07 January 2025
Fresh new 2025 calendars are opening to that first crisp month – a blank slate with 12 months of opportunity. With the dawn of the new year comes the start of a fresh CPD cycle.
The beginning of the new CPD cycle means it is time to prepare a new professional development plan (PDP) and sketch out areas for growth in the coming three years.
OT asked contributors to share one area they plan to focus on as part of their development in 2025 and beyond.
Hannah Thomas, director at Parish and Green EyeCare, on a flurry of CPD points in the most recent cycle and mentoring future independent prescribing (IP) optometrists
“I learned a lot in the last cycle – my CPD and career development was easy to plan. Between studying for the Cardiff University MSc in clinical optometry, and the changes to the NHS Wales contract, CPD points virtually threw themselves at me. I’m hoping in 2025 I can focus on my interests and choose CPD that reflects all my different roles.
“Right now, I’m really enjoying mentoring newly-qualified IP optometrists and tutoring optometrists on their IP clinical placements. But if there’s one thing I’ve realised in the last couple of years it is that I need to build my confidence and improve the quality of my presentations and facilitating. Not to mention my IT skills. For my IP CPD in 2025, I’m keen to delve more into dermatology and antibiotic prescribing as a starting point.”
Laura Josephs, optometrist at Newmedica Manchester West, on developing in glaucoma management
“Glaucoma management is the biggest area of development for me in the coming year. I’ve enrolled for a higher certificate course that starts this month. I’m excited to further my knowledge and understanding of such a complex disease. I’m lucky to have supportive consultant mentors at Manchester Newmedica, who are keen to help me grow andbe involved in delivering a range of ophthalmology sub-specialties.
“I’m hoping to undertake more complex procedures such as YAG peripheral iridotomies and selective laser trabeculoplasty in the future and be able to manage more complex patients more autonomously.”
Bonnie Lam, AOP Councillor representing undergraduate students and final year student at the University of Manchester, on anticipating consolidating learning post-graduation
“Anticipating my graduation in mid-2025, my resolution for CPD is to enhance my understanding of the latest management of different conditions, including medical retina, glaucoma, and paediatrics. With experience in primary and secondary care, I have witnessed how management with advanced technology and approaches can improve early detection of different pathologies.
“I am motivated to enhance my ability to provide comprehensive, cutting-edge care to my patients, and I will advocate for the importance of eye health to the general public.”
I will advocate for the importance of eye health to the general public
Andrew Bridges, director of professional services at Leightons Opticians& Hearing Care, on macula conditions
“I plan for my CPD focus in 2025 to cover the assessment of and differentiation of macula conditions. Much of my focus in 2024 has been on anterior eye assessment and dry eye management to support the introduction of these services at Leightons.
“Following the completion of the professional certificate in medical retina in 2022, it is time for me to revisit this topic – as well as being many years since we introduced OCT in practice. We’re gaining significant interest from colleagues and patients about the emerging red light treatments for diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy and dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The key for me is to fully understand the evidence basis surrounding this and how it may be applied in practice.”
Oliver Tanna-White, Pulse optometrist for Leightons Opticians, on working as part of a team to support clinics, practice management and dispensing services across Leightons
“In 2025, I plan to develop my knowledge and understanding of the early detection and management of glaucoma. I intend to achieve this through a range of targeted CPD activities on the topic and higher qualifications including a professional certificate in Glaucoma via Cardiff University.
Continued professional development will help to prime our profession for the challenges ahead
“Developing expertise in glaucoma care enables optometrists to play a key role in preventing vision loss. Elevating my skills and experience in this field may open opportunities to partake in initiatives that deliver hospital-based care in the community. With our healthcare system facing increasing strain, optometrists will undoubtedly have a greater role to play. Continued professional development will help to prime our profession for the challenges ahead.”
Anna Lewin, clinical lead optometrist and partner, Haine & Smith Opticians, a Hakim Group independent practice, on specialist clinics
“We are incredibly fortunate that Professor Maggie Woodhouse, who recently retired from Cardiff University, has joined Haine & Smith to continue running her specialist clinics for children with Down syndrome, autism, and learning difficulties. Maggie’s expertise in this area is unrivalled, and we’re thrilled to have her on board to continue providing this incredible service.
“Looking ahead to 2025, I am eager to spend time observing Maggie in the clinic, learning from her vast experience, and developing my skills in this incredibly rewarding area of optometry. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to gain insight into how we can offer eye care to a group of patients who often find the traditional approach to sight testing challenging.”
Phillips Opticians practice director and dispensing optician, Lee Price, on how a ‘blindfold bowling’ experience led him to focus on low vision for CPD
“After experiencing ‘blindfold bowling’ with Sight Cymru [a charity that supports local people to live independently in their own homes], I was struck by how profoundly disabling vision loss can be in even the simplest of activities. Blindfold bowling involves wearing various shields which emulate different conditions, such as hemianopia, macular degeneration and cataracts, while attempting to bowl. This exercise simulated the daily challenges faced by individuals with low vision, making it clear how much we rely on visual cues for co-ordination, balance, and interaction with the world. It was humbling.
“This experience has given mea desire to prioritise low vision in my next round of professional development. I would like to enhance my understanding of low vision and improve my knowledge to support individuals with visual impairments – hopefully contributing meaningfully to their independence and quality of life.”
James Houlihan, manager of Valli Optometry and Audiology Birchwood, on audiology studies
“I’m excited to complete my audiology studies in May (fingers crossed I don’t get my frequencies mixed up). This qualification represents more than just professional development – it’s about expanding my ability to serve our community's healthcare needs in new and meaningful ways. The prospect of helping more people on their healthcare journey makes all the late-night studying worth it.”
The prospect of helping more people on their healthcare journey makes all the late-night studying worth it
Chris Tannorella, senior optometrist and director at Julian Davies Opticians, a group of Hakim Group independent practices, on complex contact lenses
“Complex contact lenses. This is a weakness of mine and an interest I have never explored. With Rodenstock DNeye scanners arriving in practice in the first quarter we now have the ability to better fit and manage complex contact lens episodes and this is something I’d really like to explore and be able to offer to our patients.
“It’s very easy to stick to areas we are comfortable in, in my case this is glaucoma. However, to keep developing and growing as a clinician it’s important we continue to learn new things.”
To keep developing and growing as a clinician it’s important we continue to learn new things
Tushar Majithia, senior optometrist and director at Lunettes Eyecare, a Hakim Group independent practice, on the role of nutrition
“There is growing evidence of the role diet and nutrition plays in eye health, as well as health and wellbeing in general. By developing a greater knowledge on the impact of nutrition, I want to be able offer my patients practical advice on how lifestyle changes can support their ocular and overall health.
“As an optometrist, I see significant opportunities to integrate nutritional guidance into patient care, particularly in managing conditions like AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye. There are also an ever-increasing number of products that are being launched on to the market, and I feel it is important to be in a position to offer evidence-based advice to patients.”
Matthew McKenny, optometry director at Specsavers Belfast Park Centre, on myopia management
“I plan to focus on myopia management, developing my knowledge in treatment options and explanations/recommendations to patients and parents. The increasing rise of myopia in the global population means its importance in reducing associated future eye health issues will be key in daily practice.”
Stuart Laird, head of optical at Asda Opticians, on the blank slate of a new cycle
“I believe a fresh CPD cycle is a blank slate, a real opportunity to look ahead and decide what our areas of opportunity are in the months and years ahead. Personally, I plan to spend valuable time and effort carefully constructing my PDP, setting achievable learning outcomes which I’ll then work towards across the cycle.
“For our Asda Opticians professionals, our professional development manager will continue to identify, source, and facilitate the widest, best and most relevant range of CPD for our practice teams, using all the available methods of delivery.”
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to join the discussion. Log in