Lessons from the past to aid future legislature

The BCLA held its biennial International Clinical Conference in Manchester, UK, between 9 and 11 June. Current topics such as eye disease, myopia control, orthokeratology, scleral contact lenses, contact lens materials were included, plus many other topics that would help delegates deliver improved contact lens care. There was also a series of talks on therapeutics aimed at those practitioners who have independent prescribers’ rights. I was asked to start this session of the conference with a general talk on the topic of ‘Global models of eyecare and regulation trends’ highlighting the importance of legislature to allow the growth of eyecare professions.