Summer is here at last and the gradual easing of restrictions has been very welcome indeed. It has been a difficult time for all of us, but we are now able to see friends and family again. 

In this edition of Acuity, we look ahead to new and exciting developments in ocular coherence tomography (OCT). I’m sure, like me, many of us have now come to depend on OCT as a valuable tool in our practices. Our article explores how the addition of scanning laser imaging enables greater analysis of different retinal layers, contributing to diagnosing, treating and monitoring various conditions. As well as posterior segment imaging, many OCT machines can now scan the anterior segment, which can be an extremely useful tool for post-Lasik checks. 

This sort of technology also lends itself to local clinics, which patients with diseases such as diabetes and age-related macular degeneration can visit rather than hospital. Using advances in software, practitioners can also detect subtle changes over time. 

Over the next year, the College will be promoting integrated eye care delivery models. We have developed a joint vision with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists to support the workforce and the commissioning of safe and sustainable eye care services, improving patient care and outcomes during and beyond the pandemic. 

Our article on myth-busting explores several aspects of how myths impact on optometry practices. Apart from the obvious, where patients don’t fully understand the arguments for mask-wearing and vaccinations, there are the age-old misconceptions that seem to be constantly perpetuated. The one I hear most frequently is “Will spectacles make my eyes worse?” 

I would also like to offer my congratulations to Tanjit Dosanjh MCOptom for being awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list. I first met Tanjit when he was completing his pre-registration training at Dollond & Aitchison. Since then, he has founded a charity to help and support prisoners with optical training, driven by his own experience of a father in prison. His really is a remarkable achievement, and you can read more in his interview.

I do hope that you can all find some time to relax and take a break over the summer, and that we can continue to enjoy the freedoms that the easing of restrictions brings.