A message from Leon Davies, College President

The clinical figures that count.

Eye health issues that are making the news.

A glance at what’s happening in the world of technology.

The College’s Clinical Editor, Jane Veys MCOptom, on the benefits and limitations of artificial intelligence.

Once it’s known you are a health professional, people may ask you for advice. Kaye McIntosh asks if it is ever appropriate to discuss clinical problems outside the consulting room.

Rebekah Stevens MCOptom, the College’s Lead Assessor, explains how her career in academia has prepared her for the challenge of guiding and supporting pre-registration optometrists.

Often presenting as eyelid-based lesions, basal cell carcinoma has a good prognosis – but can pose a high risk to the eyes and surrounding tissues if left untreated. Optometrists are well placed to help with early detection and referral, Helen Bird learns.

Scott Mackie FCOptom is an independent prescribing optometrist working in primary care. He discusses how to discriminate between a red eye that can be managed and one that has to be referred.

Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom on how artificial intelligence will reshape the role of optometrists and ophthalmologists –but not take away their jobs.

In the final part of our series on ageing, Adrian O’Dowd looks at how technology will play a vital role in eye care for older people.

Christian talks about the challenges and rewards of volunteering, and why he chose to go into the sector.