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Abstracts from the online Women in Vision UK Annual Meeting 2022 are presented.

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

At the College, we champion optometry and the important role it plays in health care. We amplify the expert voice of optometrists and continuously strive to advance the profession.

Our aims are to ensure that optometrists' skills are constantly developed to meet new models of eye care and improve patient outcomes.

Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom on the strategic plan for 2025–30.

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.

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

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

Bookings for Optometry Tomorrow 2026 are filling fast, with many popular sessions already close to capacity. Now is the time to secure your place.

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

Olivier Denève, College Head of Policy & Public Affairs, heralds a new era in UK politics and calls for action to end the eye care crisis.

Eye care professionals are encouraged to secure their place at Optometry Tomorrow 2026 before the early bird discount closes on 17 April.

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.

Anuj Patel MCOptom discusses prevention of infectious diseases, patient pathways and the importance of communication.

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

In this recorded webinar, Jeff Hogg explores the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and what defines AI as a medical device (AIaMD).

We speak to Ruth Bennett MCOptom, the College’s Deputy Lead Assessor on the Scheme for Registration, about her “portfolio” career in optometry.

Dr David Elliott FCOptom has been named the 2026 recipient of the President’s Research Medal, The College of Optometrists’ most prestigious research award.

Podcast: This month we talk to the inspirational Professor Shahina Pardhan - the first female Professor of Optometry in the UK.

The contact lens specialist discusses his “life-changing”work and achievements in a long and distinguished career.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible sight loss in the UK and affects over one million people, which is predicted to rise by 100,000 cases to 1.145 million people by 2030*.

Podcast: College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to Rebekah Stevens, Lead Assessor at the College, about what true equity should mean for women.

College-accredited higher qualifications reflect the evolving reality of day-to-day clinical optometry practice. They prepare optometrists for enhanced roles and expanded responsibilities.

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.

Podcast: College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to the President and Vice President of the College about their journeys to leadership.

Denise Voon MCOptom, Clinical Adviser for the College, on what to do when we lack confidence in our own abilities.

Voting opens on 25 January for The College of Optometrists' Council election.

The College of Optometrists led stakeholders from across the sector to undertake a survey of the optical workforce.

Whether you are a locum or you want to employ one, Kellie Smith shares advice to help shifts run smoothly and ensure patients get consistent care.

Becoming a College Council member is a great opportunity to represent your colleagues, promote your profession and help shape the future of optometry.

The GOC outcomes and competencies that qualify all optometrists to deliver MECS and CUES.

The need for optometrists to write a business case is rising. Helen Bird finds out why, and how to write one effectively.

The NICER study has led to the creation of a new digital health app, which helps predict the likelihood of myopia.

Where optometry professionals come together for practical learning, CPD and fresh insight.

In each issue, Acuity poses a topical question to a panel of members.

The College of Optometrists has joined senior leaders from the NHS, social care and the charity sectors, to unveil a new UK-wide Eye Care Support Pathway.

In this session, we will explore how to expand your scope of practice as an optometrist.

Job titles and hierarchy no longer tell the story of leadership in a business environment. As Kaye McIntosh explains, in optometry a leader needs to be able to do more than simply excel at the technical side.

The College of Optometrists has launched a new suite of assessor affixes to recognise the expertise, commitment and professional judgement of College assessors and the vital role they play in developing the optometry workforce.

Podcast: College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Dr Parth Shah MCOptom, optometrist and sports vision consultant to a Premier League football club, about his career at the intersection of optometry and sport.

Chris Steele FCOptom, Clinical Editor of Acuity, on why optometry is not standing still.

The College of Optometrists has launched a new vision which sets out its ambitions for the future of the profession, and its plans to put the optometric workforce at the forefront of eye care provision, education and research.

Standards and guidance for non-medical eye healthcare professionals to deliver patient care in a multidisciplinary team setting.

Three optometrists talk about the skills and experience needed to become an effective supervisor.

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

The College of Optometrists is leading a sector-wide and UK-wide, multi-professional eye care workforce supply and demand data modelling project.

A message from Leon Davies, College President

College Clinical Adviser gives evidence to the House of Lords Integration of Primary and Community Care Committee.

Podcast: Dr Jeffry Hogg answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during his webinar on AI and optometry.

Kathy Oxtoby looks at the role of the Physician Associate – and why one might be contacting an optometrist soon.

The College has offered support in addressing some of the key challenges the NHS faces in delivering eye care services.

Podcast: College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, and Shockat Adam, Independent MP for Leicester South, about their work in Parliament advocating for eye care professionals.

If passed, the measures mooted in the government’s consultation to extend medicines for optometrists and contact lens opticians could be the biggest change to scope of practice in decades. What could practice look like if the proposals are enacted?

College President Professor Leon Davies FCOptom represented the College at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual Impairment this week.

Dr Gillian Rudduck MCOptom marks the launch of the UK Eye Care Data Hub.

The aim of this consultation is to deliver a regulatory health and care system that is responsive, flexible, and resilient.

Chris Steele FCOptom, Clinical Editor of Acuity, looks at the brink of a major medical shift.

We have responded the General Optical Council (GOC) consultation proposing to reform optometrists' Continuing Professional Development into a flexible, less prescriptive system.

A message from Leon Davies, College President

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.

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.

Shadow Health Minister, Karin Smyth MP, has outlined Labour’s plans to support improved eye care services.

We meet Sosena Tang MCOptom, whose diverse career currently includes roles with the NHS, RNIB, private practice and the College.

We welcome the publication of the House of Lords Committee inquiry report on integrating primary and community care and are pleased to see that the Committee has accepted our main recommendations.

How women are taking the lead In optometry and changing the face of the profession.

The government has progressed its commitment to moving more care from hospitals to communities.

Optometrists have evolved from prescribers of spectacles to crucial primary care providers, writes Becky McCall.

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

In the third part of our series on ageing, Anna Scott discovers how older populations with poor eye health affect supply and demand in the optometry profession.

The College of Optometrists issues statement regarding the government announcement that the Physician Associate (PA) role is to be regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC).

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

The main purpose of the bill is to abolish NHS England and centralise its services, creating single patient records where patient health information is available in one place.

A message from Leon Davies, College President

The College joined the biggest national conversation about the NHS in England in order to keep eye health high on the agenda.

In a profession that continues to evolve at pace, staying confident, connected, and clinically sharp has never been more important.

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.

We speak to Dr Aleksandra Mankowska MCOptom, Lecturer at the Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science, College Treasurer and Council member, about delivering eye care services to those who need them most.

The College has offered its congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party on their success in the General Election and on forming the next UK government.

Becky McCall asks how shifts in working practices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic might change the ophthalmic services workforce.

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

In this guest column, Kevin Gutsell, President of ABDO, reflects on how closely aligned the professions have become – and must continue to be – as the eye care landscape evolves.

The event, one of the highlights of the College’s annual calendar, took place at Central Hall, Westminster on Tuesday 7 November.

The College held two Diploma Ceremonies at Central Hall, Westminster on Tuesday 12 November.

Today the Prime Minister has responded to the Darzi Review - a rapid review to diagnose the problems in the NHS which sets out themes for the Government to incorporate into their 10-year plan for reforming the NHS in England.

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 NHS Long Term Workforce Plan recognises the knowledge and skills of eye care providers in alleviating the pressures in the eye care service.

The purpose of this survey is to establish Council's views on the principal issues raised by the GOC consultation on proposed changes to its statement on testing of sight and supervision and delegation standards. These views will be used to inform the College's consultation response.

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.

With just four weeks to go, now is the time to secure your place at Optometry Tomorrow 2026. The College of Optometrists' flagship conference takes place on 14 and 15 June at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

The General Optical Council (GOC) has presented a draft response to its call for evidence on the need for change to the Opticians Act (1989) and the consultation on associated GOC policies to its Council.

We know how busy things can get, and you may not have had the chance to book your place before the original early bird deadline.

The GOC is consulting on an update to its 2013 Statement on the testing of sight, alongside proposed changes to the Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians and the Standards for Optical Students.

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 Westminster government has launched a consultation on its 10 Year Health Plan to fix the NHS in England.

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.

Eye care professionals from across the UK came together in Harrogate on 14 and 15 June for Optometry Tomorrow 2026, The College of Optometrists’ flagship conference.

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 looking to commission a suitable organisation or individual to conduct a sector-wide and UK-wide, multi-professional eye care workforce supply and demand data modelling project.

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.

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

This week, The College of Optometrists formally presented Marsha de Cordova MP with an Honorary Fellowship at the College’s headquarters in London.

This July, The College of Optometrists will welcome more than 500 optometry students across the UK to their Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) roles, marking the largest intake yet into the profession’s new integrated work-based learning programme.

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

New members appointed to the Board of Trustees and Council.

The Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE) has secured funding from the Central Optical Fund. This is to expand its work with a new 18-month project to inspire an early interest in careers in eye care among primary and secondary school pupils.

Primary eye care organisations have welcomed the publication of NHS England's Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Best Practice Guidance for Glaucoma Services.

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.

A new standard clinical specification for community minor and urgent eye care, which aims to assure, support and enhance access to minor and urgent eye care locally across England, has been published today.

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.

The College of Optometrists is inviting members and non-members to nominate outstanding researchers for the annual Research Excellence Awards in recognition of those making a significant contribution to optometric research and the future of the profession.

David O'Sullivan MCOptom, the Welsh Government's Chief Optometric Adviser, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) ‘for services to eye care in Wales’.

Joint response calls for public protection, clarity and evidence to be central to new system.

Our vision for better integrated eye care services

The College of Optometrists and BCLA (British Contact Lens Association) welcomed around 900 attendees at Optometry Tomorrow 24 - now incorporating BCLA Focus on 28-29 April.

Secure your place today and take advantage of the early bird discount for the best value tickets.

The College of Optometrists has awarded three new Life Fellowships and two new Honorary Fellowships in 2023 to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the profession or to the College.

In 2026, the CLiP programme expands across UK universities, embedding supervised clinical training into optometry degrees.

The General Optical Council (GOC) regulates optometrists and dispensing opticians, and some eye care practices. It sets standards for their performance and conduct. The GOC is consulting on proposed changes to the way NHS sight tests can be delivered.

Becoming a College Council member is a great opportunity to represent your colleagues, promote your profession, and help shape the future of optometry.

Becoming a College Council member is a great opportunity to represent your colleagues, promote your profession, contribute to the diversity of the College, and help shape the future of optometry.

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".

Coinciding with National Eye Health Week this year, Party Conference season is an opportunity to raise the profile of eye health with MPs and ministers.

The College of Optometrists has partnered with Boots Opticians to launch a new fully funded PhD Scholarship to extend the profession's investment in the next generation of optometry researchers.

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.

Expanded Optometry Tomorrow 2024 offers a bumper weekend of lectures and hands-on workshops for eye care professionals.

Taking place between 24–26 February at London’s Excel, 100% Optical is now in its 10th year and attracts over 10,000 global optical professionals.

The College of Optometrists used this year’s major political party conferences to promote key messages about optometry and eye health to MPs and ministers, aligning discussions with the NHS 10-year health plan.

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.

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 College of Optometrists has published updated learning outcomes for the three glaucoma higher qualifications it accredits: the Professional Certificate in Glaucoma, the Higher Certificate in Glaucoma, and the Professional Diploma in Glaucoma.

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

The College of Optometrists has announced its partnering with Primary Health Net as the media partner for June’s Optometry Tomorrow 2026.

The College of Optometrists presented the annual Research Excellence Awards to 2024’s winners at its prestigious annual Diploma and Awards Ceremony on 12 November, held at Central Hall in Westminster, London.

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 College awarded new Fellowships at the annual Diploma Ceremonies in Westminster in November 2024

This year’s Optometry Tomorrow programme is designed to help you grow the skills that make the biggest difference in practice.

The UK Eye Care Data Hub, the most up-to-date and comprehensive model of the UK’s eye care workforce and eye diseases in one place, has been expanded to almost double the number of eye conditions and update aspects of the sector workforce data.

From 1 July 2026, supervision arrangements on the Scheme for Registration will align with the model already used in Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP).

Join the College at 100% Optical where we will be showcasing new learning opportunities, promoting the role of optometrists, and offering membership guidance.

Patients will be paid £20 per session and all travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The elected candidate in your region will represent you on the Council for the next three years.

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

The College has updated its Privacy and cookies policy to reflect recent changes in data protection legislation. This includes the UK General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which came into force earlier this year.

The College of Optometrists has submitted written evidence to the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee with our views on the Welsh Government's priorities for health and social care.

The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan is a crucial chance to expand and strengthen primary eye care by cutting hospital pressure and tackling inequalities in access across England.