While you were away
This page is a guide for members to access important information that might have been missed during a career break
Have you been away from the industry for some time? If so, it can be hard to catch up on the significant changes that might affect the way you practise. The AOP has produced a summary page of useful updates for anyone who has been on a career break, or for those who been unable to focus on optometry-related news.
Here you will find a quick round-up of major changes in guidance and regulation that may have an impact on you as a practising optometrist or dispensing optician. The page will change throughout the year, with the latest updates appearing at the top.
Key updates
January 2025
The GOC has updated the Standards of Practice
The General Optical Council’s (GOC) new Standards of Practice came into effect as of 1 January 2025. All registrants are required to confirm that they have read the Standards of Practice before accessing their MyGOC account for the 2025-2027 CPD cycle.
Key changes include the delivery of better care for patients in vulnerable circumstances, maintaining confidentiality when sharing patient images online, and requiring registrants to identify themselves and their role and advising patients on who will provide their care.
Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, including prohibiting conduct of a sexual nature with patients, is another area of focus, along with promoting better workplace culture by explicitly referencing inclusive behaviour and ensuring employers support their staff who have experienced discrimination, bullying, or harassment in the workplace.
Changes also address demonstrating leadership in practice, along with keeping updated on developments in digital technologies and applying professional judgement when utilising the data they generate to inform decision making.
GOC updated Standards of Practice launched
The GOC’s publishes its reflective exercise guidance template
July 2024
To remain on the GOC register for 2025, you must complete a reflective exercise with a peer and upload evidence of it to your MyGOC account before the cycle ends on 31 December 2024. The exercise involves a discussion about your progress against your personal development plan (PDP) and CPD requirements, as well as reflecting on your professional practice more generally.
Reflective Exercise Guidance Template
Optometrists and dispensing opticians become eligible for the Blue Light Card discount scheme
January 2024
Blue Light Card is a leading discount provider in the UK, working with retail partners to provide exclusive savings to NHS workers, emergency services and the armed forces. Registering for membership costs £4.99 and membership is valid for two years.
Optometrists and dispensing opticians now eligible for Blue Light Card discount scheme
The AOP issued guidance for practitioners using amniotic membranes
November 2023
For those using amniotic membranes for recalcitrant dry eye cases, the guidance contains advice on indications, contraindications, training and consent.
Amniotic membranes for dry eye disease in an outpatient setting
New rules and training requirements for providing GOS in Wales
October 2023
Following legislative changes in 2023, Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) replaced General Ophthalmic Services (Wales) (GOS[W]), Eye Health Examination Wales (EHEW), Low Vision Services Wales (LVSW), and many various local enhanced service pathways.
Requirements guidance issued as optometry contract for Wales comes into force
www.nhs.wales/sa/eye-care-wales/eye-care-docs/wgos-manuals-changes-summary/wgos-3-clinical-manual/
New training requirements for practitioners in Wales
The AOP updated its guidance on myopia management in clinical practice
October 2023
In the UK, the prevalence of myopia in children has more than doubled in the last half a century and is manifesting at a younger age. There are a range of licensed interventions available in the UK, which aim to slow axial growth and myopia progression, as well as evidence-based lifestyle modifications that can help to delay the onset, and potentially progression, of myopia.
Myopia management in clinical practice
The GOC introduced new education training requirements (ETR) for universities
September 2023
This affects optometry, independent prescribing (IP), DO and CLO courses. Under the new ETR, optometry university programmes will fully integrate practical and theoretical learning and experience, offering a single route to registration with the GOC. The pre-registration period is replaced by 48 weeks of practical placement, while still under the banner of a university course. Several universities are now offering this as a four year Master of Optometry (MOptom) course.
ETR: 12 qualifications meet the new GOC requirements
The Education Training Requirements: questions answered about the changes to optical education
Special schools eyecare service announced
June 2023
The Government and NHS England announced that there will be provision for sight testing for all children attending special schools from April 2024 to 2025. The eye care service offers children with learning disabilities a full vision and eye health assessment.
The AOP welcomes the extended rollout of the special schools eye care service
In some areas, the LOCSU pathway for people with learning disabilities has been commissioned. This provides examinations in approved community optometry practices.
People with Learning Disabilities
DVLA notifiable eye conditions list updated
June 2023
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has updated a list of eye conditions that must be declared by car or motorcycle drivers. The guidance, available on the Government website, states that motorists must inform the DVLA of certain eye conditions affecting both eyes, or one eye if they only have vision in one eye.
DVLA notifiable eye conditions list updated
Eye conditions and driving: If you have a car or motorcycle licence
Guidance on hydroxychloroquine retinopathy
February 2023
The prevalence of retinopathy following long-term use of hydroxychloroquine is around 7.5%. Monitoring for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine retinopathy is not part of a routine private or GOS sight test. In December 2020, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists issued guidance on monitoring for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine retinopathy and LOCSU has developed a monitoring pathway.
Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy
The GOC launched a CPD scheme to replace CET
January 2022
Continuing professional development (CPD) began its three year cycle in January 2022. The main changes include creating a personal development plan (PDP) at the start of the cycle and completing a reflective exercise at the end ie Dec 2024. Registrants now take responsibility for uploading their own points and certificates to their MyGOC account. CPD can be provider led or self-directed.