Meet a Council Member: Sarah Farrant

Tell us a bit about yourself? 
I am an independent practice owner based in Somerset alongside my husband Ed, with a particular interest in dry eye disease management and relating this to successful CL wear.

Why did you join the BCLA? 
I wanted to be able to bring some fresh ideas to the team and felt that my hands on experience of day to day CL and dry eye management would be a good perspective to bring to council

What encouraged/inspired you to apply to be on BCLA Council?
I had previously sat on the College of Optometrists Council and was ready for a fresh challenge

Apart from the membership benefits, what else do you get from being a member of the BCLA?
I get to work alongside a great team of people from all aspects of the profession, to learn from them and feel like I can give something back to the association, which has an ethos close to my heart.

What is it like being a member of the BCLA council? 
Fun and challenging, with good debate and idea sharing.

What message would you like to give to members / non-members?
The value of the BCLA is a core part of the profession as a whole and at a time where things move on so quickly, we need an association that can keep us up to date, educated and current and help be a voice to shout about CL and the ocular surface

What do you think will be the biggest change in contact lenses and the anterior eye over the next five years?  
I hope that better understanding of ocular surface disease and CL interactions will help us as clinicians to achieve even better outcomes for our patients.              

Biography

Sarah Farrant graduated from Cardiff University, UK in 2002. She owns and works in an independent practice alongside her husband Edward, and in a specialist practice within a Doctors surgery managing eye disease in Somerset UK. She has a particular interest in dry eye and therapeutics, running dedicated clinics in practice for many years and she lectures widely in these subjects. She acts as a consultant to a number of contact lens and ophthalmic companies. She is chair of the Somerset Local Optical Committee and was the lead optometrist for setting up an acute eye service in Somerset. She also previously spent a number of years working in the teaching clinics at Cardiff University. Sarah also sits on the BCLA Council and was on the College of Optometrists as a trustee, and on Council for 12 years. Sarah is the UK ambassador for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface society (TFOS). She has two young daughters and loves painting, playing tennis, mountain biking and water-skiing.