Hundreds gather in Harrogate for successful Optometry Tomorrow 2026

Delivered in partnership with the the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), the two-day event brought together optometrists, dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, ophthalmic nurses, ophthalmologists, practice owners and the wider eye care community to learn, connect and grow. 

The conference featured a number of high-profile speakers, including the Wonder Women of Eye Care panel chaired by Dr Cindy Tromans, President of the World Council of Optometry with contributions from Dame Mary Perkins DBE, co-founder of Specsavers, and Shockat Adam MP sharing his insights and experiences in the eye care careers panel session. Delegates also heard from keynote speaker Darren Harris, double Paralympian and England's most decorated blind footballer, who shared his inspiring personal and professional journey. 

Across the weekend, delegates had access to more than 50 educational sessions and over 90 CPD points, enabling them to make significant progress towards their CPD requirements while gaining practical knowledge and skills they can apply directly in practice.  

A key theme throughout Optometry Tomorrow 2026 was multidisciplinary collaboration. Through the College's partnerships with ABDO, the RCN and RCOphth, delegates explored how professionals across the eye care pathway can work together to improve patient outcomes and meet the growing demand for eye care services.