26 November 2025

Museum takes centre stage in new podcast and upcoming events

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.

A recent episode of The Optical Journal Podcast gives listeners an audio tour of the British Optical Association Museum. In conversation with presenter Daniel Feldman, our museum curator, Dr Neil Handley, shares fascinating insights about rare eyewear, remarkable objects, celebrity pieces and global collections – with a few unexpected ghost stories along the way. For anyone interested in the evolution of eye care or curious about what makes the museum such an important part of the profession, it’s well worth a listen.

Filming at the British Optical Association Museum

The museum also played host to filming for The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers’ Eye-to-Eye event this week. The recording took place across the museum’s two display rooms and is scheduled to be shown to members of the Company in January. 

Museum tours

In addition, the College is welcoming the General Optical Council, Orbis and the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) for meetings at our central London offices over the coming weeks, each followed by a private guided tour of the museum led by Dr Handley.

Members and organisations interested in booking a museum tour are invited to contact: museum@college-optometrists.org 

Related further reading

Prosthetic eyes are crucial for monocular patients – practically, for supporting facial tissue, and psychologically, for giving them confidence to face the world, writes Kaye McIntosh.

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

For thousands of years people have tried to cover missing eyes. Kaye McIntosh delves into the fascinating story of the artificial eye.