Research Strategy 2020-2025

About the research strategy
The College’s Research strategy 2020-2025 sets out how the College will approach research over the next five years, in line with the four pillars of our strategic plan:

•   Defining and inspiring excellence in optometry.
•   Enabling optometrists to maximise their skills and develop their careers.
•   Representing and amplifying the expert voices of optometrists.
•   Embedding insight and evidence at the centre of the profession.

Within the strategy we set out how we will use research to meet our strategic objectives, and why research remains a key element in the College’s work as your professional body.

“The College has a long history of promoting and supporting research."

Mike Bowen, Director of Research

Delivering Evidence

Our priorities for this area of work currently include:

evidence relating to the expanding scope of practice for optometrists
evidence for new models of eye and vision care and optometry
data about the optometric workforce to inform development of and planning for future services
investigating advanced practice and CPD for the profession
gathering evidence to inform the next stages of the Educational Strategic Review.

Increasing impact

In this area our priorities are:

promoting optometric research
increasing the awareness of and access to research on the impact of optometry on ocular and visual health
sustaining and promoting Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO) position as the leading optometry research journal in the world
sharing research findings with the public
managing the profession’s knowledge effectively.

Translating for practice

We will be prioritising the following:

•   developing the College as a hub for researchers and clinicians to share ideas, and ask and answer key questions
•   creating blogs, podcasts, videos and briefings to give members access to key research findings
•   highlighting new research published in OPO in plain English summaries for non-research audiences
•   developing Optometry in Practice as an online resource.

Building capacity

Priorities for this area are:

•   involving members in research
•   increasing funding for optometric researchers
•   developing resources to support optometrists’ CPD in research skills
•   leading partnerships that allow optometrists to use and develop research skills
•   developing future leaders in the profession
•   increasing equality and accessibility in our research and in research across the sector.