Recent discussion of a national eye health strategy in the UK parliament has boosted the drive for healthcare improvements as the all-party parliamentary group on eye health and visual impairment brought forward a 10-minute rule bill in late November, 2022. While such events may have been forced by NHS ophthalmology backlogs and the continued pressure of underfunded sight tests, it is no doubt a sign that 2023 could lead to an era of eye care reform. Significantly, the new year welcomes the actualisation of the Welsh government’s Wales General Ophthalmic Services that has brought clinical services in optometry primary and community care together, and the Scottish government’s Community Glaucoma Service rollout to support its hospital eye services.
The Association of Optometrists (AOP)
AOP’s chief executive Adam Sampson (below) said 2023 was set to be a landmark year for the association as it responds to profound changes in UK eye care; delivering on the key pillars set out in its fiveyear strategy. ‘Our focus will be on how optometry integrates with others in primary health – supporting members as services become ever more community-based and embedded under the new Integrated Care Systems and Primary Care Network commissioning structures,’ he said.
‘Test beds, such as Optometry First in Sefton, Bassetlaw and the Isle of Wight, will provide an essential role in shaping optometry services of the future. Our influential agenda and robust relationships with parliamentarians and the devolved nations, as well as in partnership with the Eyes Have It coalition, will be key to securing the profession within a reformed legislative and regulatory framework.’
Regarding tackling impacts of the cost-of-living crisis in eye care, the AOP told Optician: ‘Our primary focus is supporting members during these difficult economic times. We’re looking at how we incorporate further support as part of the AOP membership package, which is designed around every career stage, providing financial advice and exclusive rates to reduce outgoings.’
The Association for Eye Care Providers (FODO)
FODO also highlighted that this year could be potentially ground-breaking as demand for eye care continues to rise and pressures on hospitals and GPs are exacerbated. It plans to publish updated plans for meeting eye need, unlocking the potential of primary eye care and harnessing the benefits of technology and innovation for individual patients and populations. The association said: 'The only viable solution is to commission more care outside hospital, closer to home through primary eye care. Working with governments and health systems, FODO will continue to support members to deliver high-quality services across all nations and areas of the UK and Republic of Ireland.
'Workforce also remains a high priority. We will continue to support the GOC, universities, and members to implement new education and training requirements and to develop the wider primary eye care team to ensure we have sufficient first-class clinicians and support staff for the future,' FODO added.
The College of Optometrists
As we take our first steps into 2023, and economically trying times continue to bring forth a sense of austerity, the eye care profession aims to prevent patients neglecting their health by using as many resources as possible. Ian Humphreys (right), chief executive at the College of Optometrists, said: ‘2023 is going to be an economically challenging year for all. We will be working to help support our members and their patients through a series of media campaigns, which will encourage the public to prioritise their eye health and highlight the role of the optometrist in maintaining vision and eye health, as well as general health issues.
‘These will be amplified through our public website, lookafteryoureyes.com, and patient resources for our members. We will grow our work to represent the expert voices of optometrists and ensure that the UK government and national health services recognise and utilise their full skills.’
The College also planned to increase career support, update the Guidance for Professional Practice and inform on national optical workforce planning through its collaborative eye care workforce supply and demand data modelling project, which intends to ensure that all patients across the UK have equitable and timely access to NHS eye care.
The General Optical Council
The GOC’s strategic priorities will focus on delivering its ‘Fit for the Future’ strategy. The council told Optician: ‘Some of the ambitious work planned for this year includes developing the business case for legislative reform, following our call for evidence on changing the Opticians Act, and developing and consulting on new standards of practice.
‘We have completed initial analysis of stakeholder responses to our call for evidence for the review of the Opticians Act 1989 and have commissioned research to fill gaps in our evidence base on business regulation and refraction for the purposes of the sight test. A response to the call for evidence plans to be published in 2023.
‘We continue to lead engagement with stakeholders and the sector through the call for evidence but responsibility for agreeing changes to the Act lies with Parliament, and thus the pace and outcome of any changes sought will be determined by other stakeholders, such as ’
The Association of British Dispensing Opticians
ABDO looked forward to another year of training the next generation of eye care professionals, with 2023 set to be the busiest year to date at the National Training Centre (NRC). Dr Alicia Thompson (left), director of education, research and professional development at ABDO, commented: ‘Plans for 2023 and beyond include new educational opportunities and a clinical conference to bring ABDO members into the NRC for more hands-on training. The ABDO research strategy will also be launched, with a strong focus on building the evidence base for our profession and clinical trials and research activity utilising our patient base at the NRC.’
ABDO’s newly appointed CEO, Alistair Bridge, said: ‘The GOC’s review of the standards of practice, on top of its ongoing work on legislative reform, will provide opportunities to ensure that regulation maintains high standards. In particular, 2023 will see dispensing opticians and optometrists focus increasingly on providing advice and treatment to control myopia, making high standards of paediatric dispensing more important than ever.’
ABDO noted that one of its new initiatives will be to raise awareness among employers of the roles of dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians and the value they can add. Meanwhile, it has continued to revise the Level 6 FBDO diploma in line with the GOC’s new education requirements, as well as prioritising its range of continued professional development available.
The British Contact Lens Association (BCLA)
Luke Stevens-Burt (below), chief executive of the BCLA, said that it is looking forward to welcoming delegates to the 2023 BCLA Clinical Conference for an in-person event in June again. New ‘micro-credentials’ would be introduced for specific disciplines that allow delegates to earn extra certificates for some sessions.
‘We will be welcoming two prominent keynote speakers in Frank Schaeffel and Greg Sawyer and it promises to be an event to remember. We hope to release a new course focused on contact lens fundamentals, based on BCLA CLEAR, and work will also begin on a new set of contact lens guidelines,’ he added. ‘Our regular webinar and podcast series will run throughout the year and the popular annual Love Your Lenses Campaign will launch in early September.’
The association will begin work on the BCLA CLEAR presbyopia papers and updates will be made to online courses in dry eye and myopia management to make them available for those in the early stages of their career.
Supplier spotlight
When Optician asked optical suppliers about predictions of industry concerns and plans for the coming year, sustainability was the centre of attention for many, while financial considerations also loomed large.
Optical Suppliers Association
OSA chairman Roy Stoner said: ‘Sustainability in optics will underpin all aspects of the supply chain to a far greater extent in 2023. The foundations have been set and expectations are high for adaptation of the OSA Green Charter and the four levels of accountability. Throughout 2023, we will highlight the very best innovations and ideas that our members have demonstrated to create a carbon net zero sector.
‘Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence is fundamental to progress in all healthcare sectors and optometry and ophthalmology is no exception, but we must ensure that the profession can refer and diagnose with confidence in our increasingly litigious world. Currently, a lack of confidence is holding back the advance of technology and we are committed to addressing this.’
Eyespace Eyewear
Eyespace Eyewear managing director and co-founder Julie Abel: ‘The uncertainty of the British pound remains a concern for us, however, we are working closely with our suppliers, logistics advisors and economic experts to navigate with confidence the most stable routes through 2023.
‘An acute focus is being placed on leading design and innovation and unveiling revolutionary componentry and materials throughout the year.’
Sustainability will remain a priority as the brand builds on recent launches that allow customers more access to ecofriendly, affordable eyewear.
Millmead Optical Group
James Conway (left), CEO of Millmead Optical Group, said they hope to bring awareness to industry-wide issues on sustainability and explore what can be altered in optical processes to aid these efforts and create more innovative solutions in 2023.
‘We already began embarking on our sustainability journey throughout 2021 and 2022 and started to implement these new ideologies across our companies, such as the new Cameo Sustain frame range from Continental Eyewear, with frames made from 100% recycled materials.
‘Most recently, our lenses company Jai Kudo Lenses collaborated with renowned sustainability designer Yair Neuman, to create a sculpture that has now been named “Heavy-Light”.
‘The predominant reason behind this creation was to shine a light on the mass amounts of lens waste in the industry and to get some initial, interesting conversations started,’ he said.