News archive for 2025
Age and gender impacts effectiveness of new gene therapy treatments for eye diseases, new study finds
Older women could be vulnerable to harmful inflammation from new gene therapies to treat incurable eye diseases, new research has found. The University of Bristol-led study, published in Molecular Therapy, reveal how age and gender affects inflammation caused by gene...
UK-EGG Seedcorn award call now open
The UK Eye Genetics Group is now accepting applications for a new Seedcorn Award, offering up to £5,000, to support early career researchers in conducting innovative projects focused on the diagnosis, understanding, prevention, management and treatment of genetic eye diseases....
Crisis Collection Day sees volunteers’ success
Crisis at Christmas collection day saw 130 pairs of specs lined up to be dispensed to very grateful Londoners experiencing homelessness. Ranging in powers from +5D to -15.25D, the dispensing day brought together volunteers who have worked to provide eyecare...
CHEC Wandsworth welcomes Marsha de Cordova MP to discuss her National Eye Health Strategy Bill
CHEC, a community healthcare provider delivering specialist ophthalmology services in partnership with the NHS, recently welcomed Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, to its new site in Wandsworth (Friday 17th Jan 2025) to share insights on how independent eyecare...
New online tool will be a critical planning resource for commissioners and providers of eye health care
Eye disease is a major contributor to national health service backlogs, and the number of cases is set to significantly increase with an ageing population. Organisations from across the UK’s eye care sector, including the Association of British Dispensing Opticians...
RNIB makes first Scotland stop in Glasgow on UK ‘Braille and Beyond’ library tour to celebrate two hundredth anniversary of braille
On Tuesday, January 28, the Mitchell Library in Glasgow hosted a special event celebrating the importance of braille and tactile literacy, organised by sight loss charity RNIB in partnership with Glasgow Libraries. Open to everyone, the event offered a day...
Edinburgh runner nears 20th marathon to support sight loss charity
For the past two decades, Archie MacGregor (64) has laced up his running shoes with a purpose that goes far beyond the finish line. He is soon to complete his 20th marathon in 20 years, to raise vital funds for...
Primary eyecare welcomes Government’s commitment to improve access to care
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), The College of Optometrists and the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) back the Government’s commitment to put patients in the driving seat and give them more control and choice over their...
Mind the gap
As a medical student in London many moons ago, the only thing that I was mindful of was the gap between the platform and the train as I traversed the city on the underground. I first became aware of mindfulness...
Teams start preparing for Optoversity Challenge 2025
Out of the Box Optic’s Optoversity Challenge – the exciting student competition and fundraiser for Vision Care for Homeless People – has opened the 2025 registration. Optometry schools are invited to propose a team for this easy-to-enter challenge which brings...
Minister visits London special school to see SeeAbility eyecare team in action
Last month, disability charity SeeAbility had a special visitor to a very special school: Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP. Stephen visited The Village School in London to see children receiving eye care from SeeAbility’s specialist team. He also got...
Orbis UK release 2024 highlights video
Orbis UK have released their 2024 highlights video, revealing some of the incredible achievements their supporters helped make possible last year. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital completed two sight-saving missions to Mongolia and Bangladesh. Orbis's clinical staff and Volunteer medical...
