Peter Black

Peter Black (MBA, FBDO, FEAOO, PGCAP, FHEA) is a registered dispensing optician, senior lecturer and course lead for BSc (Hons) Ophthalmic Dispensing (Accelerated). He is Past President of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and a member of the General Optical Council Statutory Registration Committee and Advisory Panel and has held a variety of political positions within the UK optical sector including Chairing the Joint Optical Committee to Europe, representing the UK to the European Council of Optometry and Optics. In May 2017 he was awarded fellowship of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics for his optical political work. He is an award winning author of numerous CET articles in various optical journals including the long running Optician series Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Dispensing which are shortly to be republished in book format.

Peter’s background is from industry. After graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University in 1988 with the prize for best overall student, he spent the next 26 years at regional chain Conlons Opticians where as Development Director he had overall responsibility for continuing education and training until the business was sold in 2014.

Until 2017, he was Dispensing Standards Manager for Boots Opticians, the most senior dispensing optician in the business. He is also a non-executive Director of continuing education & training (CET) provider Orbita Black Limited which provides optical, retail and business improvement training and advice to the eyecare sector.

In 2022, he became a Trustee of Accrington and District Blind Society (which is currently being rebranded as ELVIN - East Lancashire Visual Impairment Network). Peter has won several awards for his CET articles including the 2019 Dispensing Optics Readership Prize for his series on Infection Control in Optical Practice, and the 2019 Vision UK John Thompson Memorial Award for his collaborative CET roadshow Seeing Beyond the Eyes which aims to raise awareness of visual impairment amongst eye care professionals. He writes regularly for leading industry journals including Optician, Dispensing Optics, Optometry Today, and Spectrum magazine and presents regularly at industry CPD conferences including the Association of Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and 100% Optical.

2022: FHEA – Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
2021: AFHEA – Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2019: Dispensing Optics Readership prize for CET articles Infection Control in Optical Practice
2019: Vision UK John Thompson Memorial Award for CET Roadshow Seeing Beyond the Eyes
2017: FEAOO – Fellowship European Academy of Optometry and Optics
1988: Prize for best overall student – Diploma Ophthalmic Dispensing

Authored / presented 100+ Continuing Education and Training Sessions in current CET cycle including the major UK optical conferences / exhibitions, 2 national roadshows and too many local events to mention:
100% Optical London - Frame materials discussion workshop - Feb 2020
Eyecare Glasgow - Modern Lenses Problem Solving Workshop - Jan 2020
European Council Optometry and Optics - Athens - European Standards relating to Optics - October 2019
Optrafair Birmingham - Seeing Beyond the Eyes - 12 1-hour sessions in all - April 2019
100% Optical Modern Lenses, Frame Materials and Rimless Repair Workshops - January 2019
Eyecare Glasgow - Saving Sight Supporting Sight Loss - January 2019
Royal Society of Medicine - Primary Care Update. Saving Sight, Supporting Sight Loss. September 2018
Seeing Beyond the Eyes. Saving Sight, Supporting Sight Loss. 30+ venues nationwide. April 2018 – Feb 2019
Optrafair. Infection Control in Optometric Practice. April 2018
- Specsavers MiniPAC. Paediatric Dispensing Discussion Workshop. 10 dates Mar-May 2018.
100% Optical. Modern Lenses. A Problem-Solving Workshop. February 2018
Eyecare Glasgow. Rimless Skills Workshop. January 2018
European Academy of Optometry and Optics - Barcelona. Everyday Eye Conditions Peer Discussion. May 2017

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