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...
Cabinet Secretary backs call for major shift in venue accessibility
Scotland’s Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has thrown his support behind Sight Scotland’s Accessible Venues Campaign, which aims to make every theatre, concert hall and cultural venue fully accessible for people with vision impairment. Mr Robertson recently met with members of...
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 research shows the unhealthy state of access to medicine and medical devices for blind patients
Blind and partially sighted people could become ill from medicines and medical devices, because they are not being listened to when it comes to designing, prescribing and administering treatments. The Safety Gap’ report commissioned by the Patient Safety Commissioner, Prof...
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...
Donation to VCHP marks start of new partnership
Yorkshire eyecare company, The Body Doctor Ltd, has made a generous donation to Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP) to help the charity improve eye health in the West Yorkshire region. VCHP operates from 10 static clinics across the UK...
£5 million award for world-leading research facilities within new eye health centre
The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust has awarded £5 million to UCL in partnership with Moorfields Eye Charity and Moorfields Eye Hospital to support Oriel – a centre for advancing eye health, opening in 2027.
