We believe optometrists should be at the heart of patient-centred eye care in the UK, making full use of their skills, being given opportunities to develop new skills, and playing a central role in leading and delivering new models of care to improve patient outcomes. 

A workforce vision: Background

Our vision sets out how we will ensure that optometrists remain at the forefront of eye care provision.

A workforce vision: One year on

We launched our workforce vision for the UK in August 2022, here’s what we have achieved since.

A workforce vision: Two years on

Our workforce vision sets out to keep optometrists at the forefront of eye care provision, and continue to be valued and recognised as key healthcare professionals.

In the news

Healthcare reforms must include wider use of primary eye care, optical leaders urge UK government

The College of Optometrists and the Optical Fees Negotiating Committee (OFNC) call on the government to make a long-term commitment to primary eye care in its NHS 10-Year Health Plan as part of the shift from hospital to community.

Lack of funding threatens commissioning of urgent care eye services in England

The College of Optometrists calls for vital community minor and urgent eye care services to be universally commissioned in England

The College celebrates 100 years of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO)

The College partners with Springer Nature to take OPO into its second century.

New College Council members announced at College AGM

The College welcomed two new Council members at its AGM, held in Birmingham on Tuesday 29 April 2025.