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OT dives into a key topic in the education programme at 100% Optical 2026. This week: Dr Pretty Basra on mental fitness and leadership, Neil Retallic on practical wellbeing strategies, and Dr Lindsay Rountree on a Women in Vision UK panel
Kimberley Young
23 December 2025
The show, held at Excel London from 28 February–2 March, will feature a comprehensive programme of education for optical professionals to enhance their knowledge, consolidate skills, and discover evolving areas of research.
OT has highlighted a handful of sessions exploring the topic of practitioner wellbeing, leadership, and professional development.
The Dispensing Workshop will welcome a panel from Women in Vision UK on 28 February.
Women in Vision UK members will share the lessons they have learned along their career journeys.
Dr Lindsay Rountree, assistant professor at the University of Bradford, will chair the session. Speaking of the dispensing workshop, she said: “The Women in Vision UK session offers something a bit different, taking the form of an ‘armchair discussion.’ We will be talking with three optometrists and one dispensing optician who have each taken different career paths ‘beyond the test room.’ From practice ownership to working in research, these four women will share their stories, exploring the decisions that led to their current roles, and the lessons learned along the way.”
“Attendees will have the opportunity to ask their own questions as well, so if you’re thinking of taking a different direction in your career this might be a good way to explore some of your options,” Rountree added.
Dr Pretty Basra, optometrist and CEO of the Mental Fitness Academy, will lead two talks at 100% Optical focused on personal development. She told OT: “I’m passionate about developing the person behind the profession.”
Basra will present a talk on the 100% Catwalk on 28 February at 2pm, on Why the future of optics depends on mental fitness.
She said: “The next frontier of professional success isn’t clinical, it’s cognitive. I want delegates to experience how neuroscience and emotional intelligence can reshape the way we lead, perform, and connect.”
On 1 March in the Optical Academy at 4.45pm, Basra will lead a lecture and discussion workshop sharing leadership and mindset strategies.
Basra said: “Both sessions explore what it truly means to develop the person behind the profession. My goal is for every attendee to leave not just inspired, but mentally equipped to lead with clarity, resilience, and confidence in a changing optical landscape.”
Neil Retallic, optometrist and head of optometry development at Specsavers, will host a peer review on practitioner wellbeing.
Retallic told OT: “Recognising and proactively managing work-related challenges such as stress is essential, as mental health issues are among the leading causes of ill health in the UK. In optometry, we often prioritise patient care over our own well-being, yet balancing both is vital.”
In optometry, we often prioritise patient care over our own well-being, yet balancing both is vital
“This session offers valuable time to reflect and explore practical, evidence-based strategies tailored to the profession, helping delegates manage everyday stressors and maintain mental well-being in their working lives.
Visit the education programme to find more sessions dedicated to this topic, and more.
Click here to register for 100% Optical now.
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