Greg Spruce

Researchers from all over the UK and beyond attended a major vision science congress hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University. 👏 The 2025 British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science (BCOVS) discussed the latest developments in visual science. 👓 The annual conference brings together researchers from the fields of optometry, orthoptics, ophthalmology, vision science, and psychology. This year’s event attracted a broad spectrum of contributions, with abstracts submitted by PhD students, early-career researchers, and senior academics. 🤝 Speakers from as far afield as Australia and the US gave talks on myopia and imaging, applied vision research and AI in vision science, visual perception and technology, public health and qualitative research, and educational research. Dr Joanne Wood, Professor of the School of Optometry and Vision Science at QUT (Queensland University of Technology), Australia, Professor David Whitaker of Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, and Professor Mark Bullimore of the University of Houston were the keynote speakers. 💬 Dr Sven Jonuscheit, chair of the BCOVS organising committee and Senior Lecturer in Vision Sciences at the University, said: “BCOVS 2025 provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.” The conference, held on September 1 and 2, kicked off with a Scottish-themed dinner and traditional ceilidh. “The conference is renowned for its welcoming and supportive environment, particularly for early-career researchers,” added Dr Jonuscheit, who is also Research Group Lead for the Vision Research Group in the School of Health and Life Sciences' Research Centre for Health (ReaCH). “We hope delegates enjoyed their time in Glasgow and at Glasgow Caledonian, and left feeling inspired, motivated and equipped with new ideas to advance their research.”

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The Guardian has revealed that half of all patients on NHS waiting lists in England have had no clinical contact since their GP referral, with eye care among the specialties carrying the highest number of unseen cases. As a result, patients are being left without basic diagnostic assessments or first appointments, increasing the risk of avoidable sight loss. Our commissioned PA Consulting report, ‘Key Interventions to Transform Eye Care and Eye Health’, demonstrates how community optometry can serve as a vital first port of call. By ensuring that the full range of optometrist skills are utilised before a referral is made, managing minor eye conditions and providing eye care closer to home, High Street optometrists can alleviate pressure on secondary care. We’re calling for a roll out of Community Urgent Eye Services, integrated glaucoma and cataract pathways, and expanded OCT capacity in primary care to release around 1.9 million appointments a year from hospital, A&E and GP waiting lists. Embedding these high-impact changes would ensure community optometry is the first port of call for eye health and eye care, speeding up access, reducing health inequalities and relieving the burden on other areas of the NHS so patients receive the care they need, when they need it. Read more: https://ow.ly/T0xS50WBWft

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Interested in how sustainability considerations can be integrated into surgical care? This fascinating discussion between J&J MedTech UK & Ireland experts explores: 🔍 How the Care Pathway Approach evaluates environmental impact 🔍 NICE guidance on Plus Antibacterial Sutures 🔍 Opportunities for healthcare systems to align patient care with sustainability goals Read the full interview 👉 https://bit.ly/3HRyaoR NHS Supply Chain #SustainableHealthcare #NetZero #PatientSafety #MedTech

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Primary eye care: Standing by to deliver the 10 Year Health Plan for England The College of Optometrists and the Optometric Fees Negotiating Committee (#OFNC) fully support the government’s mission to tackle inequalities in access to care and outcomes for all patients in England. #Optometrists and #DispensingOpticians already provide essential #NHS eye care in every community. With sustainable funding, they could do even more. We will work with the NHS to: • Promote the benefits of the NHS national sight testing service • Develop national commissioning frameworks for all enhanced eye care services • Bring together leading experts and providers to support the shift from analogue to digital Primary eye care has the infrastructure and clinicians with the necessary skills and expertise to treat more patients closer to home, helping reduce hospital waiting lists and improving outcomes. With the right funding models, primary eye care can deliver services more equitably, treat more patients closer to home and prevent avoidable sight loss. Read our full response ➡️ https://coptom.uk/4gyArlH #TheCollegeofOptometrists #EyeCare #PrimaryCare #NHS10YearPlan

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