Association of Optometrists

Association of Optometrists The leading UK membership organisation for optometrists; we protect, support and represent members with a range of services and benefits.

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the voice of the optical profession, representing over 80% of practising optometrists. We work for our student and qualified members; promoting the profession, protecting current and future qualified professionals, and championing eye health across the UK. The impact optometrists make on eye health every day is profound; caring for the UK’s vision, and detecting health conditions and disease at preventative stage. We provide educational resources for members whatever their career path, and shape the future of eye care for patients with our policy and external affairs work.

At the session ‘What are the public’s priorities for the NHS and social care?’ at the Liberal Democrats party conference...
21/09/2025

At the session ‘What are the public’s priorities for the NHS and social care?’ at the Liberal Democrats party conference, panellists discussed the biggest concerns facing the NHS and the priorities for its future.

It was good to see Dr Danny Chambers MP emphasise that prevention and community-based services are essential to easing pressure on hospitals. He highlighted the importance of expanding access to care closer to home and out of hospital.

We have arrived in Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrats Party conference. Over the next few days, we will be providing ...
21/09/2025

We have arrived in Bournemouth for the Liberal Democrats Party conference.

Over the next few days, we will be providing updates on our experience at the conference, so stay tuned for insights, highlights, and reflections from the conference.

Stay engaged and join us on the journey.

We are hosting a fringe event, 'Health on every High Street', at the Labour Party Conference, in partnership with Progre...
19/09/2025

We are hosting a fringe event, 'Health on every High Street', at the Labour Party Conference, in partnership with Progressive Britain.

The panel will spotlight Labour's 10-Year Health Plan, highlighting the expansion of community-based services and the removal of access barriers to the NHS. Speakers include:

- Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State for Care
- Adam Sampson, Chief Executive, Association of Optometrists
- Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation
- Oliver Coppard, Metro Mayor, South Yorkshire
- Charlotte Refsum, Director of Health Policy, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
- Chair: Cllr Dr Sara Hyde, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, Islington Council

Speakers will explore how Labour's neighbourhood health service will shift care out of hospitals and into primary care, delivering better patient outcomes and ensuring that care can be accessed by all.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/yL8B50WZlZB

We are pleased to announce that we will be attending the upcoming autumn party conferences for the Liberal Democrats, La...
19/09/2025

We are pleased to announce that we will be attending the upcoming autumn party conferences for the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Conservatives over the next few weeks. Our attendance will help drive forward our commitment to advancing equitable access to eye care across all communities.

Through meaningful engagement with MPs, policy-makers and key healthcare stakeholders, we will put forward the case to bring eye care services closer to home for everyone and ensure that eye health is part of the national conversation.

We look forward to sharing insights and updates from each conference, and invite you to follow our journey and join the conversation.

We are pleased to announce that we will be attending the upcoming autumn party conferences for the Liberal Democrats, La...
18/09/2025

We are pleased to announce that we will be attending the upcoming autumn party conferences for the Liberal Democrats, Labour, and Conservatives over the next few weeks.

Our attendance will help drive forward our commitment to advancing equitable access to eye care across all communities. Through meaningful engagement with MPs, policy-makers and key healthcare stakeholders, we will put forward the case to bring eye care services closer to home for everyone and ensure that eye health is part of the national conversation.

We look forward to sharing insights and updates from each conference, and invite you to follow our journey and join the conversation.

Through September and October we will be meeting first year student optometrists during welcome weeks at universities ac...
08/09/2025

Through September and October we will be meeting first year student optometrists during welcome weeks at universities across the UK!

Follow out Instagram account to stay updated with our journey https://www.instagram.com/association_of_optometrists/

The AOP supports students in a number of ways including:

- Our employment contract query service
- Our journal, Optometry Today, in print and online
- Supporting your health and wellbeing
- Our online education library with clinical skills videos
- Providing career inspiration and mentoring support

05/09/2025

Our Head of Clinical and Regulatory, Henry Leonard, featured on LBC News to discuss the Government's consultation on widening access to medicines for optometrists and contact lens opticians.

We have long advocated for change in this area. Optometrists are fully equipped to manage a broad spectrum of eye conditions, and patients should be able to receive treatment for minor eye conditions in their local community opticians, helping them to avoid the 8am dash for a GP appointment.

The system is outdated and no longer reflects the scope of modern practice. Empowering optometrists to use the full breadth of their skills will make it easier for patients and improve outcomes.

Listen for more.

We welcome the Government's consultation aimed at expanding access to medicines for all optometrists and contact lens op...
04/09/2025

We welcome the Government's consultation aimed at expanding access to medicines for all optometrists and contact lens opticians. Under the new proposals, the sector would be able to provide a wider range of medications to treat minor eye conditions, helping to relieve pressure on GPs and hospitals.

Every year, nearly two million GP and A&E appointments are taken up by eye health issues that optometrists are trained to manage. Widening access will transform patient care and support existing provisions such as the Minor Eye Conditions Service and Community Urgent Eyecare Service, which have already demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing strain on the NHS.

We look forward to responding to the consultation.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/ZxZx50WRiQA

Our Chief Executive, Adam Sampson, writing in the Health Service Journal, has highlighted how community-led eye care sho...
14/08/2025

Our Chief Executive, Adam Sampson, writing in the Health Service Journal, has highlighted how community-led eye care should be a much-needed win for the government’s 10-Year Health Plan.

“Ministers’ instinctive preference has been to make better use of High Street optometry, not least because that was the rock on which the shift of eye care services from hospital to High Street in Scotland and, more recently, Wales has been built. For a ministerial team looking for some good news coverage, rolling out an enhanced services contract for optometry in England – similar to that which they have already agreed with pharmacy – would enable them to deliver, within a short space of time, a real, demonstrable shift. Everywhere else, the plan might well take 10 years to deliver. In eye care, it is possible to deliver meaningful change in two.”

Read more: https://ow.ly/vtjz50WG8Hl

The General Optical Council has published new research on a risk-based framework for sight testing, exploring the risks ...
13/08/2025

The General Optical Council has published new research on a risk-based framework for sight testing, exploring the risks when sight test components are separated by person, time or place.

We will review the findings in the report and look forward to engaging in future discussions with the GOC and sector stakeholders on this vital issue.

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2 Woodbridge Street
London
EC1R0DG

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

020 7549 2000

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We protect, support and represent our members

The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading professional membership organisation for optometrists and other optical professionals in the UK. We offer protection, support and representation to over 80% of practising optometrists, throughout their careers with a range of valued services and benefits including: An insurance and legal package, designed for the individual practitioner whoever and where ever you work for. Our in-house legal, clinical and regulatory experts work for our members, whether you're looking for one-to-one advice or access to our best-practice guidance, you're in safe hands. We listen and represent our members to the government, the media and the public. Free and discounted CET and professional development, through our journal Optometry Today (OT), online and at events around the country. The latest professional, clinical, business and regulatory news sent direct to your door and inbox via OT and email updates.