Meet a Member: Eleanor Hill 

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I'm a newly qualified Contact Lens Optician, working at Clifford Benjamin's in Skipton. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in the optical industry. I started working at Benjamin's six years ago. Throughout this time I have undertaken the Ophthalmic Dispensing and Contact Lens courses. I am very passionate about my job, and I have a keen interest to learn more about Dry Eye to help the increasing number of patients who are suffering daily. 

When did you first join the BCLA?

I first joined the BCLA in 2016 when I enrolled onto the Contact Lens course. I started with the free student membership. 

Why did you sign up?

I signed up to get access to the online resources such as factsheets, newsletters, and research updates - all things that I knew would help me with my studies. I then became more aware of the educational events and student revision days held by the BCLA. 

Has it lived up to expectations?

Yes, I think the BCLA is a great organisation for educational support. The BCLA provides great events, and this year I went to my first BCLA clinical conference which I thoroughly enjoyed; I learnt a lot, and also met a lot of fellow Contact Lens Practitioners. It was great to talk to people with similar interests. 

How did it feel when your name was announced as the Winner of Young CL Practitioner of the Year?

I was speechless! It was a huge shock as I wasn't expecting to win, but it was an amazing feeling to be recognised for all the hard work and ambition. 

Why would you recommend the BCLA to others?

I strongly recommend the BCLA to keep knowledge up to date. The research updates are summarised so you can quickly find out what's new. The website and social media platforms can be used to find relevant information. I recommend the BCLA events as I always leave feeling inspired and motivated, and I think it's a great opportunity to meet new people working within the industry. The BCLA is now offering a Dry Eye course - perfect for anybody wanting to broaden their skill set and knowledge! I think it is worth anybody fitting Contact Lenses to be a member of the BCLA, and I suggest that all students make use of the free student membership.