College of Optometrists

The College of Optometrists (the College) is the UK’s professional body and membership organisation for optometrists in the UK and worldwide. Optometrists work as part of a team however, so we also welcome optometry colleagues from across the professions including dispensing opticians, contact lens opticians, ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses and practice owners.

The College began its life in 1895 as The British Optical Association, introducing formal qualifying examinations and training. In the 1980’s the name changed to The College of Optometrists and it was granted armorial bearing by the College of Arms and was registered as a charity. It was in this decade that the College took on management, which continues to today, of Docet, funded by the UK Departments of Health, to provide free, high quality CPD for all UK optometrists. In 1995 the College was granted Royal Charter status by Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting its standing as the professional body for optometry and recognition of the MCOptom and FCOptom affixes.

The College continues to be the leading organisation for optometrists with an ambitious strategic vision to ‘eliminate preventable sight loss’. Our purpose is to champion optometrists as essential eye care professional and inspire and enable the to improve eye health and vision for all. We remain true to our core purpose of being at the forefront of education and training, developing and delivering the primary guidance and learning used every day by optometrists, conducting leading-edge research to advance the profession and public eye health, advocating for improved systems and process with government, and amplifying the awareness of good eye health to the public and the role of eye care professionals to support, diagnose and treat.

The College works on behalf of, and with, its almost 20,000 members across a wealth of issues and opportunities. They actively seek out partnerships and collaboration to work on and elevate projects that are appropriate to all eye care professionals and for the public benefit. The College is the primary organisation that media turns to for any eye-care related story, with their representatives frequently on national television and in national and regional press.

Membership of the College offers unparalleled benefits and support to enable members to excel in their practice, give them the confidence and competence to advance, and to give the very best eye-care to the public.