Today I'm angry about.....

[Montreal Wanderer]

I'm going to be a bit pedantic. The following questions are submitted in all seriousness.

Perhaps I'm a bit thick or there are terms being mixed here. To me an optometrist is a professional who checks eyes for physical anomalies such as long/short sightedness, glaucoma, retinal deterioration, cataracts and such like. An optician is the artisan who turns the optometrist's findings into corrective lenses (and tries to flog you frames and other ancillary bits and pieces at the same time). An ophthalmologist is a super-duper version of an optometrist and who specialises in serious stuff (detached retina, cancerous tissues and the like). The ophthalmologist would normally require a referral from an optometrist before giving you the time of day.

Now, what's this about ducking down to Aldi or Tesco to pick up a pair of glasses? How does that work? Surely stores don't have a range of ready-to-wears awaiting a customer?

I think you are correct re ophthalmologists and opticians. An optometrist in North America is a medical doctor but this is not the case in the UK. Australia is different too.

Australia

Australia currently has three recognised courses in optometry:

Bachelor of Optometry Bachelor of Science (BOptom BSc), University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Vision Science and Master of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology
Doctor of Optometry, Melbourne University (post-graduate)

These courses are developments of prior course offerings at these institutions that have been expanded along with the increased scope of practice for optometrists in Australia, specifically the ability to prescribe certain therapeutic agents.

New courses are being developed at Flinders University in South Australia, which accepted students in a science degree in 2010, to begin the post graduate component of the course in 2013. A second new course is expected at Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria at the beginning of 2012.

To support these courses the Australian College of Optometry provides clinical placements to undergraduate students from Australian Universities and abroad.

Canada

In Canada optometrists must complete a five-year Doctor of Optometry degree from one of two Schools of Optometry (one at the University of Waterloo and the other at Université de Montreal). Furthermore, they must pass board licensing examinations to demonstrate their professional skills and knowledge.

Optometrists in Canada are licensed to prescribe topical and oral medications, however, the exact medications that they are licensed to prescribe varies province by province.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, optometrists have to complete a 3 or 4 (Scotland) year undergraduate honours degree followed by a minimum of a one-year "pre-registration period", (internship), where they complete clinical practice under the supervision of a qualified and experienced practitioner. During this year the pre-registration candidate is given a number of quarterly assessments, often including temporary posting at a hospital, and on successfully passing all of these assessments, a final one-day set of examinations (Examination details correct for candidates from 2006 onwards). Following successful completion of these assessments and having completed one year's supervised practice, the candidate is eligible to register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council (GOC) and, should they so wish, are entitled to membership of the College of Optometrists.

Those of us who find the printed word gets smaller with the passing years and just need simple magnifiers go to the drug store and buy them for a few bucks (an inferior product is available in the Dollar Store but I go for the higher end). I started using them when my $250 prescription reading glasses broke some ten years ago and they seem to work fine (I moved from x1 to x2 a few years back which is all I know about the range available). I do not use glasses for anything other than reading and using the computer. My wife uses the same so there are around 5-10 pairs in every room in the house as well as the car. Saves a lot of money and we can always find a pair.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

i still think the opticians are lining their pockets much more from LLS going back for his test-the-theory multiple eye-tests than they are from me and bruce buying the odd pair of reading glasses from Superdrug.

can you tell me what proportion of superdrug reading-glasses sales goes to opticians, LLS?

The eye tests, because of the nature of my work, are free to me (paid for by the NHS). The spectacles, frames, etc the customer has to pay for. I don't think Superdrug does eye tests whereas the opthalmic opticians such as Lancaster and Thorpe or Dale Opticians do. It's not rocket science, it's not even opthalmology, its salesmanship. The opthalmologist does his work and the instore optician reaps the rewards. I'm confused as to why you are confused.

[General Mannerheim]

New coffee machine at work. the relatively normal ‘cup of coffee’ now appears to be achieved via the button with ‘Americano’ on it?

If this wasn’t painful enough, every time i visit, i come away singing AMERICANO-O-OS, BLUE JEANS AND CHINOS, PEPSI AND OREOS etc

[Bijou Bob]

New coffee machine at work. the relatively normal ‘cup of coffee’ now appears to be achieved via the button with ‘Americano’ on it?

If this wasn’t painful enough, every time i visit, i come away singing AMERICANO-O-OS, BLUE JEANS AND CHINOS, PEPSI AND OREOS etc

Now that made me laugh. Do you sashay away down the corridor too? Stop it. Stop it right now you big gayer

[thebish]

i still think the opticians are lining their pockets much more from LLS going back for his test-the-theory multiple eye-tests than they are from me and bruce buying the odd pair of reading glasses from Superdrug.

can you tell me what proportion of superdrug reading-glasses sales goes to opticians, LLS?

The eye tests, because of the nature of my work, are free to me (paid for by the NHS). The spectacles, frames, etc the customer has to pay for. I don't think Superdrug does eye tests whereas the opthalmic opticians such as Lancaster and Thorpe or Dale Opticians do. It's not rocket science, it's not even opthalmology, its salesmanship. The opthalmologist does his work and the instore optician reaps the rewards. I'm confused as to why you are confused.

i'm confused because you chose to rant about opticians "lining their pockets" after me and bruce were talking about buying reading glasses. neither of us had mentioned opticians at all!

you can buy reading glasses off the shelf from superdrug - i have no idea why you ask about superdrug and eye-tests - you buy them off a rack like you do sunglasses - no opticians pockets are lined in the buying of them at all - there is no optician involved in the process.

the eye tests might be free to you - but the optician STILL lines his pockets from those "free" work eye tests a whole heap more than me buying reading glasses off the shelf at superdrug. - it's not rocket science, as you say - for your "free" eye tests, the optician commands a large fee (part of which, it seems, I pay through my taxes) - for my reading glasses the optician receives nothing at all.

[thebish]

New coffee machine at work. the relatively normal ‘cup of coffee’ now appears to be achieved via the button with ‘Americano’ on it?

^ oh yes!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

i still think the opticians are lining their pockets much more from LLS going back for his test-the-theory multiple eye-tests than they are from me and bruce buying the odd pair of reading glasses from Superdrug.

can you tell me what proportion of superdrug reading-glasses sales goes to opticians, LLS?

The eye tests, because of the nature of my work, are free to me (paid for by the NHS). The spectacles, frames, etc the customer has to pay for. I don't think Superdrug does eye tests whereas the opthalmic opticians such as Lancaster and Thorpe or Dale Opticians do. It's not rocket science, it's not even opthalmology, its salesmanship. The opthalmologist does his work and the instore optician reaps the rewards. I'm confused as to why you are confused.

i'm confused because you chose to rant about opticians "lining their pockets" after me and bruce were talking about buying reading glasses. neither of us had mentioned opticians at all!

you can buy reading glasses off the shelf from superdrug - i have no idea why you ask about superdrug and eye-tests - you buy them off a rack like you do sunglasses - no opticians pockets are lined in the buying of them at all - there is no optician involved in the process.

the eye tests might be free to you - but the optician STILL lines his pockets from those "free" work eye tests a whole heap more than me buying reading glasses off the shelf at superdrug. - it's not rocket science, as you say - for your "free" eye tests, the optician commands a large fee (part of which, it seems, I pay through my taxes) - for my reading glasses the optician receives nothing at all.

You are conflating your rant with my rant. They are two different rants about two different things. my rant was triggered by Bruce's post - that is the only connection. Now calm down otherwise I'll have to have a rant about confused clergy type people getting all aereated about nothing.

[thebish]

You are conflating your rant with my rant. They are two different rants about two different things. my rant was triggered by Bruce's post - that is the only connection. Now calm down otherwise I'll have to have a rant about confused clergy type people getting all aereated about nothing.

no - that is not allowed. you have contravened law 443 subsection 9a article ii of the forum code in which it is clearly stated that you cannot follow a post about something with a post about something very very very very similar without the general assumption being made that they are connected. off you go and line an opticians pocket with your incessant eye-tests!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

You are conflating your rant with my rant. They are two different rants about two different things. my rant was triggered by Bruce's post - that is the only connection. Now calm down otherwise I'll have to have a rant about confused clergy type people getting all aereated about nothing.

no - that is not allowed. you have contravened law 443 subsection 9a article ii of the forum code in which it is clearly stated that you cannot follow a post about something with a post about something very very very very similar without the general assumption being made that they are connected. off you go and line an opticians pocket with your incessant eye-tests!

I was warned about that particular subsection... but I'm a carefree impulsive sort of soul who laughs in the face of convention. I'll just ring up and see if the optician can fit me in for a quick test (the bast*rd)

[Lord Kangana]

Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men.

[Bruce Rioja]

The dizzy bint that manages HR at our place is renowned throughout the company for being an utter 4uckwit (came from the NHS).

I've just asked her about our policy on eye tests. I got this back;

I’m sure that the Company does pay for eye tests if you use a computer but this falls under health and safety and I can never remember what the process is. I think that you keep the receipt and take it to Accounts but it might be best to check with them first.

Unbelievable, Jeff.

[Lord Kangana]

My understanding of such, Bruce, is that it cannot be written down as a legitimate expense because it isn't solely for business use. I'm pretty certain there's even a guidance sheet on HMRC's website covering such a thing (I think it gives a photographer as the example, but it fits the same parameters).

[Bruce Rioja]

My understanding of such, Bruce, is that it cannot be written down as a legitimate expense because it isn't solely for business use. I'm pretty certain there's even a guidance sheet on HMRC's website covering such a thing (I think it gives a photographer as the example, but it fits the same parameters).

You'll be getting me started on the cost of renewing my passport in a minute, you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[General Mannerheim]

y'all wanna get them lasered! best money ive ever (havent) spent! (yet)

[Lost Leopard Spot]

My understanding of such, Bruce, is that it cannot be written down as a legitimate expense because it isn't solely for business use. I'm pretty certain there's even a guidance sheet on HMRC's website covering such a thing (I think it gives a photographer as the example, but it fits the same parameters).

Here is an 'advice sheet' about VDUs and eye tests and everything...
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf

[Lord Kangana]

I can't.

Something to do with the fact that its not my muscles at the back of my eye that are deteriorating (the most common cause of short-sightedness) but its the lens itself. Apparently the workings of my eye are in good nick. Which means I'd still need specs after about 12 months, as the lens will keep deteriorating. That was according to the optician...bearing in mind LLS's view of them.

[Bruce Rioja]

y'all wanna get them lasered! best money ive ever (havent) spent! (yet)

Isn't that for folk that are as blind as a bat though, rather than those of us requiring a pair of 'readers'?

[Lord Kangana]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/nimmanual/nim02145.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.taxation.co.uk/taxation/Arti ... -spectacle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/cwg2chapter5.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pick the bones out of that Bruce!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/nimmanual/nim02145.htm

http://www.taxation.co.uk/taxation/Arti ... -spectacle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/cwg2chapter5.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pick the bones out of that Bruce!

He can't. He can't feckin see them!

[Bruce Rioja]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/nimmanual/nim02145.htm

http://www.taxation.co.uk/taxation/Arti ... -spectacle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/cwg2chapter5.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pick the bones out of that Bruce!

Cheers, LK. I'll have a look later thanks, and, besides eye tests and specs I'll specifically be looking for mention of Passports, suits and luggage holders.