Brent & Harrow LOC

28/04/2026

The UK Eye Care Data Hub has been expanded, bringing together the most up-to-date model of the UK’s eye care workforce and eye disease data in one place.

The latest update includes:
• 38 additional eye conditions, with over 80 now modelled
• Data across the UK by nation, region and ICB or Health Board
• Projections from 2023 to 2038
• Expanded workforce data, including a new apprenticeship route for Dispensing Opticians

The hub supports commissioners, researchers and clinicians to identify future population eye care needs, track trends over time and optimise the existing workforce.

Led by the College, this work reflects sector-wide and UK-wide collaboration, with the hub already being used to inform service design and workforce planning, including supporting the shift of care from hospital settings into the community.

See the full update and explore the ➡️ https://coptom.uk/4sI8z2V

ABDO, British and Irish Orthoptic Society, College of Optometrists, Department of Health NI, FODO - The Association for Eye Care Providers, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, York Health Economics Consortium

28/04/2026

ABDO will be running a CPD-accredited skills workshop at SightCare Live, taking place on 26 and 27 April at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham. Titled ‘Frame modifications: room with a view’, the session will take place at 1.50pm on Monday 27 April. It will be delivered by ABDO professional developme...

28/04/2026

Start standing out in optometry before you even qualify! ✨

Becoming an AOP student rep is a great way to build more experience, boost your confidence, and strengthen your CV 🗣️📈✏️

You’ll also have the chance to shape the future of the optical profession – representing your peers, contributing to student initiatives, and helping drive meaningful change.

If you’re moving into your second or third year this September and you're ready to grow 🌱 – apply today using the link below 👇

https://www.aop.org.uk/your-career/students/stand-out-become-a-student-rep

06/04/2026

We welcome the Government’s proposals to reduce excessive screen use among children, recognising the strong evidence that spending more time outdoors lowers the risk of developing myopia.

Excessive screen time is linked to digital eye strain and disrupted sleep, and early detection of vision problems is essential to a child’s development. Encouraging regular outdoor activity and routine sight tests from the age of three will be key to protecting children’s eye health.

We strongly support efforts to help children step away from screens and spend more time outside. With the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Government now has a opportunity to ensure these measures form part of a wider commitment to promoting healthy behaviours and improving access to essential eye care in the community.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/P76850YCjWL

06/04/2026

Tackling the admin pile with AI

06/04/2026

The College of Optometrists has published its first issue of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO) with Springer Nature.

OPO is the College’s flagship international research journal for contemporary vision science and optometry. This new partnership takes the journal into its second century of publication and reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to research and innovation that supports the profession.

Since 1925, OPO has published high-quality research from authors around the world and remains a key resource for clinicians, educators and researchers.

Get the full update on our website and hear from perspectives from Michael Bowen, Mark Rosenfield and Jason Winkler on the role of OPO in advancing research and clinical practice worldwide➡️ https://coptom.uk/4mbl0T9

28/03/2026

28/03/2026

ABDO examinations is offering an exciting opportunity to support future generations of dispensing opticians, recruiting for practical examiners in ophthalmic dispensing.

Find out more https://buff.ly/6NG7TTF

27/03/2026

🚨CMG Updates🚨
The following Clinical Management Guidelines (CMGs) have been amended and updated:

✅Blunt Trauma
✅Chemical Trauma
✅Penetrating Trauma

Our CMGs are here to support your clinical practice, with guidance on diagnosing and managing a wide range of conditions seen in primary and first-contact care.

College Members can log in via our website or app to explore a summary of the latest updates ➡️https://coptom.uk/CMGs

26/03/2026

This all-day event at ABDO National Resource Centre in Birmingham, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, will help contact lens opticians (CLOs) take a deep dive into the world of presbyopia and multifocal contact lens fitting (including multifocal torics). You’ll take part in practical activities and simulated multifocal contact lens fitting scenarios, as well as discover what drives patients on their contact lens fitting journey.

You can collect 12 CPD points, including a CLO-accredited peer review, as well as visit the Johnson & Johnson stand and discuss any technical questions with our experienced team of professional affairs consultants who are either CLOs or optometrists themselves.

Book your place here https://buff.ly/UoLjoWv

26/03/2026

There is still time to join tonight's webinar

Presented by Byki Huntjens, this webinar provides an evidence-based update on myopia management, drawing on the latest findings from the Cochrane living systematic review on interventions to slow myopia progression in children. Practitioners will explore the comparative effectiveness of optical, pharmacological and behavioural strategies, understand areas of strong evidence versus ongoing uncertainty, and learn how to critically interpret research quality and apply findings in everyday clinical practice to support informed discussions with patients and families.

Suitable for dispensing opticians and optometrists

Book your place here https://buff.ly/Wt3RDyt

19/03/2026

Are you ready to strengthen your management and leadership capabilities within the eyecare and eyewear sector?

The ABDO Continuing Improvement Certificate is a three‑month, fully online programme designed for current and aspiring managers seeking practical skills they can apply immediately in the workplace. The course covers developing a skilled workforce, managing quality and continuous improvement, and delivering coaching and mentoring.

There are no formal entry requirements, and all learning materials and tutor support are included. Study is delivered through a dedicated online LMS so you can learn without taking time away from work.

Learners complete three focused units: developing a skilled and talented workforce, managing quality and continuous improvement, and delivering coaching and mentoring.

The next application deadline is 4 April 2026, with study beginning on 1 May 2026.

If you're ready to invest in your development and gain a recognised qualification, now is the time to apply.

Find out more and begin your application https://buff.ly/fuelHEB