Sound Optometry is the podcast from Docet that provides high quality continuing education and training for all UK-GOC-registered optometrists. Each month, we’ll be exploring the topics that matter most to us optometrists with case studies and in-depth conversations. You can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on Docet's website: http://docet.info (http://docet.info/)
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Vision standards and occupational eye testing can have profound consequences on patients and their families, especially when children are weighing up their career prospects. It’s therefore important that optometrists understand how tests are carried out and the implications of their results. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty takes a trip to the vi…
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As it is a condition that comes on with ageing, presbyopia is something that optometrists very commonly encounter in practice. For most people who develop long-sightedness, their eyesight is easily corrected with spectacles and sometimes contact lenses. But many patients seek to reduce their dependence on spectacles and that’s where refractive surg…
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Gene therapy is one of the most exciting areas of modern medicine. In eye care, they promise to restore the vision of patients with both rare genetic eye diseases, such as a certain type of inherited retinal dystrophy, as well as more common conditions that have genetic components, like AMD. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty uncovers how gene ther…
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Half of the population experience menopause, but its effects are wide-ranging and poorly understood. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty investigates how menopause can affect the eye — from inflammatory changes, such as blepharitis, to dry eye disease and even an association with glaucoma. Michelle examines the scientific research with Stuti Misra, …
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Complaints are a normal part of a patient-facing industry, like optometry — from problems with prescriptions to quibbles about customer service. Therefore, handling complaints in a professional manner is an essential part of the GOC’s Standards of Practice. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty hears from Dawn Slocombe, a Complaints Resolution Manager…
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In optometry, exciting new products or treatments are constantly coming onto the market. As practitioners, we need to keep our knowledge up-to-date, so that we can offer solutions to our patients if they present with an ocular condition. But is the evidence strong enough to make a recommendation or to provide that treatment? In this episode, Michel…
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Ocular allergy can be more complicated than the seasonal conjunctivitis that optometrists see frequently in practice. To treat allergic reactions effectively, it’s important to understand how the immune system works. In this episode, Michelle and Dr Peter Frampton, an optometrist at Aaron Optometrists in the North of England, discuss the four types…
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Children with special educational needs (SEN) are 28 times more likely to have a problem with their vision—or how their brains interpret vision—than their peers. It’s essential that optometrists understand how to make appointments as successful as possible for SEN children and their families. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty asks Ellie Hughes, As…
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK, and the dry form is the most common type of the condition. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty visits a community practice in Harborne, Birmingham, to meet optometrist Bradley Warwick. Brad specialises in dry AMD, so Michelle and Brad discuss how to manage and c…
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Laser treatments are a great way for optometrists to learn new skills and add some variety to day-to-day practice. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty brings us into her YAG laser capsulotomy clinic in Birmingham, where she treats posterior capsule opacification (PCO) following cataract surgery. Michelle walks us through an appointment with a patien…
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Over 400,000 cataract procedures are done every year in England alone and the surgery is also one of the most successful in modern medicine. But complications can still occur, for a number of reasons. With optometrists becoming ever more involved with cataract surgery patient pathways — from direct referral to postoperative care — in this episode, …
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Myopia can be much more than just shortsightedness. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty speaks to her friend Kathryn, who has severe myopia, to find out how the condition can cause further ocular health problems, like macular degeneration. Two years ago on the podcast, we explored how optometrists should play an active role in myopia management usin…
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Regular eye screening for the more than 4 million people in the UK with diabetes is essential. The chronic condition is difficult to manage, but high blood sugar over time can damage the blood vessels in the retina. These changes to the eye can be detected by retinal photography, yet diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness, because it …
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Detecting and diagnosing suspect glaucoma isn’t an exact science, but the stakes are high—undetected or late-diagnosed optic nerve damage can lead to irreversible vision loss. Subtle changes in the optic nerve head can be confusing, though, so as an optometrist, being confident in your clinical decisions is essential. In this episode, Michelle Hanr…
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One of the side-effects for patients who take hydroxychloroquine, or chloroquine, can be retinal toxicity. The drug is usually taken to help treat rheumatic disorders, but around 7.5% of people who take hydroxychloroquine for over five years are thought to develop retinopathy. That’s why regular monitoring of the eyes is essential. Typically, monit…
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Leadership in optometry can take many forms - from solving a patient’s complaint successfully, to managing a team of optometrists, to dealing with our busy workflows. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty asks Mat Pickering, the General Manager of Optegra UK, how optometrists can become leaders in the workplace. Michelle is the Optometrist Lead at Opt…
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The impact of severe dry eye or ocular surface disease on quality of life has been compared to someone who’s had a renal transplant or unstable angina. In this episode, we hear how dry eye disease affected both the ocular and mental health of patient Dave Cannell. For optometrists, dry eye can be tricky to manage and patients may need to be refer…
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Mental health isn’t usually the first consideration in optometrists’ minds when they see patients. But with conditions like anxiety and depression on the rise, optometrists, as primary healthcare providers, should be on the lookout for mental health concerns and how to point patients in the right direction. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty asks o…
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Visual field tests can be invaluable when trying to explain a patient’s symptoms, like headaches, or detecting early disease, from glaucoma to stroke, or rarer neurological conditions, such as pituitary tumours. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty asks Stephen Freeman, an optometrist and lecturer at the University of Plymouth, when to be suspicious …
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Mental health conditions can affect anyone and can have a negative impact on optometrists’ work. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses these implications with Sheena Tanna-Shah, an optometrist who retrained in therapy after her own experience with anxiety. Also, avoiding stress and burnout at work can help to reduce the risk of mental health…
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Coming across eyelid lesions is an everyday occurrence for optometrists, but distinguishing them from each other can be a challenge. In this episode, we hear from Nina, who had a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on her lower eyelid. Michelle Hanratty then explores the various types of malignant and benign lesions that could present in practice, with Mr R…
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Paediatric eye conditions can often leave optometrists concerned and confused about how to manage patients. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty explores both inflammatory and infectious causes of corneal disease in children. Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr Michael O’Gallagher of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast explains how vernal keratoconjun…
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Uveitis is thought to cause around 15% of severe sight loss in the UK. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty explores both punctate inner choroidopathy or PIC, a form of posterior uveitis, and the more common presentation of anterior uveitis, with Consultant Ophthalmologist Professor Alastair Denniston and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Dr Balini Balas…
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Many optometrists will have experienced a patient calling and saying that they suddenly can't see. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty travels to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital to explore the loss of vision, focussing on artery and vein occlusions, with optometrists Helen Wilson and Amanda Harding. The discussion addresses how optometrists can en…
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Fitting contact lenses might be a straightforward task, but modern contact lens practice is constantly evolving. Last year, the British Contact Lens Association released a series of reports, called CLEAR, to help harness the most recent contact lens research and modernise contact lens practice, in an evidence-based manner. In this episode, Michelle…
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The four nations of the UK each have their own Enhanced Optometric Services. This is the second of two episodes which explore how these pathways benefit patients, practitioners and the NHS. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty explores the services available in Scotland with Kathryn Trimmer, an IP optometrist based in Grampian, and in Northern Irelan…
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The four nations of the UK each have their own Enhanced Optometric Services. This is the first of two episodes which explore how these pathways benefit patients, practitioners and the NHS. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the Enhanced Optometric Services in Wales with Clare Pearce, an optometrist based in Cardiff and in England with Kev…
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Binocular Vision disorders present themselves frequently to optometrists but the most appropriate solution is not always obvious. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the path to single vision with Dr Aleks Mankowska, an optometrist and lecturer in the Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science. We also hear about the experience of Ele…
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Vitreomacular conditions can be sight-threatening if they are not picked up by practitioners. In this episode, optometrist Michelle Hanratty speaks to Mr Kam Balaggan, consultant ophthalmologist and consultant vitreoretinal surgeon. They discuss how to recognise vitreomacular disorders and how to decide when referral is required. Also, to gain an i…
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Glaucoma is a difficult condition to diagnose. Optometrist Michelle Hanratty discusses referral dilemmas and the impact of the NHS backlog with optometrist, Paddy Gunn, and consultant ophthalmologist, Mr Imran Masood. Paddy Gunn, Principal Optometrist Education and Training at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, has a specialist qualification in glaucom…
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The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of infection control measures in all professions. As optometrists, there are particularly important precautions to take. In this episode, optometrist Michelle Hanratty discusses the mechanisms of transmission for respiratory infections, gastrointestinal pathogens and eye illnesses with microbiologist D…
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Discovering a new ocular lesion whilst carrying out an eye examination can lead to a management dilemma for optometrists. Michelle Hanratty talks to Professor Heinrich Heimann, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Clinical Lead of the Ocular Oncology Unit at Royal Liverpool Hospital. They discuss what to look out for, when to monitor and when to refer…
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Myopia is thought to affect half of the population by 2050, which is why management from optometrists is required, to potentially reduce the extent of myopic progression in patients. Michelle Hanratty talks to Professor Ed Mallen about the threat of this “epidemic”, before we hear from a patient, Elodie, and her mother, Elizabeth, about the impact …
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Early keratoconic corneal changes can start even before the age of 10 and those that are at risk are mostly not detected until the condition is moderately advanced. The only way to pick these patients up early is to routinely screen for keratoconus in the young population at their routine eye examinations and it could be as easy as using an autoref…
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In this episode, we hear about a clinical scenario where a case of idiopathic intracranial hypertension led to severe visual symptoms and bilateral optic disc swelling. Michelle Hanratty then recaps the key features of papilloedema, its presentation and causes with neuro-ophthalmologist Dr Denize Atan before looking at the differential diagnoses. T…
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In a special edition, optometrist Michelle Hanratty talks to Consultant Ophthalmologist, Arijit Mitra, about his personal experience of developing a unilateral cataract at a relatively young age and what it was like to be operated on by a friend. They are joined by Ajai Tyagi, who gives an insight into the preoperative surgical assessment and his t…
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What if you witness something that you feel puts patients at risk – an unsafe practice or procedure you’re not happy with? This month optometrist Michelle Hanratty discusses the concepts of Speaking Up and Whistleblowing with David Hewlett, Group Director at FODO. We also hear from someone unhappy with the current procedures and speak to Julie Bree…
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Conditions of the retina can be genetic or acquired but, even with advanced imaging, it can be challenging for optometrists to decide when people need to be referred. This month optometrist Michelle Hanratty discusses diagnosis and treatment of wet AMD, dry AMD and retinitis pigmentosa with consultant ophthalmologist and specialist in medical retin…
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Most cases of acute red eye are due to fairly benign conditions such as conjunctivitis. However, a small proportion are more serious and require urgent treatment. This month, Michelle Hanratty and consultant ophthalmologist David Lockington discuss the challenges of differentiating between the two. Plus, optometrist Robert Longhurst talks about the…
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Managing binocular vision is important. Eliminating the differentials requires a good theoretical knowledge so it’s essential to keep that knowledge fresh. This month, Michelle Hanratty speaks with specialist optometrist Janice McCrudden, from the Belfast Health Trust, to delve deeper into squints and assessing binocular vision in children. Plus, o…
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Retinal detachment is one of the most common reasons for “Fitness to Practice” complaints to the General Optical Council. This month, Michelle Hanratty is joined by vitreo-retinal surgeon Steve Lash, and Roshni Kanabar from the Association of Optometrists. The team explore the importance of taking history correctly, communicating with patients succ…
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In 2012, optometrist Honey Rose was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter for failing to detect papilloedema. Although later overturned, this conviction shook the optometry profession. This month, Michelle Hanratty and consultant neuro-ophthalmologist Naz Raoof from Moorfields Eye Hospital discuss the tell-tale signs of papilloedema and how to…
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It's hay fever season and Docet launches Sound Optometry with the timely topic of ocular allergies. Michelle Hanratty and Dr Peter Frampton explore the causes of ocular allergies, treating patients in lockdown, and how to keep them comfortable when the pollen count is high. With special thanks to clinical pharmacist Dharmesh Shah from Moorswalk Sur…
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