News
Edinburgh VCHP seeks local volunteers
Edinburgh’s VCHP clinic is looking for volunteers to keep the Monday morning drop-in sessions operating every week. Ashley Low, FBDO, the Clinic Manager explained: “We are keen to hear from optometrists, dispensing opticians and assistants to help. We have a...
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...
New date confirmed for Plymouth dry eye event
Evening of education, innovation and networking rescheduled to 16 June. SightCare, the trusted partner to independent optical practices in the UK, is pleased to announce that its dry eye roadshow event in partnership with Lumenis will now take place on...
The College of Optometrists awards its first Optometric Practice Educator (OptPE) affix to qualifying supervisors at the College’s AGM 2025
The College of Optometrists has awarded the first Optometric Practice Educator (OptPE) affix, it’s first-ever educational affix, to the inaugural group of optometrists who have completed the College’s enhanced training for supervisors. The OptPE affix is designed to recognise the...
The College of Optometrists celebrates 100 years of the international research journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO)
The College partners with Springer Nature to take OPO into its second century. The year 2025 marks the centenary of The College of Optometrists’ leading international and interdisciplinary research journal for contemporary vision science and optometry, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics...
The College of Optometrists welcomes recommendations to increase support for NHS eyecare costs
Sarah Cant, Director of Policy and Strategy, The College of Optometrists, commented: “The College of Optometrists welcomes Healthwatch England’s recommendations to increase the support available for people on low incomes so that they can meet the costs of eyecare, a...
Blind Golf Scotland are proud to be hosting the British Blind Golf Open
Blind Golf Scotland (BGS) are proud to be hosting the British Blind Golf Open at the Macdonald Cardona Golf course from 6–10 July. BGS are pleased to be hosting international entrants from Scotland, England, Ireland, Sweden, Germany and Spain, and...
Shaping the future: The College of Optometrists holds AI in eyecare summit
On 2 April, The College of Optometrists brought together leading experts, patient and public involvement representatives, policymakers and eye care professionals for its AI in Eye Care Summit. The Summit served as a collaborative platform where key stakeholders discussed and...
Greater awareness of children’s vision care is urged by the profession
Greater attention needs to be given to children’s vision, believes the profession, as a recent survey by Mumsnet reveals that visits to the optometrist are lower down the agenda than dental visits. It found that 9% of parents saw no...
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...
Hampshire MP ‘deeply concerned’ over cuts to community eye health services
Hampshire MP Paul Holmes has criticised ‘retrograde’ plans by local NHS health chiefs to cut community eye health services during a visit to Specsavers in Hedge End, Southampton. The local integrated care board (ICB), which commissions local NHS services, has...
