2025 is a landmark year for the College of Optometrists, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our journal, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO).

Throughout 2025, we’ll be celebrating this incredible milestone with a series of special blogs and upcoming events, sharing reflections on a century of scientific discovery and looking ahead to the future of vision science.

OPO’s story began in 1925 as the British Journal of Physiological Optics (BJPO). It was a modest, irregularly published journal featuring articles exclusively by UK authors. Fast-forward 100 years, and OPO has evolved into a leading, global, online-only publication, with seven issues a year showcasing research from around the world.

Yet, as the saying goes, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

I recently spent an enjoyable afternoon in the university library, perusing the first issues of BJPO. It was fascinating to see that, despite the tremendous scientific and technological progress over the past century, many of the core questions and clinical challenges remain familiar today.

Articles from the 1925 issue tackled topics that continue to spark debate and drive research today. For example:

• Sir Arthur Keith’s exploration of myopia considered whether near work affects axial elongation. This is a topic that remains hotly discussed in modern vision science.
• W.B. Barker’s advice on reading additions for near work stressed the importance of tailoring prescriptions to each patient's real working distance, rather than assuming a standard. His words — urging practitioners to consider "all the factors of the individual case" — ring just as true today, especially with the wide range of near vision demands in our increasingly digital world.
• Reviews of early ocular disease signs and discussions of treatments for conditions like conjunctivitis, glaucoma, and optic nerve tumours remind us that the foundations of clinical practice were being laid even then.
• Descriptions of tools like the Maddox Rod, stereoscope, and amblyoscope. These instruments are still integral to modern optometric practice, showing that while technology advances, some methods remain timeless.

While the roots of BJPO were firmly planted in the UK, today’s OPO is a truly global platform. In 2024 alone, OPO articles were viewed over 500,000 times worldwide, with the USA, UK, China, Australia, and India leading the way, and readership from 47 other countries not far behind.

And it’s not just the readership that's changed. A century ago, every published author was male. Today, we’re proud to have more women than men on the OPO Editorial Board, a testament to the diversity and progress within our field.

Reflecting on the past is a joy, but it’s the future that truly excites us. As OPO enters its second century, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of knowledge in vision and eyecare, serving a global population whose needs are constantly evolving.

Who knows? Perhaps in 2125, optometrists will still use tools that first appeared in the pages of BJPO, alongside technologies we can’t yet even imagine. Artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and new ways of understanding vision are reshaping the landscape — but the heart of our profession remains the same: improving sight and changing lives.

Here’s to the next 100 years of discovery, collaboration, and innovation. We can’t wait to see where the journey takes us.