Every week I see on social media a collection of optical textbooks for sale – from Essentials of Dispensing to Principals of Ophthalmic Lenses and more. A recent advert I saw boasted that the books being sold were “untouched and brand new”.
This is a shame for two reasons. Firstly, because recommended course books are just that: recommended. The fact that you don’t need to memorise the contents to pass your examinations doesn’t mean the information isn’t relevant to your job. Secondly, having studied optics for a minimum of three years, it is disappointing that the seller had not been inspired to keep these books for future reference.
The information in these course books can sometimes become a little dated, but they are still relevant to the fundamentals of what we do today. Without the theory of best form lenses, we would not have sown the seed of freeform lens manufacturing. If we don’t understand the benefits of improved off-axis performance through first principles, how are we going to use our CPD to keep up-todate with new technology and innovative designs?
Yes, there are more current books. If you’re interested in ophthalmic lenses, have a look at Modern Ophthalmic Optics by Alonso, Gomez-Pedrero and Quiroga. It makes for compelling reading and brings us up-to-date; but please don’t think there is nothing in the pages of a Jalie or Tunnacliffe and Hirst, which you will never need to revisit to refresh your memory.
CPD is the perfect vehicle to help us to stay abreast of current practice and gain our points. It also benefits our patients by making us more knowledgeable in all areas of dispensing practice, and enthused about the services we can provide. We need to keep reading because the industry and professions keep progressing – so if you haven’t read an optical textbook since you graduated, maybe it’s time to pick one up because you are interested in being a better dispensing optician.
Reading about the theories behind the practice, alongside more recent research and scientific papers, will also help when it comes to explaining to patients the features and benefits of the products you are dispensing. And that’s something unique that can’t necessarily be bought online.