News and features

The latest news, features and insight from across optics

An optometrist smiles in a consultation with a patient who is wearing a trial frame. A slit lamp is to the left of the frame.

Asda Opticians launches pre-reg programme

The group is recruiting 10–15 positions for the first year of the programme in 2025 – 2026

Career development

Jack Stacy, left, and Michael Smith, right, are grinning and stand with an arm on each other’s shoulders atop a peak in the Lake District. Behind them is a beautiful landscape of rolling hills.

SeeAbility trustee and chair climb 24 peaks in 24 hours

An older woman sits in her living room next to the window

Up to one in five dementia cases linked to eyesight issues

Pink tablets are contained in a blister pack

Leicester woman develops bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma after taking flu medication

The microscopic structure of a DNA helix is illuminated in blue

LCA patients experience dramatic improvements in vision following gene therapy

A stunning picture of a vibrant Italian bay with carefully manicured flower beds, glittering blue waters, and towering mountain peaks. A sun-flare makes the scene feel even brighter

EssilorLuxottica launches promotion for Italy event

Equipment and suppliers

Four pale wooden plinths each hold a quirky frame: the foremost is a blue sunglasses frame with a wiggly asymmetrical design and yellow lenses, to the left is a round frame made with clear material and a touch of yellow, in the far back is a bright pink sunglasses frame designed to look like two hands with bright nail varnish in the ‘okay’ pose with pink lenses, finally, above them all is a Havana print sunglasses frame with brown lenses and circular holes gradually decreasing in size along the arm of the frame

Cubitts charity auction features artist collabs

Eyewear and lenses

A video call between panellists for the Singapore National Eye Centre Myopia Dialogues webinar is displayed

An international portrait of myopia

7 min read

A final thought

“Time is the biggest factor”

5 min read

AOP

Grey, blue and red illustration showing building blocks being placed into a diagram of a brain

“Receiving the offer was such a happy moment for me”

8 min read

Career development

A female clinician wearing a blue lab coat holds up a prosthetic eye

Examining vulnerability to dry eye disease among patients who use prosthetics

Man wearing glasses

Obituary: Jan-Karel Querido

Practitioner stories

Aerial view over buildings in Plymouth city centre underneath a cloudy sky

Vision Care for Homeless People in fundraising drive for new Plymouth clinic

Pencil-style illustrations of a laptop, textbooks, notebooks, pencils, smartphone and calculator are laid out as if on a desk beside a coffee cup and pair of spectacles. The white icons contrast against the bright mustard yellow background

First-year reflections and top tips

7 min read

Career development

An orange and white megaphone lies on a wooden stool

NEHW 2024: “A key calendar moment for promoting optics”

Optical organisations

A blood pressure cuff

NHS trials blood pressure checks in optometry practices

Health services

A close up of a blue modern ‘Open’ sign on a shop door, inside has bar stool seating and a warm feeling

Recommendations for the future of the High Street

7 min read

A young girl in a pink jumper is smiling inside an optometry practice whilst holding glasses with pink frames up to her face

Optometry Ireland issues back to school eyesight reminder

Optical organisations

patient sight test

Changing perceptions

10 min read

Health services

A pair of matte black squared sunglasses rest on a cork sleeve with the logos of Waterhaul and WCA printed along one edge. In the background is a coastal rock, slick with seaweed and dotted with sand

Waterhaul gives new life to ghost gear recovered in whale rescue

Eyewear and lenses

Rising hyperopia levels connected to risk of depression

A variety of black and white brain scans are pinned to a display

Clinicians describe case of acute retinal necrosis

Girl sitting in class and squinting to see board

“This was a phenomenon that I had anticipated to see later”

6 min read