Celebrating the past, inspiring the future

Professional development remains central to ABDO’s role

ABDO’s Annual Plan for 2026 sets out an ambitious programme to promote the expertise of members, enable them to develop their roles and improve member services and support. This year is particularly significant as we mark 100 years of the profession – a milestone that offers a unique opportunity to celebrate our heritage while shaping the future.

Year of celebration and advocacy

The centenary theme, celebrate the past and inspire the future, will run throughout our activities. We aim to showcase the vital role dispensing opticians (DOs) and contact lens opticians (CLOs) play in optical practices and raise awareness among patients, practitioners and policymakers.

Media engagement will remain a priority, positioning ABDO as an expert voice and highlighting the specialist skills and knowledge of our members. Building on the success of last year’s initiatives – such as the Mumsnet research report on paediatric dispensing – we will continue to demonstrate the value of our profession in areas like children’s eyecare and optimising vision for drivers.

Three strategic priorities

Our work in 2026 focuses on the following three key priorities:

1. Showing the value of DOs and CLOs

We will share the findings of our Pay and Reward Survey with members and employers. We will also support members by showing how their own salaries compare across the sector, and how further learning and development can increase recognition.

We will launch a new member directory, enabling patients and practitioners to locate members and understand their areas of expertise. As part of our centenary celebrations, we will showcase member roles and achievements, while collaborating with sector partners to influence government and NHS plans across the UK.

Guidance on vision and driving will be produced to help patients maintain safe driving standards, and we will publish research and a white paper on paediatric dispensing to set out best practice and reinforce the depth of members’ training in this core area.

2. Enabling members to develop their roles

Professional development remains central to our role. This year, we will deliver new final examinations for students following updated syllabuses for the FBDO Diploma and the Diploma in Contact Lens Practice, ensuring high standards of delivery in line with General Optical Council requirements. We will also continue to deliver our Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eyecare, with added support for learners to develop evidence-based practice skills.

Plans for future higher qualifications and CPD leading to accreditations will be developed, alongside an ongoing programme of online and in-person CPD events, including workshops at 100% Optical and collaboration with the College of Optometrists on the Optometry Tomorrow conference. We will also provide clinical guidance on dry eye management and safeguarding training.

3. Improving member services and support

We are committed to enhancing the services and support we offer for members, including supporting and developing our network of regional leads. We will also complete the review of our advice and guidance, and develop a more accessible platform for members to access these resources. Our Business Hub will continue to provide practical support for business owners and managers, including regular business-related articles.

We will review our member benefits and promote our mentoring programme to strengthen professional networks. We will also develop our operational process to improve customer service and ensure value for money.

Looking ahead

In addition to these priorities, 2026 will see the development of a new strategic plan to guide ABDO’s work from 2027 onwards. This will mean developing our future vision for the profession, and setting out how we will work to deliver this.

Why it matters

The enthusiasm for initiatives such as the Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eyecare demonstrates a strong appetite among members to expand their knowledge and skills. The support shown by employers – both multiples and independents – for the FBDO apprenticeship shows a strong willingness to invest in the future of the profession. And the success of our 2025 clinical conference on dry eye management highlights further opportunities for members to extend their scopes of practice.

By investing in education, advocacy and member support, ABDO is not only celebrating a proud history but laying the foundations for a successful future.

As we embark on this landmark year, we invite all members to engage with the activities and opportunities ahead. Together, we can ensure that the next century for DOs is as impactful and innovative as the last.

Read the 2026 Annual Plan – and get involved in the Association’s 100 Years celebrations.