Scottish optometrist leads way in therapeutics.

Edinburgh optometrist David Crystal has become the
first practitioner in Scotland to be awarded a post
graduate Higher Qualification Diploma in Ocular Therapeutics.

Mr.Crystal, who specialises in dry eye problems at his
Edinburgh practice, spent three years achieving the diploma which included attending courses at London's City University.

The qualification involved sitting additional examinations,
presenting case records and case studies with specific
and general pathology by viva to an ophthalmologist.
Mr. Crystal becomes the first practitioner in Scotland to
be able to use Dip.Tp after his name.

Mr. Crystal hopes the qualification will put him in the
forefront of primary eye care when the rules on
independent prescribing for optometrists are changed.

He said the real benefit of the qualification would come
only when prescribing rights were changed. "Patients
definitely will benefit from care at the point of need...
its why I took the qualification," he said.