In the late 19th and early 20th centuries increasing numbers of opticians began to specialise in sight-testing and the identification of ocular disease. Their numbers were sufficient to form several rival professional bodies, of which the British Optical Association (BOA) was the first and always the largest. The BOA campaigned successfully to obtain State regulation of the profession, resulting in the Opticians Act of 1958. This accelerated a period of organisational consolidation, culminating in 1980 when the BOA formally amalgamated with its two remaining competitors, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers and the Scottish Association of Opticians.
1895: The British Optical Association (BOA), the world’s first professional body for ophthalmic optics, was founded in Rochdale, Lancashire. Council meetings were held in London at the practice of John Browning on the Strand. As number one in the membership register he may be considered the world’s first professional optometrist
1896: Formal qualifying examinations were introduced. The BOA approved training courses, mostly in technical colleges, and offered a professional affix and a journal, the Dioptric Review
In the early 20th century the BOA also established a library and a museum, spawned a network of local associations and developed the ‘BOA House’ as a practical and symbolic headquarters for the profession
1898: As part of its ‘Great Awakening’, The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) the historic City Livery Company in London, instituted a rival qualifying examination. In practice, many trainees sat the exams of both boards. The WCSM also supported classes in technical optics at the Northampton Institute in London
Alternative qualifications were offered by the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG, from around 1904), the Institute of Chemist-Opticians (ICO, 1905) and the National Association of Opticians (NAO, 1910) based in Liverpool
1914: The BOA offered its headquarters to the War Office and, from 1915-1919, established and ran the Army Spectacle Depot, one permanent legacy of which was the National Artificial Eye Service
1922: The Scottish Association of Opticians (SAO), was formed in Glasgow. It offered its own qualifications by the 1930s
1923: The BOA series of Foundation Lectures began
1925: The BOA began publishing a clinical research journal, the British Journal of Physiological Optics (BJPO). It also hosted a series of international congresses prior to the Second World War
1927: The International Optical League was established at the BOA Oxford Congress
1946: A separate Association of Optical Practitioners (AOP) was established to represent the political interests of the profession. Although in its early days the AOP shared premises and personnel with the BOA, ultimately this reform allowed the qualifying associations to concentrate on their role of serving the public through promoting the highest standards of education, qualification and research
1948: The advent of the National Health Service accelerated a process of organisational consolidation
1955: The BOA took over the NAO. Mr George Giles, Secretary of the BOA and AOP was awarded the OBE for his services to the profession
1958: The Opticians Act in 1958 protected occupational titles for ophthalmic and dispensing opticians and outlawed unqualified practice
1962: The BOA took over the Institute of Optical Science (IOSc), ending the separate representation of pharmacist-opticians
Training moved into the new universities, leading to the first full degrees in optics in the mid-1960s. By the 1970s there was a Joint Examining Board (JEB) for the BOA, WCSM and SAO
1978-1979: Negotiations for unification were held and the outcome approved by referendum of the members of each remaining professional body. The BOA agreed to hand over its headquarters building, library, museum, Benevolent Fund and British Journal of Physiological Optics, as well as the secretariat of the International Optometric and Optical League. Although continuing in existence, The WCSM relinquished any separate role in professional qualifications for optometry
1980: The British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) was established on 30 March. More than 5,600 professionals became Foundation Fellows in its first year. Subsequent new entrants to the profession were admitted on passing the College’s Post-Qualification Examination (PQE)
1981: The College was granted armorial bearings by the College of Arms and was registered as a charity
1981: The College produced Guidelines for Professional Conduct - enabling optometrists to meet the GOC’s standards and deliver highest quality eye care
1982: The College established its research fund - more than £5 million has been provided to support work that contributes to the public benefit
1987: The College changed its name to The British College of Optometrists
1989: The College took on the management of Docet, now funded by the four UK Departments of Health, providing free, high quality CPD for all optometrists
1995: The College ran the CPD pilot scheme for the profession. Our learning hub and events now offer around 400 CPD points each year
1995: The College was granted Royal Charter status by Queen Elizabeth II - reflecting our standing as the professional body for optometry and recognition of the MCOptom and FCOptom affixes. It shortened its name to The College of Optometrists
1995: The College provided the World Council of Optometry (WCO) with a home for its first year and hosted an international congress
1996: The College launched its first ever website
1997: The College moved to its present offices, in Craven Street, London
2015: The College publishes PrOVIDe report on its NIHR funded research into the prevalence of vision problems in people with dementia, to better inform detection and management of conditions for patients
2018: The College launches its exclusive member app - providing instant access to essential information for practising optometrists
2020: From 2020 to 2022, the College produces evidence-based guidance for safely adapting optometric practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. This became the definitive reference for the profession, and was used to inform national guidance for the health services in all four UK nations
2025: Working in partnership, the College launches the UK Eye Care Data Hub predicting the prevalence of eye conditions around the UK and the workforce in each area to meet patient needs
1895-1900: John Browning 1901-1902: Samuel Cowan 1903-1905: Matthew W. Dunscombe 1906: John Allan 1907-1908: Alfred W. Oxbrow 1909: Robert Sutcliffe 1910-1911: Alexander Cowan 1912: Samuel P. Leighton 1913: George W. Milner 1914: R. Smith Moles 1915-1920: Samuel Cowan (Junior) 1921: William E. Charnley 1922: A. Saville Taylor 1923-1927: William B. Barker 1927: F. Gordon Huntley 1928: Eubulus Williams 1929: David Cowan 1930: John Harwood 1931: Dyson Beaumont 1932: Robert A. Rider 1933-1934: L.E.E. Durran 1935: Douglas Wallwork 1936-1937: O.W. Dunscombe 1938: Ernest Aves 1939-1943: F.H. Willis 1944: H. Courlander 1945-1947: A.J. Saville Taylor 1947: A.W. Oxbrow 1947-1949: L.F.D. Trainer 1949-1951: H.B. Marton
1995-1996: D.A. Barnes 1996-1997: J.D. Alexander 1997-1998: I.M. Anderson 1998-2000: Miss G.J. Morgan 2000-2002: R.H.R. Broughton 2002-2004: F.A. Munro 2004-2006: D.C. Cartwright 2006-2008: K.P. Lewis 2008-2010: Dr R.E. Hogan 2010-2012: Dr C. Tromans 2012-2014: Dr K.K. Chauhan 2014-2016: D.J. Parkins 2016-2018: Dr M.A. Sherratt 2018-2020: Dr E.A.H. Mallen 2020-2022: C. Davidson 2022-2024: Prof. L.N. Davies 2024: Dr G.A. Rudduck
