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Orbis UK partners with optometry podcast Beedie on Eyewear to spotlight global eye health

International eye care charity Orbis UK has partnered with Beedie on Eyewear: The Podcast for its second season, highlighting the global problem of avoidable sight loss to audiences in the optical sector. Hosted by optometrist Beedie, the weekly podcast takes...

Scottish Government announces permanent free rail travel for companions of visually impaired people

Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans welcome the Scottish Government announcement today that free rail travel for companions of visually impaired people has been made a permanent policy across all ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services. Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland...

SightCare Awards 2026 – shortlisted practices revealed

SightCare is delighted to announce the shortlisted practices for the SightCare Awards 2026, celebrating excellence, innovation and impact across the independent optical sector. The awards will take place as part of SightCare LIVE 2026, with a glittering black-tie gala dinner...

Using medical AI as ‘autopilot’ risks deskilling of clinicians, caution doctors and aviation safety experts

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare services, there are important lessons that the medical profession can learn from the aviation industry, which faced widespread loss of human skills after the adoption of autopilot. While calls for medicine...

Bagpipes and breaking down barriers at Celtic Connections

Sight Loss Councils Scotland have launched a groundbreaking new training initiative at Celtic Connections, where for the first time in Scotland visually impaired members delivered Visual Impairment Inclusion and Sighted Guiding training to Glasgow Life and Celtic Connections staff, helping...

The College of Optometrists launches its Manifesto for Wales: Securing sustainable eye care

The College of Optometrists has today published its Manifesto for Wales: Securing sustainable eye care, calling on the next Welsh Government to continue leading the way by expanding community eyecare services to further improve access to eyecare and prevent avoidable...

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...

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...

New GIRFT glaucoma guidance – opportunities for improvement through primary eyecare services

Primary eyecare organisations have welcomed the publication of NHS England's Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Best Practice Guidance for Glaucoma Services. If implemented by ICBs as intended, the new guidance should mark an important step forward in the delivery...

What can artificial intelligence do to improve sustainability in the delivery of ophthalmic care?

The 2025 NHS 10-year plan, titled ‘Fit for the Future’, emphasises a significant shift from analogue to digital, with a strong focus on integrating AI and other technologies to transform healthcare. The plan aims to make the NHS the "most...