News
ABDO graduation and prize-giving ceremony
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) celebrated the graduation of dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians at Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday 12 May. The annual ceremony is a time-honoured tradition where graduands approach the dais one by one to...
The 2026 #AspireOphth Competition
One winning entry will be picked during our time at Congress and the winner will receive a copy of Sohaib Rufai’s essential textbook, MCQs for FRCOphth Part 1 (2022), which features 450 MCQs spread evenly across five sections, with detailed...
SightCare celebrates excellence at 2026 national optical awards
Independent practices from across the UK recognised for outstanding patient care, innovation and community impact at SightCare LIVE. SightCare has recognised the very best in independent optometry at its 2026 national awards, held as part of SightCare LIVE at Edgbaston...
Glaucoma UK names 2026 Excellence in Glaucoma Care Award winners
Glaucoma UK is delighted to announce the winners of its 2026 Excellence in Glaucoma Care Awards, recognising outstanding individuals and teams who are transforming glaucoma care for patients across the UK. Individual Excellence in Glaucoma Care Award (joint winners) Mr...
Glaucoma UK Fellow receives international research award
Dr Giovanni Montesano, the Glaucoma UK Pitts Crick Fellow, has been awarded an ARVO Foundation Early Career Clinician-Scientist Research Award in recognition of his outstanding work in vision research. The award celebrates early career clinician-scientists whose research is shaping the...
SightCare Awards 2026 – shortlisted practices revealed
SightCare is delighted to announce the shortlisted practices for the SightCare Awards 2026, celebrating excellence, innovation and impact across the independent optical sector. The awards will take place as part of SightCare LIVE 2026, with a glittering black-tie gala dinner...
College welcomes over 450 new optometrists to the profession at the 2025 Diploma Ceremony
On Tuesday 18 November, the College welcomed over 450 new optometrists to the profession in two College Diploma Ceremonies held in Westminster, London. Over 70 members awarded higher qualifications at Professional Higher Certificate or Professional Diploma level. The ceremonies brought...
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...
The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers awards two Master’s Medals for early career research
The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) this week announced the winners of two Master’s Medals for 2025. Fabian Yii from Edinburgh was awarded the Master’s Medal for his paper, 'Fundus Refraction Offset as a Personalized Biomarker for 12-Year Risk...
OCULUS supports the 23rd German Down Syndrome Sports Festival in Wetzlar
Once again, OCULUS brought the 'Vision Olympics' to the German Down Syndrome Sports Festival in Wetzlar. Participants had the opportunity to have their vision tested and receive a brief screening of the anterior segment of their eyes. This year, the...
Wiseman Fund recipient expands low vision knowledge
Gemma Gould, a lecturer in optometry at the University of Manchester, has recently attended the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation conference 2025 in Florence, thanks to support from the Wiseman Fund. “I presented a poster of my...
The College of Optometrists announces new research scholarships, grants and bursaries are open for applications
The College of Optometrists has announced its programme of financial support for undergraduate students, postgraduate students and members engaging in research projects in the 2025-2026 academic year is open for applications. The College has a long history of providing financial...
