Search results for 2025

From boosting children’s eye health awareness to celebrating our first OptPE affix and refreshing member learning - here’s how we shaped the profession in early 2025.

Clinical files: A patient of mine has sent a friend request and a message about an eye health issue on my personal social media account. It does not seem serious, should I respond?

What the NHS 10-Year Health Plan means for optometry in England

From shaping eye care’s future to championing road safety, AI innovation, and inclusive learning – we made an impactful start to 2025.

Clinical files: What should you do if you witness sexual harassment in clinical practice?

Independent MP – and independent optometrist – Shockat Adam talks about his first six months in Parliament and how he is bringing eye health care to the national stage.

From national policy influence, historic celebrations and new beginnings, July to September delivered impactful milestones shaping the future of eye care.

Juwaria, one of our College Student Reps, tells us how she balances her studies with her optometry job

A response from the College regarding concerns about the integrity of optometrists referring cataract patients to independent sector providers.

From celebrating new graduates to launching our five-year plan, the final months of 2025 marked a powerful step toward the future of eye care.

Clinical files: I am visiting a patient at home to perform a sight test. Despite my best efforts, I can only obtain a limited view of the posterior segment. I have dilated the patient’s eyes, and they have an intraocular lens. Because of their position and head movements, the view is not as thorough as I would normally expect. What should I do in this situation?

We explain the symptoms of hay fever and provide advice for managing symptoms for patients.

College rep Margaret gives us her best exam tips resources

Don't miss out on contributing your insights on one of the most pressing topics facing the future of our profession.

Clinical files: A young adult presents with intermittent horizontal diplopia and possible INO. Urgent referral was downgraded - what next?

The College of Optometrists has re-opened the British Optical Association Museum to visitors following a programme of renovations to the unique museum’s spaces, new acquisitions and enhancements to the museum’s displays. 

Clinical files: A longstanding patient of mine has made a personal advance by inviting me to dinner. What should I do?

By Professor Irene Ctori FCOptom, Vice-President of The College of Optometrists

Clinical files: When should you refer a patient with epiretinal membrane for surgery?

Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom, and President of The College of Optometrists, has been elected as the new chair of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC) following a vote by the members of the Council.

Clinical files: How would you go about setting up a local eye screening clinic in your community?

The College of Optometrists has announced its programme of financial support for undergraduate students, postgraduate students and members engaging in research projects in the 2025-2026 academic year is open for applications.

Clinical files: I have seen a patient in practice who I suspect has keratoconus. Do I need to refer them?

New partnerships will further expand the flagship conference’s renowned learning programme for 2026’s delegates

Clinical files: Is a 6-year-old child too young for contact lenses?

The College of Optometrists calls for urgent eye care services to be included in the local NHS long-term emergency care plans in England.

Clinical files: A patient has come into the practice and has asked to have their records deleted. I was the last optometrist to see them, can I do this?

This week, the Department of Health and Social Care published details of its confirmed NHS sight test fee and NHS domiciliary fees from 1 April 2025, continuing professional development payments for 2024, and clinical placement training payments from 1 April 2025.

Clinical files: A patient has lost their only pair of glasses. Can I make up a new pair of glasses if the prescription is expired?

College Museum closes for the summer for final refurbishments

College student rep Bhiraamy tells us what she wish she knew before starting her degree

We would like to invite you to nominate exceptional individuals for our prestigious Life and Honorary Fellowships.

Clinical files: A patient has asked me to perform another Esterman for a second opinion after the DVLA told them that their visual field result didn’t meet the driving standards. Can I do this?

The College of Optometrists has published a new online course for members to enhance their clinical expertise in myopia management.

Narthika gives us tips for staying organised and avoid getting overwhelmed

Professor Shahina Pardhan FCOptom, director of ARU’s Vision and Eye Research Institute, has received the honour for services to optometry and preventing blindness.

College rep, Artemis, gives her top strategies for optometry students

The College of Optometrists has announced a new undergraduate research grant, the Angela Bishop Undergraduate Research Scholarships for Paediatric Optometry and Binocular Vision.

Jake uses his background as a DO to explain the importance of dispensing experience for all optom students

The College welcomed 370 visitors to its historic headquarters as part of this year’s Open House London and Heritage Open Days event on Sunday 14 September.

Sujood shows us through an average day in practice as a student optometrist

New programme marks National Eye Health Week 2025 by sharing a special story about eye care with nurseries.

Student rep Nazanin gives us advice on how to thrive during your first year of optometry

The College of Optometrists has today published our new Strategic Plan 2025-2030, setting out our bold objectives for the next five years.

Katy gives us her top tips for first year students.

We have responded to the General Optical Council (GOC) consultation on regulation of optical businesses.

Our College reps give their tips for first-year optometry students

Prime Minister has set out plans to end NHS England waiting list backlogs. Under the Elective Reform Plan, millions of patients will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster.

Read College Student Rep Emma's top tips for staying organised as an optometry student.

The consultation seeks views on extending the range of medicines available to optometrists and contact lens opticians.

Emma guides us through the College's online resources that are most valuable for students.

We respond to the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into Ophthalmology Services in Wales.

The Scottish Government is seeking views on the establishment of a new national delivery organisation to lead transformation across the health and social care system.

We respond to UK Government’s proposals to regulate NHS managers in England.

We are concerned that primary eye care has been omitted as a priority opportunity in the framework.

This consultation is to agree on an approved list of eye preparations for inclusion in the Wales General Ophthalmic Services signed order formulary.

The public awareness campaign highlights the importance of childhood eye tests and features the findings of research conducted with Mumsnet users, the UK’s biggest network for parents.

As part of its 10-Year Health Plan, the government is proposing to extend the range of prescription-only medicines available for optometrists to supply under the medicines exemptions legislation.

The TRL study shows a link between the brighter modern vehicle headlights and glare.

On Tuesday 18 November, the College welcomed over 450 new optometrists to the profession in two College Diploma Ceremonies held in Westminster, London.

The College of Optometrists welcomes Healthwatch England’s recommendations to commission more optometry services within primary care to reduce hospital waiting times and improve patient outcomes.

The new NHS funding package aims to deliver an additional 20,000 cataract surgeries.

This Road Safety Week, The College of Optometrists and Association of Optometrists are urging all drivers to ensure they have regular eye tests to check their vision still meets UK driving standards.

Bright headlights are the leading reason drivers feel nervous ahead of clocks going back this year.

The College backs urgent push to improve digital record-keeping across eye care services.

We had a fantastic three days at 100% Optical 2025, connecting with optical professionals, showcasing exciting learning opportunities, and championing the role of optometrists in eye health care.

With the Diploma Ceremony taking place on 18 November 2025, we’re celebrating this special milestone with stories of your special day.

This August, a major milestone in optometry education begins as the first cohort of students start their Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placements - part of the new integrated master’s degrees introduced under the updated Education and Training Requirements.

The General Optical Council (GOC) has approved the three final projects led by the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) to support education providers’ transition to the updated education and training requirements.

The GOC is pleased to announce a three-year extension of the Knowledge Hub to support the implementation of the new Education and Training Requirements (ETR). The Hub will continue to be operated by the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) until July 2028.

The College broadly welcomes the General Optical Council’s (GOC) proposed changes to its optical business regulation framework following the regulatory body’s consultation with the sector earlier this year. 

Complete the College annual member survey by Monday 18 August and you could win one of ten £50 Amazon vouchers!

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.

We all have the opportunity to ensure the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS recognises the central role optometrists play in leading and delivering new models of care to improve patient outcomes.

The College of Optometrists has presented Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh with an Honorary Fellowship of the College in recognition of Her Royal Highness’s outstanding contribution to eye health.

The College of Optometrists has responded to the Department of Health Northern Ireland consultation on improving access to Help with Health Costs for those receiving Universal Credit.

During a busy September, the College travelled around the UK to meet excited first-year optometry students as part of its 2025 student roadshows.

We are asking the public to make eye health a priority in 2025 and provide top tips for good eye health.

Taking place between 1 and 3 March at London’s Excel, 100% Optical is now in its 11th year and attracts over 10,700 global optical professionals.

We are deeply saddened to report the death of Judy Lea MCOptom, who died on 28 March 2025 at the age of 59.

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

The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists have welcomed the move that will be the most significant shake-up of driving laws in a decade.

The Medicine & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the first licensed low-dose atropine (LDA) treatment for slowing the progression of childhood myopia.

The College’s museum and its unique collections are in the spotlight again this month, with a series of interviews and events celebrating the richness of optical history.

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

The College Library and Information Services has added new eBook editions to its collection.

The College is set to award the Optometric Practice Educator (OptPE) affix to a first group of optometrists at the AGM on Tuesday 29 April.

The College of Optometrists, Association of British Dispensing Opticians and the OSA partner in new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of children’s eye tests and better signposting for parents to children’s eye care professionals on the High Street.

The number of people with glaucoma, AMD and cataracts is set to increase over the next 10 years. This new online tool will be a critical planning resource for commissioners and providers of eye health care.

One in four over-50s has vision impairment and three quarters have some hearing loss.

The College’s Research Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate achievements in optometric research, and how they enrich the profession.

The President’s Research Medal recognises and celebrates outstanding contributions to research and recognises a lifetime's career in optometric, eye health or vision science research.

This autumn, the College is out on the road meeting members and other optical professionals at a range of employer events across the UK.

The event celebrated the past, present and future of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO).

New research shows that only 30% of kids always wear sunglasses on sunny days and more than a third of parents believe a hat or cap offers the same protection as sunglasses.

Find out what the College has been doing to influence government eye care policy across the UK.

The College, The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) and the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) back the Government’s commitment to put patients in the driving seat and give them more control and choice over their care.

Leading primary eye care organisations announce that they will help the NHS deliver its 10 Year Health Plan.

The College of Optometrists has collaborated with the RAC on its latest research into the issue of headlight glare. Under-35s, and those in conventional height vehicles, are more likely to say headlights are too bright, though three-in-10 SUV drivers still say most are.

The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists say new research shows “current vision checks aren’t keeping pace with what’s needed to keep everyone safe on the road”

The General Optical Council (GOC) has approved the third specialist qualifications output of the Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE), entitled "Enhancing the scope of practice in optical professionals".

On April 2, leading experts, policymakers, and eye healthcare professionals will come together in London for The College of Optometrists’ AI in Eye Care Summit.

Our joint response to the BBC feature on vision standards for driving and the calls made by affected families to prevent future road deaths.

The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists (AOP) have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, calling for mandatory vision checks for drivers at first licence application and at every renewal.

The College of Optometrists has appointed Chris Steele FCOptom, DCLP, DipOC, DipTp(IP), FBCLA as the new Clinical Editor of Acuity, the College’s award-winning professional development journal.

The College of Optometrists has awarded the first OptPE affix, its first-ever educational affix, to the inaugural group of optometrists who have completed the College’s enhanced training for supervisors.

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

We have issued a statement about the decision to end glaucoma and cataracts enhanced eye care services in Hampshire and Isle of Wight at the end of this month.

The College of Optometrists presented its annual Research Excellence Awards to 2025’s winners at its prestigious annual Diploma and Awards Ceremony on 18 November at Central Hall in Westminster, London.

This position statement outlines cross-sector support for safe, ethical and evidence-based adoption of AI.

Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, today announced he is bringing the management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing NHS England.

College welcomes the GOC’s thematic review on commercial practices and patient safety.

The College calls for funding for primary eye care services to be prioritised to address NHS ophthalmology backlog.

The review sets the day-to-day budgets of government departments over the next three years.

The College highlights how eye care is already well-placed to meet aims.

In our response, we have highlighted the critical role of primary eye care and the optometric workforce in delivering integrated, cost-effective NHS services.

The new framework recognises primary eye care as fundamental to NHS provision and local leadership.

We welcomed 11 new Life and Honorary Fellows and three new Fellowships by Portfolio.

The report found some patients are voluntarily avoiding essential eye care due to rising costs and insufficient financial support.

The updated guidance will support optometry professionals in maintaining and enhancing standards of patient care.

The College will open its doors to the public and members as part of the annual Open House Festival and Heritage Open Days events on Sunday 14 September.

Welsh Government agrees additional financial support for optometry services, with new research centre to be established.

The College of Optometrists has responded to General Optical Council (GOC) consultation on draft guidance on the care of patients in vulnerable circumstances and maintaining appropriate sexual boundaries.