Meet a Council Member: Indie Grewal
Tell us about yourself.
I qualified Dispensing Optician and Optometrist and have over 30 years’ experience within the Optical Industry. Shortly after qualifying as an Optometrist I joined Visioncare Research as a Research Optometrist. In 2001 I opened a Leightons Franchise in St Albans with my wife Sara. As well as participating in contact lens clinical trials, I have a special interest in Myopia Management and Multifocal contact lens fitting.
Why did you join the BCLA?
My interest in contact lenses had always made me aware of the existence of the BCLA. It was a no-brainer that I joined shortly after qualifying as an Optometrist. My passion for contact lenses has seen me work with major contact lens manufacturers and as a key opinion leader I have presented both in the UK and internationally. I gained my Fellowship to the BCLA in 2014. As well as education the BCLA offers me a community of like-minded ECPs who are knowledgeable and networked. For me the BCLA has always been a part of my professional life.
What encouraged/inspired you to apply to be on BCLA Council?
Becoming a Council Member was a natural step. The Council is made up of eyecare and industry professionals whose aim is to provide class-leading education in the field of contact lenses and anterior eye. To be asked to join this group was a privilege.
Apart from the membership benefits, what else do you get from being a member of the BCLA?
As ECPs we can fit contact lenses. For me, the BCLA has always existed to raise the bar and has provided me with insights to new changes in the contact lens industry at the earliest opportunity. In recent times the education offering of BCLA members has been updated to move with the times. We now offer modular courses in dry eye and contact lens retention as well as the new Myopia Management Certificate. Other new updates are live streaming of the forthcoming BCLA conference as well as podcasts starting in 2020 once a month related to the latest innovation in contact lens and anterior eye. All these new updates are available as part of the BCLA membership, there’s never been a better time to consider becoming a BCLA member.
What do you think will be the biggest change in contact lenses and the anterior eye over the next five years?
Myopia management will continue to dominate the landscape of contact lenses over the next few years. With more research there will be a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in myopia as well as more myopia management products entering the market.
A number of other companies have also announced that they are researching applications for smart contact lenses which will set about to revolutionise healthcare. From contact lenses that may read blood sugars and IOP to auto-focus multifocals and AI, there’s a lot of research going on and as ECPs we have to continue to show the industry that we own the rights to fitting this technology on eye.
Biography
Indie is a qualified Dispensing Optician and Optometrist with 25 years experience within the Optical Industry. Shortly after qualifying as an Optometrist he joined Visioncare Research as a Research Optometrist. He opened his own Leightons Franchise in St Albans in 2001, as well as participating in contact lens clinical trials, he has a special interest in Myopia Management and Multi-focal contact lens fitting. Indie’s passion for contact lenses has seen him work with major contact lens manufacturers and as a key opinion leader he has presented both in the UK and internationally. Indie is a BCLA Fellow and council member.