First Kiwi DO Fellow for European Academy Gold medals for Kiwi optometrist Nicholas Black, a Kiwi dispensing optician now living in the UK, is the first New Zealander and only the fourth dispensing optician to be made a Fellow of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO) as a recognition of his services in low vision and contact lenses. He said it was a proud moment to be acknowledged among his peers for the wide range of services that can be provided as a dispensing optician. “It acts to highlight our role and broaden the potential for what we can do at a time when the optometrist is taking on greater roles in the UK. We need to be right alongside them offering our support and taking on additional roles to expand our presence, but also free them up so as a group we deliver even better care and services.” EAOO fellowship applicants have to apply within four categories: Clinical Practice using case records (up to five if solely case records); Research; Education; and Professional Advancement and/or Management of visual healthcare. Black submitted a case record of a bioptic spectacle for a low vision patient plus evidence of involvement in all the other categories, including clinical research within practice research on new contact lenses, solutions and studies; education through delivery of continuing education and training to peers and colleagues at a practice, local and national level; and professional advancement through local enhanced service pathways for optometrists and dispensing opticians and nationally through committees and representation of the profession. Nick Black (third from right) and other new EAOO fellows at the <strong>2016</strong> Berlin conference “A significant number of fellows have been predominantly academic in background, so it was great to see more practitioners who spend most of the day delivering at the coalface,” he said. Black has an impressive optical pedigree from New Zealand. He’s the grandson of Reg Black, founding optometrist of Black Gates Meek & Dong in Lower Hutt, son of retired dispensing optician Morris Black, also from Lower Hutt, nephew of Eyeline Optical’s Brian Black and cousin of Wellington optometrist Andrew Black. He attended Victoria University, worked with Prolab in Wellington before moving to the UK for his big OE, where he moved from laboratory technician to DO, specialising in contact lens fitting and low vision. He’s now a director-shareholder and CEO of award-winning independent practice BBR Optometry in Hereford, on the Welsh borders in England, where he lives with his wife and three children. As to the future, he said, his practice has just had a major refit so he’s busy reviewing how to improve the business’ service and experience for patients with his fellow directors and 20 staff, he continues to provide specialist lens services at his local hospital, including scleral and keratoconic lenses, and he’s looking to take on a bigger role with the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. • Editor’s note: Congratulations Nick. Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to welcome you back home one day to discuss how more DOs can become involved in contact lenses and low vision in New Zealand? ▀ Odette Smith celebrates an award winning lift in Hobart, Australia When Odette Smith signed up for a personal trainer at the gym three years ago, she had no idea it would lead to an international championship title and a couple of gold medals to boot. “I used to have a personal trainer every eight weeks,” says Smith, an optometrist at OPSM Queen Street in Auckland. “He got into Olympic weightlifting and suggested I try it too.” Smith found her small stature was an advantage— the smaller you are, the less distance you have to lift the bar—and was excited to find many other women involved in the sport. “I went to my first club competition at Functional Strength Olympic Gym in Albany about two years ago and met Richie Patterson, a two-time Olympian and commonwealth games medallist,” says Smith. “He coached a team of mostly women and I decided to join.” Smith competed first in regional competitions, then national. The format is always the same—you get three chances at the snatch, lifting the barbell in one continuous motion from the floor to above your head; and then three chances at the clean and jerk, where the weightlifter raises the barbell to their clavicle and then pushes it above their head in a second movement. Results are calculated by taking the two best scores from the lifts, taking into consideration the lifter’s weight and age if over 35. “My first international competition was in April this year, the World Masters’ Cup in Tokyo,” says Smith. “I was fine until I turned up at the Olympic arena and saw them building the stage. Then I freaked out!” Smith recovered and not only held it together, but went on to win the gold in the 58kg, 35-39 age division. At the start of June, she attended her second international competition, the <strong>2016</strong> Olitek Oceania and Australian Masters Championships and Pacific Rim Tournament in Hobart, and picked up gold in both competitions for the 53kg 35-39 age division. “Since I started lifting two and a half years ago I have set 24 New Zealand masters records. On 5 June I set a new New Zealand snatch record. I am currently ranked number three in female masters lifters in New Zealand, across all ages 35 plus and weight categories.” Smith also says that at 38, she’s in the best shape she’s ever been and it’s never too late to take up a new sport. “There’s a woman at my gym who is a real inspiration. She started weightlifting at 50 and now, at 55, is in her best shape ever and is competing. The weightlifting community is really supportive and friendly, I love it.” Smith is now training for the North Island championships in October and the World Masters Games, which will be held in Auckland in 2017. We wish her luck! ▀ Transitions turns teacher The 4 days of Optics 23 - 26 September <strong>2016</strong> LIVE THE EXPERIENCE silmoparis.com In the run up to spring and summer, Transitions Optical’s new Australasian marketing programme will focus on educating consumers and eye care professionals on the risks of harmful blue light from the sun and from devices. From <strong>Jul</strong>y, eye care professionals in New Zealand and Australia will have access to educational materials which explain sources of harmful blue light indoors and outdoors, the implications of prolonged exposure and how Transitions lenses can provide a measure of protection. “Often associated exclusively with electronic devices and screens, what most people don’t realise is that the sun is the single largest source of harmful blue light, scattering it through the atmosphere and emitting significantly higher levels than electronic devices and screens,” said John Ligas, vice-president research and development, Transitions Optical. “In fact, depending on the time of day, a majority of visible light outdoors is blue light which explains why the sky is blue.” All Transitions lenses filter harmful blue light in all conditions, said the company. Transitions Signature VII lenses filter at least 20% of harmful blue light indoors, up to two times more than standard clear lenses, and more than 85% outdoors when Transitions Signature lenses filter harmful blue light indoors activated. While Transitions XTRActive filter at least 34% of harmful blue light indoors and 88-95% outdoors. The consumer education programme will focus on the harmful effects of blue light, building on Transitions’ Ready, Set, Live, campaign which began in March this year and has been seen by more than six million consumers to date. “We began <strong>2016</strong> talking to consumers about the fact that better vision can enhance their enjoyment of every day life and their performance of activities they love doing. Now we want to help glasses wearers better understand photochromic lenses, how they work and the important health benefits they provide beyond vision correction,” said Stuart Cannon, Transitions Optical’s general manager, Asia Pacific. ▀ 6 NEW ZEALAND OPTICS <strong>Jul</strong>y <strong>2016</strong>
For the first time in Auckland, Alcon brings you, Sunday 31st <strong>Jul</strong>y <strong>2016</strong> AUCKLAND 9.00am - 3.15pm Interactive Workshops UP TO 5 THERAPEUTIC CPD POINTS* Please join the Academy for an interactive workshop on Dry Eye management. Discuss Dry Eye diagnosis and treatments with your peers and witness live diagnosis by experts in the field. Experience a hands-on approach and get actively involved. To register, please visit: www.seeyouthere.com/dea<strong>2016</strong>nz Or email: eventrsvp@alconlabs.com *application in progress Alcon Laboratories (Australia) Pty Ltd, 109 Carlton Gore Road, Ground Floor, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand NZBN: 9429030206663. 106323SYS. NP4.A21604464718. TAPSPP7965 <strong>Jul</strong>y <strong>2016</strong> NEW ZEALAND OPTICS 7
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