News archive for 2026
Optometry Tomorrow 2026 - Early bird booking is now open
Secure your place today and take advantage of the early bird discount for the best value tickets. Bookings open today for Optometry Tomorrow 2026, The College of Optometrists’ flagship conference, on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 June at the Harrogate...
Eyecare clinic has clear vision for Ugandan village
The team from a sight-saving Worcester eye clinic are taking their skills to Uganda after being inspired by a patient whose charity work in Africa began following the tragic death of her husband. Newmedica Worcester – which offers a range...
SightCare appoints Stephen Bolland to its Board of Directors
The SightCare Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Stephen Bolland as a Director of SightCare, following his successful election at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 28 January 2026. Stephen is an owner and the practice manager...
Marsha de Cordova MP presented with an Honorary Fellowship of The College of Optometrists
This week, The College of Optometrists formally presented Marsha de Cordova MP with an Honorary Fellowship at the College’s headquarters in London. Marsha de Cordova is the Labour MP for Battersea, a former Lambeth Councillor and a longstanding champion of...
Orbis achieves WHO trachoma elimination threshold in Sheka Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
Ahead of World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day on 30 January, international eye care charity Orbis has announced that it has achieved the World Health Organisation (WHO) threshold for eliminating trachoma as a public health concern in Sheka Zone, Southwest...
Cataract surgery and the carbon footprint: Lessons in sustainability from Aravind Eye Hospitals, India
Climate change is among the most urgent global health threats. In 2016, environmental factors caused 13.7 million deaths worldwide, underscoring the link between planetary and human health [1]. Healthcare itself is not blameless. Globally, the sector accounts for 4.4% of...
Over one million estimated to have glaucoma in UK
Over one million people are estimated to currently have glaucoma in the UK, a figure projected to reach more than 1.6 million by 2060, according to a study led by Moorfields and UCL researchers. The new figures, published in the...
WATCH EPISODE 15: Beyond 2020 with the Andean Medical Mission
Welcome to the 15th episode of Beyond 2020, the video series from Andean Medical Mission | Bolivian Medical Charity that looks at strategies to eliminate avoidable blindness in countries with developing eyecare services and shares ideas and solutions to common...
Scottish budget 2026–27: Optometry Scotland welcomes continued investment in community eyecare
Optometry Scotland (OS) welcomes the Scottish Budget 2026–27, which confirms continued investment in community optometry and reinforces its established role in delivering accessible eyecare across Scotland. The Budget confirms community eyecare funding of £144.5 million for 2026–27, representing a cash...
Art for art’s sake
As a junior medical student roaming the wards of St Thomas’ Hospital in the early 1990s, I was unaware that I was surrounded by a large art collection comprising over 4500 pieces. The collection is displayed throughout the building to...
Half of blind and partially sighted people fear being left stranded at train stations
More than half of blind and partially sighted people fear being stranded, stressed and disoriented during train journeys due to the unpredictability of their experiences with rail passenger assistance. New research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)...
ABDO launches annual plan for 2026
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has launched its new annual plan, which will guide its work over the coming year on behalf of members. The plan, which can be found at www.abdo.org.uk, involves a wide range of activities...
