I am planning to move house later this year. Downsizing after nearly 30 years in one home is both exciting and daunting! My children have all grown up and left their nest. My husband and I are working less, travelling more and looking forward to spending less time on house and garden maintenance, and more time embracing whatever the day brings with our friends, family, and wider community or simply just ourselves exploring old hobbies and new. 

Being open to change makes it easier to adapt and view new horizons with excitement and positivity, and provides space for new opportunities. 

The world around us is constantly evolving, and so too is the role of the optometrist. But ultimately the relationship between healthcare professional and patient remains key. Navigating conversations about behaviour change and lifestyle choices can be challenging. Our cover feature debates whether optometrists can influence the general health of their patients. While pockets of progress have been made since the 1950s when Sir Richard Doll published studies linking smoking and poor health, more training and Government funding are needed for optometrists to be able to play a vital role in reducing pressures on GP services. 

Developing our skills at any stage of life professionally and personally is to the benefit of ourselves and our patients in a changing world. The quote by the US author John Calvin Maxwell, “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional”, has often inspired me away from apathy. 

Our article is worth a read if you are considering developing new clinical skills. Lacrimal syringing is now practised by more optometrists but requires a steady hand and training. Is lacrimal syringing a diagnostic technique or a treatment? This question and more are answered by experienced optometrists and ophthalmologists, as the possible causes of epiphora are investigated.

Working with ophthalmology to provide the best solutions for our patients happens both at a local level and nationally. Optometrists are playing a key role in the pre- and postoperative care of those requiring cataract surgery. Our infographic explores the changing landscape of cataract surgery and the pressures facing ophthalmology outpatient clinics in all the UK nations. 

Being busy is typically viewed as a positive, although being too busy can tip into a problem for ourselves and patient care. Our article shares wonderful tips on managing patient workloads efficiently, with structure and flexibility, but most importantly with patient needs at the centre. 

In today’s busy workplace, the term resilience can be an overused buzzword, and it means different things to different people. The latest research shows that resilience is more than just a personal skill; rather it is an interaction between you and your environment. Our article debates this topic and provides support and resources to help develop our own personal resilience and understand how colleagues and wider organisations can help support people in overcoming workplace change and challenges. 

So I’m off to embrace the change in my household. Downsizing brings the need to declutter. Not a small task after decades of busyness and family accumulations – very much work in progress!

Image credit | Caroline-Andrieu