News
College announces official partners for Optometry Tomorrow 2026
New partnerships will further expand the flagship conference’s renowned learning programme for 2026’s delegates. The College of Optometrists has today announced that the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Ophthalmologists will be its...
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh awarded Honorary Fellowship of The College of Optometrists for her outstanding contribution to eye health
The College of Optometrists has presented Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh with an Honorary Fellowship of the College in recognition of Her Royal Highness’s outstanding contribution to eye health. The Duchess is passionate about preventing avoidable sight loss...
New UK study finds widespread hidden sensory loss
One in four over-50s has vision impairment and three quarters have some hearing loss. Groundbreaking research involving eye tests and hearing examinations with more than 500 over-50’s – the first of its kind in the UK – has revealed widespread...
British Optical Association Museum re-opens with new collections and enhanced visitor experience
Book a guided tour with the College Museum’s expert Curator The College of Optometrists has re-opened the British Optical Association Museum to visitors following a programme of renovations to the unique museum’s spaces, new acquisitions and enhancements to the museum’s...
Conference Report: RCOphth 2025
This year’s Royal College of Ophthalmologists Annual Congress in Liverpool brought together eyecare professionals from across the country and beyond for four days of thought-provoking content, collaborative discussion and exciting glimpses into the future of ophthalmology. The opening day was...
College of Optometrists calls for vital community minor and urgent eyecare services to be universally commissioned in England
Lack of funding threatens commissioning of urgent care eye services in England. The College of Optometrists calls for vital community minor and urgent eye care services to be universally commissioned in England. As demand for eye care in England continues...
The College of Optometrists’ prestigious Research Excellence Awards 2025 are open for public nominations
The College of Optometrists has opened submissions for its annual Research Excellence Awards, which recognise and celebrate inspirational individuals who are making a significant contribution to the evidence base that underpins good practice, now and in the future. The College...
PREVIEW: RCOphth Annual Congress 2025 #EyeConUK
That time of year is coming around again and the ophthalmic community are ironing their ties and polishing their shoes ready for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Annual #EyeConUK Congress 2025, taking place at the ACC, Liverpool, between 19–22 May....
The College of Optometrists welcomes Healthwatch England's primary eye care report recommendations
The College of Optometrists welcomes Healthwatch England’s recommendations to commission more optometry services within primary care to reduce hospital waiting times and improve patient outcomes Professor Irene Ctori FCOptom, Vice-President of The College of Optometrists, commented: “Healthwatch England’s new report...
The College of Optometrists appoints Chris Steele FCOptom as Clinical Editor of Acuity
The College of Optometrists has appointed Chris Steele FCOptom, DCLP, DipOC, DipTp(IP), FBCLA as the new Clinical Editor of Acuity, the College’s award-winning professional development journal. Chris joins Acuity from his role as Consultant Hospital Optometrist and Head of Optometry...
The College calls for funding for primary eye care services to be prioritised to address NHS ophthalmology backlog
The College of Optometrists has welcomed the extra funding promised for NHS England as a necessary step forward to help reduce waiting lists but calls on the government to prioritise funding towards primary eye care services to help tackle the...
RCOphth 2024 Report
A comprehensive tapestry of all our RCOphth Annual Congress content captured between 20–23 May 2024.


