sunglasses can make a world of difference when it comes to enjoying the outdoors.” Oakley, loved by the US military for its shrapnel-proof lenses, has a range of
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sport-specific designs. These have lenses configured for cyclists, who need a sharp view of the road ahead while riding with chin down, yet who also need to focus on the handlebar computer while looking out for obstacles. Golfers’ lenses, likewise, have two zones – one for following your ball’s flight down the fairway, one for putting. Anglers have a zone for casting and another for baiting. Runners love Oakley’s stylish Flak Jacket range, which can be customised using vividly coloured frame accessories to match your mood – or your running kit. Oakley’s Radar Edge range features stress-resistant, ultra-lightweight frames and an Iridium lens coating to reduce glare. If you’re working up a sweat, at tennis, for instance, then you needn’t worry about your sunglasses slipping,
at
Oaley Flak Jacket
Maui Jim Hot Sands
Oakley Radarlock Path
as earsocks and customisable nosepads ensure a firm grip in all conditions. A three-point fit keeps the lenses in the exact optical alignment you need to focus on that ball. Maui Jim, a brand born in Hawaii, woos energetic buyers with niftily named designs such as the elegant Aloha Friday and the edgier Hot Sands. The bronze lenses, which maintain their effectiveness in salt water, subtly enhance colour differences without altering their balance – or, as Kate puts it: “They cheer the world up.” If swimming is your thing, Hilco has a range of very affordable prescription goggles called Leader. Time to take the plunge, perhaps? By Don Currie, editor of Scotland Outdoors magazine – www.scotoutdoors.com
CLEAR VISION
Advanced Technology echnology has changed both our home and work lives over the last decade, and in the field of eye care it is no different. Technology constantly moves forward providing better products – varifocal lenses and contact lens materials are now almost unrecognisable from where they were 10 years ago. Your experience during your eye examination has also dramatically changed – just think back to the days when an optometrist’s room contained little more than a letter chart, a box of lenses and a big chair. Now we have digital cameras to image your retina and computerised systems to make your eye test more comfortable. Here at Black & Lizars we keep a keen eye on new advances, and what they mean for our patients.
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OCT We have a large network of OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography), an instrument that scans your eyes with light to see under the surface of your retina. This can show us early subtle signs of some common eye conditions, and the general rule is the earlier we can detect it the more successful any possible treatment is likely to be. Optomap In recent months we have added more technology in the form of the Optos Daytona. This innovative Scottish invention takes a wide screen image of your retina, allowing us to record more of your eye’s health than ever before. Digital photographs of your retina have been available at Black & Lizars for over a decade, and we believe we are building on our long history of clinical excellence by offering Daytona Optomap technology in select practices. Whereas photographs generally picture the central 15% of your retina the Optomap can take up to 82% in a single image. In addition to this widescreen image the Optomap also shows us how your retina functions – an auto fluorescence image flags up any areas of the retina that are not working properly. This is a revelation in optometric practice and adds another level of expertise to your eye examination. An Optomap image is quick and easy to take and can be done on the same day as your eye examination. You can access
Optomap technology in the following practices: • Milngavie; • Belmont Street, Aberdeen; • Gordon Street, Glasgow; • George Street, Edinburgh, and • coming soon to Fenwick Road, Giffnock and Ayr. Enhanced Eye Examination In Belmont Street Aberdeen, Milngavie and George Street Edinburgh (and coming soon to Ayr and Fenwick Road) you can choose to have an Enhanced Eye Examination – this is our most advanced and detailed eye examination available at B&L. In addition to the comprehensive NHS examination both Optomap and OCT images will be taken, and a longer appointment time with your optometrist is booked. This gives you both time to view all the images and for your optometrist to explain them and answer any questions. Unfortunately neither Optomap imaging or the Enhanced Eye Examination are available within your NHS test. An Optomap image carries a charge of £30 and the Enhanced Eye Exam £50. Please ask your local practice for further details or see our eye care page at www.blackandlizars.com
Morven Campbell, Clinical Services Manager E: enquiries@blackandlizars.com
CLEAR VISION
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LAB MANAGER Christine McEwan, Lab Manager at Central Support Office or over 28 years, Christine McEwan has worked for Black & Lizars in the glazing laboratory based at Govan. She tells us what it’s like to work in a busy optical lab.
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Tell us about a typical day in your department. We check the mail, prepare the lenses for glazing and complete the orders. The orders are final-checked via quality control, packed and despatched for delivery next day. How do you plan your day? I prioritise any urgent jobs first. I check my calendar daily and update with all relevant information relating to the day to day running of the lab. What are your main responsibilities? I manage the lab staff, arrange holidays, organise the driver’s routes and deliveries. I assist with the lab processing, completing orders and training staff on new procedures. I support the practice staff with any technical queries. What services do you provide? We supply specialised lenses and rimless glazing to all our practices to ensure our patients receive the best quality lenses and highest level of service. Who is in your team? Nicola, Cameron and Thomas are Glazing Technicians. Andrew and David, Lab 22
Assistants and drivers Joe and Stevie. The team has an astonishing total of 90 years service between them! What is your favourite part of your job? I enjoy the atmosphere of working in a busy optical lab. I have a good relationship with all the staff and they are very experienced in what they do. How do you keep up to date with the different types of lenses? Good communication with our key suppliers is essential. Keeping up-to-date with product information catalogues, advancements in lens technology and staff training. What skills do you need to train as a lab technician? A good knowledge of ophthalmic lenses and an understanding of different lens materials and prescriptions are all important aspects of the job. A good eye for detail, hands on experience with frame materials and familiarising yourself with the glazing equipment also helps. Tell us about a memorable experience? I recently completed my second 10k by participating in the Great Scottish Run. I ran as part of Team Black & Lizars. It was a fantastic experience and a great personal achievement. The company raised over £5,500 in aid of Yorkhill Children’s Hospital.