This position statement outlines cross-sector support for safe, ethical and evidence-based adoption of AI.
Shaping eye care: Leading the clinical development of new models of optometric care
The College ensures that optometrists play a central role in defining and leading change across new models of care.
We want to ensure that:
- optometrists are at the heart of new models of eye care introduced across the UK
- new models of care are based on our clinical guidelines and good practice
- new technology developments benefit shared and enhanced care pathways and are developed to good and consistent standards
The College will achieve this by:
- supporting optometrists in providing more enhanced and shared eye care services
- working with national health services and governments across the UK to ensure that:
- clinical pathways, guidance and standards are based on College guidance and clinical advice
- the value of optometrist-led services is recognised
- maximise the positive impact of innovation and technology for patients
Advancing optometry: Optimising the optometry workforce and increasing its recognition
We want to ensure that:
- eye service commissioners have access to high quality, up-to-date information on the UK nations’ eye care workforce to better respond to their populations’ needs
- optometrists are increasingly recognised as first contact healthcare practitioners in all four UK nations
The College will achieve this by:
- implementing its vision for the optometric workforce:
- we champion optometrists as first contact practitioners who can manage and treat more patients in primary care
- leading a multi-professional eye care workforce supply and demand data modelling project, called the UK Eye Care Data Hub
- we enable optometrists to contribute to the education of the next generation through supervision and mentoring schemes
- we encourage the role of optometrists in taking the lead in clinical research
Ensuring excellence: Providing optometrists with up-to-date, evidence-based guidance and clinical advice
We want to ensure that:
- optometrists have the tools and expert advice:
- to maintain good patient safety and outcomes
- to safely expand their scope of practice
- to adopt new or evolving models of eye care
- our guidance continues to be the main reference for national optometric policies and guidance across the UK
The College will achieve this by:
- continuing to produce, review and update national and UK-wide guidance to support optometrists with the safe delivery of primary eye care:
- we regularly review and update the Guidance for Professional Practice (GfPP)
- we review and update our Clinical Management Guidelines (CMGs)
- we develop additional guidance to support optometrists to adopt new or evolving models of eye care, new services delivery, and new practice developments
- we develop joint guidance with partners, such as the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and ABDO, to encourage more integrated eye care services across the whole sector
- we work with partners, such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, to support optometrists who are seeking to expand their scope of practice
- working with governments and national optometric advisers to inform policies and clinical guidance in all four UK nations
Championing the role and expertise of optometrists
We want to ensure that:
- eye health stays high on the agenda of governments and health services in all four UK nations
- optometrists continue to be valued and recognised as a key healthcare profession
- optometrists' contribution to improving eye health across the four UK nations is recognised
The College will achieve this by:
- responding to consultations and inquiries from governments, regulators and healthcare bodies on behalf of the profession
- advising governments and members of national parliaments on key optical topics
- representing the optometry profession and influencing activities and groups that shape the future of the profession across the UK
- raising awareness of the role of optometrists and the importance of good eye health