Épisodes

  • 45: Vision and Dementia – Modifying risk for better outcomes

    45: Vision and Dementia – Modifying risk for better outcomes
    Jan 21 2025
    One in three people born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia — a term used to describe a range of neurological conditions that cause the loss of cognitive functioning. It’s been established that dementia can affect vision and recently, researchers have realised that visual impairment is a modifiable risk factor for dementia, too. In other words, vision correction can, at the very least, improve the quality of life of patients who have dementia. It may even reduce the progression of their cognitive decline.

    In this episode, Michelle Hanratty and Dr Rakhee Shah, an optometrist, lecturer and researcher at City St George’s, University of London, discuss the connections between dementia and the eyes. Michelle then asks Simon Raw, a domiciliary optometrist at The Outside Clinic, about how to get the most out of examinations with patients who have dementia. Finally, if advanced visual corrections are required, such as cataract surgery, how can optometrists ensure that the correct consent procedure is followed? Fadi Alfaqawi, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon for Optegra, explains how to determine what is in the best interest of a patient.

    This podcast expands on Docet’s recent webinar, which was presented by Rakhee Shah and Simon Raw.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Clinical Practice and Communication. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    27 min
  • 44: Corneal Conditions – Shape and clarity

    44: Corneal Conditions – Shape and clarity
    Nov 26 2024
    Optometrists commonly encounter corneal conditions in practice—such as keratoconus, Fuch’s endothelial corneal dystrophy and recurrent corneal epithelial erosion syndrome. As Professor Sai Kolli explains in this podcast, the management of corneal dystrophies may involve monitoring, therapeutic treatment or onward referral, depending on their severity. Michelle Hanratty also hears from Christina and her son Sam, who discovered that he has keratoconus earlier this year. Their story illustrates the importance of regular childhood eye examinations and why clear, empathetic communication from optometrists is essential when they deliver potential diagnoses.

    Professor Sai Kolli is the Consultant Lead for corneal, cataract and refractive surgery at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust. This podcast expands on Docet’s “Common Corneal Conditions: What every optometrist needs to know!”, which was presented by Professor Kolli. Sai answers many of the follow-up questions that optometrists sent in.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    37 min
  • 43: Vision Standards – Colour perception and more

    43: Vision Standards – Colour perception and more
    Oct 17 2024
    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 vision research centre at City St George's, University of London, to meet Professor John Barbur. John explains how occupational vision standards vary and how different tests are carried out.

    What if a patient doesn’t meet the vision standards for their dream job, though? Optometrists will often need to break bad news to patients, which can be challenging. With this in mind, Michelle receives some tips from Ian Trimmer, a social worker who specialises in mastering difficult conversations.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    28 min
  • 42: Presbyopia – Refractive surgery solutions

    42: Presbyopia – Refractive surgery solutions
    Sep 17 2024
    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 surgery can provide a welcome solution.
    In this episode, Michelle Hanratty explores how to advise patients on their options and how to manage post-surgery patients with more confidence. Professor Clare O’Donnell, Head of Eye Science at Optegra, talks about her presbyopic journey, which resulted in laser vision correction. Michelle then discusses refractive lens exchange options with Amir Hamid, a cataract and refractive surgeon. Finally, specialist refractive optometrist Sundeep Vaswani and Michelle look at the considerations that need to be taken into account when patients that have undergone presbyopic surgery attend for an eye examination.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    29 min
  • 41: Gene therapy – Now and in the future

    41: Gene therapy – Now and in the future
    Jul 17 2024
    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 therapies work with Omar Mahoo, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital and University College London. Michelle also hears about the first NHS approved ocular gene therapy programme, with Robert Henderson, a consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Robert demonstrates the impact that gene therapies can have on patients and how optometrists can play an important role in supporting these treatments.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    28 min
  • 40: Menopause – Effect and cause

    40: Menopause – Effect and cause
    Jun 20 2024
    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, an Associate Professor in ophthalmology at University of Auckland. Plus, Julia Sen, a consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, joins Michelle to explain how understanding menopause will enable more empathetic and effective communication with patients.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    26 min
  • 39: Complaints – Taking the lead

    39: Complaints – Taking the lead
    May 22 2024
    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 at the Optical Consumer Complaints Service (OCCS), about how complaints are processed through their service and why communication is the key. Michelle also asks Richard Edwards, the Clinical Consultant for the OCCS, how to manage your complaints process better, to avoid any issues escalating. In addition, Richard describes how optometrists can reduce the likelihood of a complaint happening in the first place. Thanks also to Roshni Kanabar from the Association of Optometrists (AOP).

    This podcast expands on Docet’s “Leadership is not hierarchical” webinar, in which Richard Edwards was the speaker. Richard answers many of the follow-up questions that optometrists sent in.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    GOC-registered optometrists practising in England, Wales or Northern Ireland can gain 1 CPD point by listening to this podcast and completing the exercise on our website. This episode covers the GOC domains of Communication and Leadership & Accountability. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    28 min
  • 38: Evidence-based practice – What, where, why?

    38: Evidence-based practice – What, where, why?
    Apr 24 2024
    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, Michelle Hanratty taps into the expertise of IP optometrists Paramdeep Bilkhu and Alan Hawrami. As a Clinical Advisor at the College of Optometrists, Paramdeep explains how he interrogates research evidence to produce Clinical Management Guidelines and how to ensure that clinical practice is evidence-based and patient-centred. Meanwhile Alan, as the director of two practices providing community ophthalmology in Kent, discusses what he would consider before investing in a new treatment or instrument and the importance of clear communication when obtaining patient consent.

    If you have a topic in mind that you’d like us to cover, or if you’ve got an interesting case study you’d like to share, send Docet a message on LinkedIn.

    This episode covers the GOC domains of Professionalism and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.
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    26 min