Conference Preview: OOC 2025

Leading us into July this year will be the 108th Oxford Ophthalmological Congress (OOC), the longest-standing congress dedicated to ophthalmology in the UK. This year, the OOC has attracted the largest number of abstracts it has ever seen in its...

Blind Inverclyde woman finds her voice

Claire Forde (29) from Greenock is no stranger to a microphone. Her journey into public speaking took a major step forward this year when she joined a newly launched Speakers Club, created to improve the confidence and communication skills of...

Patients “didn’t realise they had choice in receiving care,” finds new report on patient choice in elective eyecare

The current system of elective care is struggling to inform patients of their rights to choose healthcare providers and procedures, and offering little information or support when decisions need to be made, according to a new report. The report, Patient...

RNIB appoints Sir Jim Harra as new Vice Chair

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has appointed Sir Jim Harra to take up the roles of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Jim was previously a Permanent...

ABDO updates Level 2 Child Safeguarding with Ofqual accreditation

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has launched an updated ABDO CPD Child Safeguarding Level 2 course this month, accredited by Ofqual. The qualification is designed to enhance professionals’ understanding and implementation of child safeguarding practices within the optical...

ABDO awards presented at graduation and prize giving ceremony

The president of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), Kevin Gutsell, presented six special awards at the Association's recent graduation and prize giving ceremony held at Canterbury Cathedral. ABDO Life Membership was awarded to Fiona Anderson, SMC (Tech), BSc...

More Than Just a Call: RNIB’s Talk and Support Groups combatting loneliness

Every Thursday at 11am, something quietly powerful happens across Scotland. Phones ring, voices chime in, and a group of blind and partially sighted people connect for an hour that’s full of laughter and real talk. It’s an RNIB Talk and...

Study flags evidence gaps in AI eye imaging devices approved for patient care

Uneven evidence and poor data transparency revealed in review of AI as a medical device. A review of regulator-approved medical AI models in eye care has found that they vary widely in providing evidence for clinical performance and lacked transparency...

Blind Edinburgh man named Young Volunteer of the Year

Daryl Stewart (23), a long-standing volunteer with sight loss charity RNIB Scotland, has been awarded the Special Recognition Award for Young Volunteer of the Year at the 2025 Inspiring Volunteer Awards, run by Volunteer Edinburgh. The award ceremony, which took...

Blind Aberdeenshire man stresses importance of volunteering

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, RNIB Scotland is proud to tell the story of one of our longstanding volunteers and community members, Bruce Christie (59). Bruce, who is from Westhill, was diagnosed with keratoconus in 2003, along with other minor...

St John & St Elizabeth Hospital launches paediatric day surgery

St John & St Elizabeth Hospital has launched a new children and young people’s elective day surgery service for children aged three and above, increasing access to high-quality paediatric care in London. The service provides elective day surgery with procedures...

Scope Eyecare joins ABDO National Resource Centre as a new gold digital sponsor

The ABDO National Resource Centre (NRC) based in Birmingham has secured a new gold digital sponsor in Scope Eyecare. Scope Eyecare a leading healthcare and pharmaceuticals company specialising in ophthalmic and general health solutions, is proud to announce its sponsorship...