Meet a Council Member: Anthony Blackman
Tell us about yourself:
I currently work for Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care, but I have also worked for Dollond and Aitchison, Boots, and also as a locum across Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. I came into optics in 2004, starting as an optical assistant, then a manager, a DO, a CLO, and as a senior lecturer in Vision Science at Canterbury Christ Church University. So I like variety! When I completed my MSc in Optometry, my final dissertation investigated the use of tear proteins as biomarkers for systemic diseases.
Alongside working in practice I am also Director of Training and Development at Insight Optical Training. In this role, I have written and delivered a range of courses, qualifications, workshops, and short courses to both support staff and professional staff, including CET and CPD.
Apart from being a BCLA Council Member, I am also a lay member on the Education and Learning Committee for the Chartered Insurance Institute, and I am an experienced charity trustee, currently for
• Vision Care for Homeless People
• Kent Association for the Blind
• Communigrow
• Carers Support East Kent
Why did you join the BCLA?
I joined back in 2009 when I was a student CLO and have stayed a full member ever since qualifying in 2011, winning the BCLA prize for best aftercare in the ABDO CL practical exams.
I joined partly because it was suggested by my lecturers (including the late Tim Bowden) at college. The resources were very useful and the ACLM yearbook has always been a valuable tool. The highlight has always been the BCLA conference, as it is the place to see some of the top speakers from around the world on one stage.
What encouraged/inspired you to apply to be on BCLA Council?
During covid, we have seen contact lenses as being an even more important part of our business. The BCLA has also been active with online events and webinars. The BCLA has also been vocal about dry eye management and myopia management, both important areas of eye health that I have been involved with. With so much change happening I thought the time was right to put myself forward and be able to use my board-level experience to work with the BCLA.
Apart from the membership benefits, what else do you get from being a member of the BCLA?
The BCLA is a place where people from different professions can come together. It’s not an exclusive club for the elite and has a board membership, so it is truly representative of the contact lens and anterior eye sector. This also means that the information and education provided by the BCLA are of extremely high quality. I have found the BCLA to be a very welcoming group of members.
What is it like being a member of the BCLA council?
I’m pleased to have been elected to be a council member in 2021 and I’m finding out more about all the hard work that people put in to make all the events happen. The council is a diverse group, with each person bringing different skills and experience, but we all share the same aims for the BCLA.
What message would you like to give to members / non-members?
Being a member of the BCLA is a simple and easy way to stay up-to-date with the industry. I would highly recommend that every student CLO and Optometrist become a member to help them boost their contact lens knowledge. But once qualified, the education opportunities are amazing, from conferences, webinars, to the courses in Dry Eye and Myopia control. The BCLA has a lot to offer.
What do you think will be the biggest change in contact lenses and the anterior eye over the next five years?
We are going to see the internet having a much greater impact on contact lens supply, which will force practices to evaluate how they operate; in particular how practitioners properly charge for their time and expertise. We will also see the launch of new products that will offer huge benefits to our patients in terms of comfort, vision, and more myopia management solutions.
Biography
Anthony Blackman, MSc BSc(Hons) FBDO CL (Hons)SLD SMC(tech) CertAcc(Open) PGCert MBCLA MRSB MRSPH MCIOF MIOD MInstLM FRSA
Anthony is a Dispensing Optician and Contact Lens Optician living in Kent. He has a background in education, being a senior lecturer as well as roles with the WCSM as a tutor, principal examiner, chief practical examiner, and member of their qualifications committee. He used his experience to establish Insight Optical Training in 2017 and has provided training to a number of practices in the UK; including optical assistant qualifications which are endorsed by the awarding body NCFE. He has also written and delivered CET/CPD for over 10 years and has continued to learn, with certificates in accountancy and charity law & governance.
Anthony has held several board-level positions, including a term on the ABDO board and with several charities.