The College of Optometrists is the professional, scientific and examining body for optometry in the United Kingdom, working for the public benefit. Their headquarters is at 41-42 Craven Street, London WC2, of which no 41 is a Grade II listed building. [1]
After the establishment of the British Optical Association (BOA) in 1895, several more professional bodies were formed for the development of British optometry, with at least six separate qualifying associations existing in the period prior to the passing of the Opticians Act (1958). By that year only four were authorised to conduct examinations and award professional qualifications statutorily approved by the General Optical Council (GOC). In 1962 the Institute of Optical Science (tracing its history, via predecessor bodies to 1905) merged with the BOA, leaving only three approved professional bodies. The creation of a single new professional body in the form of a Royal College for optometrists was suggested in 1972 in a letter published by Rishi Agarwal. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The college was established in 1980 by three separate bodies, the former British Optical Association founded in 1895 and the Scottish Association of Opticians tracing its history to 1922 (both of which were disbanded in 1980) and the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (incorporated by a Royal Charter in 1629 during the reign of King Charles I) which had run qualifying exams since 1898 but surrendered its examining function to the new college. In 1980 the title British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) was adopted. In 1987 the title was changed to British College of Optometrists and in 1995 the title College of Optometrists was adopted.
The College of Optometrists was granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 September 1995. [6] [7] This was celebrated at Guildhall on 25 January 1996 and attended by the Duchess of Gloucester and members of the college and guests. [8]
Shortly before its formal foundation, the college was based at 10 Knaresborough Place in Earls Court, London in a town house purchased for it by the British Optical Association. The college moved to its current headquarters at 41-42 Craven Street in December 1997. The premises comprise two former townhouses, originally built in the 1730s, but with later additions. These were originally mid-terrace properties but following demolitions in the 1970s they now represent the end of the Georgian block on the east side of the street. It has transpired that one of houses (no 41) accommodated a business selling telescopes and optical 'toys' in the 1820s. [9]
The college is also the registered office of the European Academy of Optometry and Optics [10] (EAOO), a membership organization for the development of optometry and optics in Europe. It previously provided the Secretariat for the EAOO from 2008 to 2017. The college also provided the Secretariat for the World Council of Optometry [11] from 2008 to 2015. The college museum includes an archive of the history of the WCO and its predecessor international bodies, the IOL (1927-1969) and IOOL (1969-1995).
Optometry is a specialized health care profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities. Optometrists are health care professionals who typically provide comprehensive primary eye care.
The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, UK.
The British Optical Association (BOA) was founded in February 1895 as the first professional body for ophthalmic opticians (optometrists) in the world. The British Optical Association Museum and Library was founded in 1901; it retains the BOA name but is now part of the College of Optometrists, located in Craven Street, Charing Cross, central London.
An optician is an individual who fits eyeglasses or contact lenses by filling a refractive prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. They are able to translate and adapt ophthalmic prescriptions, dispense products, and work with accessories. There are several specialties within the field.
The General Optical Council (GOC) is an organisation in the United Kingdom which maintains a register of opticians and regulates the services provided by dispensing opticians and optometrists. The stated function of the GOC is "to protect the public and promote high standards of professional conduct and education amongst opticians".
An eye care professional is an individual who provides a service related to the eyes or vision. It is any healthcare worker involved in eye care, from one with a small amount of post-secondary training to practitioners with a doctoral level of education.
Optometry is a health care profession that provides comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes the diagnosis and management of eye diseases.
The Institute of Optometry is a centre for optometry, based in south London, England. It was established in 1922 as the London Refraction Hospital.
Marshall B. Ketchum University is a private university focused on graduate programs in healthcare and located in Fullerton, California. MBKU expanded from the Southern California College of Optometry which was founded in 1904. The university was officially established as a multidisciplinary university with the addition of School of PA Studies in 2011 and College of Pharmacy in 2013. Along with Hope International University, the campus bookends the north and south sides of the Cal State Fullerton campus respectively.
The eye care system in Ghana can be said to be one in its infant or growing stages. Today there are less than 300 eye care professionals taking care of the eye needs of over 23 million Ghanaians.
John Browning was an English inventor and manufacturer of precision scientific instruments in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He hailed from a long line of English instrument makers and transformed the family business from one dealing in nautical instruments to one specialising in scientific instruments. Browning was particularly well known for his advances in the fields of spectroscopy, astronomy, and optometry.
Henry W. Hofstetter was an American optometrist and the author of two books and 500 research papers. He is a past president of the American Optometric Association and a member of the National Optometry Hall of Fame.
Eye care in the United Kingdom is available through the National Health Service. Eye care in the community is almost entirely provided by optometrists in private practice. Specialist NHS services are provided from a small number of eye hospitals, and their staff often run clinics in general hospitals in their region.
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading representative membership organisation for optometrists in the United Kingdom.
The Optical Confederation is a British trade association launched in April 2010. It is said to help the optometric profession to "punch well above its weight". Lobbying is one of its key activities. It agrees on advice to opticians with the Department of Health about the administration of NHS sight tests and what fees practitioners can claim. It also issues guidance on professional issues which apply to the entire optical sector, such as the prevention of abuse of vulnerable patients.
Heiko Pult is a German research optometrist, specialising in research in dry eye, contact lenses, tear film and visual acuity. He is the CEO of Horst Riede GmbH in Weinheim, Germany, and also heads a research group, Dr Heiko Pult - Optometry and Vision Research, also based in Weinheim. He is also a lecturer and author of numerous papers, articles and books.
Local Optical Committees are statutory bodies established within the British National Health Service to represent the interests of community optometrists and opticians. There are 78 Local Optical Committees in England. They are supported by the Local Optical Committee Support Unit which provides a link to the national bodies the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Opticians.
Optometry Today is a professional magazine, published bimonthly by the Association of Optometrists in the United Kingdom.
Clinical and Experimental Optometry is a bimonthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering optometry. As of 2021, the journal has been published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of Optometry Australia, the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, the Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists, and the Singapore Optometric Association, of which it is the official journal. Previously it was published by John Wiley & Sons. The editor-in-chief is Professor Nathan Efron.
Epsilon Psi Epsilon (ΕΨΕ) was the first collegiate, professional fraternity for students of Optometry. It continues today on the Ohio State University campus.
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