Association of Optometrists

Have you had your say in our Voice of Optometry research? Your contributions support us in raising awareness of the key issues impacting the profession and campaigning for change. We want to hear from you on providing eye care in the community, such as glaucoma care, and your insights on vision standards for driving. The survey is open to all members, and you have been sent a unique link to take part. All responses are anonymous, and the survey will close on 18 October.

Our members are at the heart of everything we do 💖 For information about membership benefits, head to our website https://lnkd.in/gGHk9rJy

This World Sight Day, we're promoting the importance of getting regular sight tests, every two years, or more often if your optometrist recommends it. Our Clinical editor, Ceri Smith-Jaynes, spoke to BBC Radio Manchester this week, on the value of sight tests as an eye health check, which could also detect signs of underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and in rare cases, brain tumors. Ceri explains how regular sight tests can be crucial for early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions, and routes to access eye care for children and adults. Listen for more at timestamp 2:10:20: https://ow.ly/4SOX50TIBbI

We welcome the announcement that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities will be offered NHS funded sight tests in day or residential special schools and colleges in England. Children with special educational needs are 28 times more likely to have a serious sight condition, and they face real challenges in accessing eye care due to the potential for anxiety or distress when getting their sight tested in unfamiliar settings. The roll out of the service will benefit thousands of pupils across England. In view of the announcement, we now encourage clarity from NHS England on the provisions to ensure eye care providers can offer the best possible delivery of the service. Learn more: https://ow.ly/7sVM50TGFSR

Did you see your invitation to take part in our Voice of Optometry survey? We need your opinions and experiences on providing additional services in the community, such as glaucoma care and healthy living services. Your responses will be completely anonymous, and they will be crucial in helping us influence policy change. Members have been sent a unique link to participate. Take part in the survey up until 18 October.

We have responded to the Royal College of General Practitioners' call for the new Government to take action on primary care and reduce the pressure on GPs, following their new research that reveals GPs in deprived areas are responsible for almost 2,500 patients per head, almost 300 more than in affluent areas. Optometrists have the clinical expertise and equipment to deliver specialist eye care and as part of our #OneMillionAppointments campaign, we urge the Government and NHS England to support a minor and urgent eye care pathway created by the optometry sector, to improve eye care in the local community. Learn more: https://ow.ly/F9v150TC4Tg

We’re looking for high street practices in London (or a short distance from London) who would be happy to host an AOP photoshoot. Ideally your practice has at least three optometrists and staff who would be comfortable with the practice, equipment and patient consultations being photographed. If that sounds like you, get in touch, we’d love to tell you more! We work with a professional photographer who has done many shoots for us, she takes authentic optometry images to use for the AOP website, marketing and communications. Participating practices will receive copies of some of the images for their website, social medias etc. If you’d like to host a shoot or have questions about what it involves, let us know by direct messaging us or emailing communications@aop.org.uk 😊

We have published a new position statement calling for an update to the exemptions list which would allow optometrists and dispensing opticians to provide certain medicines directly to patients. The current exemptions list has not kept pace with the clinical training of optometrists and dispensing opticians, and it leads to many patients who require medical treatment for an eye condition being referred to their GP to access medicines. We believe a revised list of exemptions would make access to care and treatment much easier for the patient and reduce pressure on GPs. Learn more: https://ow.ly/xs3n50TBiKb

Our time at the Conservative Party Conference came to a close with The King's Fund and NHS Confederation's session on ‘Making care closer to home a reality’, where important points were made around the perceived hierarchy in health, with higher status and prestige given to roles in specialist acute settings at the expense of primary and community care. This conference season has been highly productive, with opportunities to engage with key MPs and health policy makers on their priorities for healthcare and the role of primary care optometry within the wider vision of delivering more care in the community. We appreciate your engagement, which has helped us amplify issues impacting eye health and the profession. We look forward to working on next steps to ensure the momentum continues and optometry remains a priority on the health agenda.

NEW: Ethics in optics guidance and CPD video Support for members navigating common ethical issues faced in practice What the guidance covers: - GOC standards for individuals and businesses - The law on bribery - Inducements and incentives - Domiciliary care - Hospital optics - What students need to know - CPD video worth 1 point Head to the guidance and take the CPD at https://lnkd.in/ectUti3A #AOPmember #optometry #optometrists #optom #ukoptometrists #Optics #Eyecare #Ethics #GOC #guidance