Meet a Council Member: Luke Allen
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Luke, I’m an Optometrist on the South coast in sunny Bournemouth, and have been qualified now for 4 years.
Why did you join the BCLA?
A colleague of mine encouraged me to join to attend the UKs first BCLA UK conference the year after I qualified. After that experience, I was hooked!
What encouraged/inspired you to apply to be on BCLA Council?
Contact lenses have always been a passion of mine, from second year of university, through my dissertation on multifocals, to qualified life where I learned about myopia control in my spare time, and started to practice it actively. I noticed the BCLA was also hot on this topic, as well as promoting exciting contact lens practices such as Ortho-keratology and sclerals, which were not part of the University curriculum. I wanted to join the council to help exposure of current university students to the BCLA, and the possibilities in the world of contact lenses and anterior eye beyond the University set curriculum
Apart from the membership benefits, what else do you get from being a member of the BCLA?
I get well presented, best practice knowledge and updates on my favourite subject, contact lenses. I also get to be part of a welcoming, friendly group of practitioners and industry leaders to socialise and learn with at events. I get to learn and have fun at the same time!
What is it like being a member of the BCLA council?
A little daunting at first, as someone still young and new to the profession, but I am so glad I did. I have met so many inspirational people, both on the council and among the membership, I feel it has broadened my understanding of the contact lens industry and optometry as a whole.
What message would you like to give to members / non-members?
Just to remember that contact lenses make a huge impact on your patient’s lives – they are more than a means of correcting refractive error, they enable patients to live their lives unrestricted by it. Also, with up to date knowledge and some passion, fitting contact lenses can be more exciting and rewarding and engaging with the BCLA puts you at the forefront of that knowledge
• What do you think will be the biggest change in contact lenses and the anterior eye over the next five years?
o The first daily disposable multifocal toric lens
o New, improved and expanded myopia management options & understanding
o Plastic and environmental impact improvements
o The beginnings of a commercially available ‘smart’ contact lens
Biography
4 year Qualified Optometrist at Classic Eyes Opticians and first class honours Cardiff University graduate, with extensive interest in contact lenses, mainly myopia management and one of the first fitters in the UK of Coopervision's MiSight® 1 day myopia control contact lens and NaturalVue multifocal daily disposable contact lens. I also have an interest in orthokeratology, RGPs and mini-scleral lenses.
I was the runner up for the 'Young UK Contact lens practitioner' at the BCLA conference 2017, where I also spoke at an 'ask the experts' session regarding MiSight®. I was also shortlisted for Newly Qualified Optometrist of the year with the AOP 2018. I am currently on the BCLA council as the BUDS ambassador, helping to form links with students at University and the BCLA.
My current goal is learning some of the more in-depth managements for dry eye disease. I have experience with using, interpreting and training on OCT including some of the more complex functions, as well as interpreting Optomap images. I love staying up to date with the newest technology and products available, to give my patients the best they can get.