Following on from the great success that was NOC 2011, the National Optometric Conference will again be opening its doors to the optical market in October 2012. The highly popular event which was last year held at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth will again be Midlands based, at the prestigious Hilton Meltropole Hotel, at the NEC Birmingham.

We regularly write about the importance and necessity of regular eye checks; we have access to medical research and updates on the internet and even online diagnosis sites. We can purchase glasses of all shapes and styles online and order our contact lenses too, as well as accessories that go with them.

Following a two year trial period by the US Food and Drug Administration, the drug Zioptan has been approved for use in treating patients and sufferers of the eye condition open-angle glaucoma. The manufacturer, Merck & Co., confirmed the approval on 13 February 2012 and will look to begin production and distribution of the glaucoma drug immediately.

You're sat at home, check. You need a new television, check. You go online, check. You choose your size, check. You pay a discounted price, check. It arrives, working perfectly just like a shop bought item, check. The internet is the simple, and often drastically cheaper option for consumers in the digital millennium. Whether you are buying washing machines, laptops or lawn mowers, online stores offer a simple, safe (I hope), convenient and cheap way to get everything you need. Need advice? No need, everyone is now an expert.

Unless you have used the IRIS scanners at airports around the UK, you may think that iris recognition scanners are something from Star Trek or the iconic Minority Report from which many new-fangled hi tech product ideas are being launched from. It is not something that would necessarily come into everyday life but travelers using Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham airport may have come across these security scanning devices when flying.

Working in IT and with computer screens as I do, it's not hard to make someone believe that I might suffer from extra headaches than the average person due to the job I do. Staring at an LCD monitor for hours on end takes its toll on your eyes as they focus for long periods of time, so there isn't much of an argument there. One thing I do have trouble with is convincing others that a long shift in front of my PC is tiring work.

Following recent studies and research by the Macular Disease Society, the NHS is being urged to rethink and re-evaluate their stance and outlook for age related macular degeneration in the UK as the volume of sufferers per year is over double the estimated number of new diagnosis'. It is hoped the NHS recognises this large difference in estimation and give AMD a much higher priority, ensuring that health care specialists understand the significance of the disease and that correct provisions are made for the treatment and diagnosis of the condition in the future.

Following recent studies and research by the Macular Disease Society, the NHS is being urged to rethink and re-evaluate their stance and outlook for age related macular degeneration in the UK as the volume of sufferers per year is over double the estimated number of new diagnosis'. It is hoped the NHS recognises this large difference in estimation and give AMD a much higher priority, ensuring that health care specialists understand the significance of the disease and that correct provisions are made for the treatment and diagnosis of the condition in the future.

In a new publication by the Optical Confederation, optical professionals, optometrists and all others in health care roles and practices are being urged to be watchful and aware of potential signs of abuse in patients when they visit, particularly the young and the elderly. The new document by the OC focuses on a practice and persons individual duty to look for signs of neglect and what they should do if they believe something untoward has occurred or is occurring to safeguard their patients health, while also being mindful of the practice's safety.

Recent studies in the United States point towards the fact that an increase or addition of Omega 3's within a person's diet may slow the deterioration of sight in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) when coupled with vitamin A supplements. It is certainly not a fishy tale, but this research project certainly points towards added benefits of regular fish oils other than the well documented approval for helping joints and muscles in the body.