News
WATCH EPISODE 16: Beyond 2020 with the Andean Medical Mission
Welcome to the 16th 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...
The College of Optometrists and AOP support “once-in-a-generation” reform for assessing drivers’ eyesight
The bodies are working together to prepare recommendations for Government on optometry-led mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers. The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists (AOP) will send a clear message to government when they submit their response...
Over 8700 Scots will lose their sight this year
New data from sight loss charity RNIB reveals that 8730 people in Scotland will begin living with sight loss in the next 12 months alone, and that the total number of people affected is set to grow by nearly 21%...
Optical sector bodies urge GOC to rethink approach to CPD reform
The UK’s main optical sector bodies have responded to the General Optical Council’s (GOC) consultation on proposed reforms to continuing professional development (CPD), warning that the current proposals could have implications for public protection if not carefully implemented and may...
Parents urged to get children checked for dry eye disease
Dry eye disease (DED) has become a feature of teenage and young adult life, rather than a condition which traditionally troubled only the middle-aged. The problem is largely unrecognised, says a leading figure in children’s vision and eyecare, Prof James...
Artificial intelligence could transform patient education in eyecare
A multilingual, voice-enabled chatbot helps patients access retinal detachment advice through personalised, real-time, clinically grounded conversations. From hospital leaflets to spoken answers in dozens of languages, new research from the University of East London (UEL) suggests artificial intelligence could dramatically...
The College of Optometrists calls for shift in detecting and managing glaucoma
The College of Optometrists calls for shift in detecting and managing glaucoma by fully unlocking safe and effective primary care capacity Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible sight loss in the UK and affects over one million people,...
The rare link between uveitis and tattoos
Health experts are warning about a rare but potentially serious condition known as tattoo-associated uveitis, after a rise in reported cases in Australia. The condition occurs when the immune system reacts to certain toxic chemicals found within certain tattoo inks...
College of Optometrists publishes guidance on GLP-1 weight loss drugs and vision
GLP-1 weight loss drugs and vision: what clinicians need to know The College of Optometrists has issued guidance for clinicians following the publication of a recent MHRA drug safety update which has drawn attention to a very rare risk of...
Too bright to ignore: More than half of drivers affected by dazzling headlights say the problem is worse this winter than last
More than half of drivers who are dazzled by headlights – 57% – say the problem has worsened over the last 12 months with only three-in-10 (31) disagreeing, found comprehensive new RAC research supported by The College of Optometrists [1]....
The College and AOP welcome plans to introduce compulsory eyesight testing for drivers in road safety push
Government proposals for mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over the age of 70 follow active campaigning by The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists on road safety. The College of Optometrists and the Association of Optometrists welcome the...
Advocacy on the Airwaves: Pioneering eye health partnership doubles sight-saving child screenings in Zambian Province
A pioneering eye health programme is creating a legacy for children in Zambia, having almost doubled access to sight-saving eye screenings in its first two years of operation. Working in the heart of Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, the Qatar Creating Vision...
