College consulting on updated guidance

The College of Optometrists has launched a public consultation on the next edition of its Guidance for Professional Practice, which includes proposed amendments that may impact dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians in the future.

Running for six weeks until 3 August, the consultation is open to College of Optometrists members, other eyecare professionals, patients and the public.

Designed to help shape the guidance that will set the standards for optometric practice across the UK for the next three years, it introduces three new sections and more than 75 proposed amendments.

These include:.

• Myopia management and professional titles
• A new public protection position prohibiting misleading dyslexia-related advertising claims
• An updated infection prevention and control section in alignment with Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ recommendations for disinfection of reusable instruments and fitting lenses
• Updated glaucoma referral and community pathway guidance
• A new professional duty of candour applying to all registrants

The three new sections are proposed to address what the College describes as “the most pressing issues facing the profession today” – namely:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies: setting out clear expectations on clinical accountability, data governance, transparency with patients, and AI literacy, as AI tools become increasingly embedded in eyecare practice
• Expanding scope of practice: providing practical guidance on how optometrists can safely move into new areas of practice
• Culture and governance: introducing an explicit expectation that optical businesses must not use scheduling methods that compromise patient safety, such as routine overbooking or ‘ghost clinics’, and must allow sufficient time for individual patient needs, including for children, neurodivergent patients, and those with complex needs

Denise Voon, clinical advisor at the College of Optometrists, said: “This is an important opportunity for everyone with an interest in eyecare to have their say and influence the standards that underpin safe, effective and high-quality eyecare. We want to ensure the guidance reflects people’s real-world experiences, whether they’re a frontline optometrist, practice owner or patient, as well as grounding the guidance in evidence-based research.

“Our proposed updates reflect the realities of the modern eyecare landscape, including the rapid adoption of AI, expanding clinical roles and the need for workplace cultures that support professional judgement and patient-centred safe and effective care,” added Denise.

Amy Seaman, ABDO clinical and policy manager, told DO Online: “It is useful for our members to be aware of the College of Optometrists’ Guidance for Professional Practice, and to have an input into the consultation on its updated version for 2026. Several of the proposed amendments, including on myopia management and a new public protection position prohibiting misleading dyslexia-related advertising claims, will be relevant to dispensing opticians and contact lens opticians working in practice alongside their optometrist colleagues.”

Following the six-week consultation and review of feedback submitted, the College will publish the fifth edition of its Guidance for Professional Practice in winter 2026.

Share feedback on the College of Optometrists’ consultation on its Guidance for Professional Practice by Monday 3 August.