Dispensers from Specsavers have been upskilled on the unique needs of children at a recent Dispensing Conference Series that brought together more than 200 professionals representing 140 Specsavers practices from across Australia and New Zealand.
With an impressive turnout and a wealth of insights shared, the event marked a significant milestone in advancing the cause of paediatric eye care.
Specsavers Dispensing Advancement Manager Rhian Evans said the feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the event for its educational content and its potential to drive substantial improvements in outcomes for paediatric patients.
“It was a privilege to spend so much time amongst our dedicated and talented dispensers and dispensing opticians, hearing first-hand the pressures and challenges that they face and being able to remind them of the importance and impact of dispensing appropriately to different types of people,” she said.
As optical professionals continue to work together and apply the knowledge gained at this conference, there’s no doubt that more children will experience a brighter and clearer world
Specialised Dispense Required
“For many reasons, children require a specialised dispense so the theme of this year’s SDC was very appropriate. Most spectacle frames are scaled-down versions of adult frames and are not specifically designed for children. In terms of dispensing, the needs of a child differ significantly from those of an adult. The rate of growth, the way they see and interact with the world around them, and the behaviours and techniques required to accurately dispense to them require careful consideration and a unique set of skills. Lenses for children must also be safe, cosmetically acceptable and positioned accurately to provide the desired effect of an effective, stable, and comfortable optical correction,” she continued.
Interactive Workshops with Dr Alicia Thompson
The conference series featured a presentation from guest speaker, Dr Alicia Thompson, Director of Education, Research and Professional Development for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. Having recently completed a PhD with Aston University on the subject of Paediatric Facial Anthropometry relating to spectacle frame wear, Dr Thompson talked through topics such as facial parameters in growing children and how they relate to frame fitting; evaluation of frames and how they can be adjusted or adapted to improve the fit. Delegates also had the chance to have hands-on experience measuring faces and frames and fitting children with various frames.
Dr Thompson said it was an honour to present at the event series.
“We delivered the four-hour interactive workshop sessions on paediatric dispensing at six locations across ANZ. At every single location, the delegates were so engaged and very enthusiastic for both the subject and the professional development of their paediatric dispensing skills. It was an absolute pleasure to share my research and experiences with such like-minded colleagues and I am so grateful for their participation and for making me feel so welcome,” she said.
Ms Evans said, “Specsavers Dispensing Conference was an unquestionable success, drawing remarkable groups of professionals who are dedicated to improving the eye health of children. The event’s emphasis on education, innovation, and collaboration has set a promising trajectory for the future of paediatric eye care. As optical professionals continue to work together and apply the knowledge gained at this conference, there’s no doubt that more children will experience a brighter and clearer world.”
