Blog: PPE in Practice – an optom perspective

PPE has always been part of health care, but during the coronavirus pandemic there has been an increased expectation to increase this use. For many this includes using new PPE items and adapting to it whilst carrying out procedures. Join Luke Allen and Nick Howard as they discuss their experience of wearing PPE and carrying out eye care services using PPE. 

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Nick Howard qualified as a Contact Lens Optician in 1984, working primarily with challenging ocular conditions and complex contact lenses. He is a part time lecturer, trainer and presenter and facilitator at conferences, hospitals and universities at local, national and international events, also author of a number of articles published in the professional optical journals. Winner of prestigious Contact Lens Optician of the Year award in 2012, awarded Fellowship of the BCLA and currently a BCLA Faculty speaker. He works in two Lancashire hospitals fitting specialty contact lenses, also independent practice, developing innovative techniques for management of myopia and dry eye.

Luke Allen graduated from Cardiff University with first class honours in 2014 and qualified as an Optometrist in 2015. At university he had a special interest in contact lenses and wrote his dissertation on multifocals. Carrying this forward to work in private practice he launched the offering of Ortho-keratology and semi-scleral contact lenses in a previous practice. Keen on myopia management, he was also one of the first practitioners in the UK to start fitting MiSight© 1 day contact lenses and NaturalVue contact lenses. Currently working in private independent practice managing and treating more severe dry eye cases, as well as fitting specialist contact lenses.