Autumn is the perfect time to start planning for the future – and what better way to do that than by engaging with fellow members and eyecare professionals (ECPs).
To that end, we would encourage you to register for our Annual Members Review Meeting on 7 October (7-8pm) where, amongst other things, we will be inviting contributions to help feed into the Association’s strategy for 2027.
We will also be reviewing ABDO’s activities over the past year, including our ongoing and successful centenary campaign, highlighting members’ achievements, and providing an update on the ABDO Benevolent Fund.
If you’re not able to attend the online meeting, please register in advance and you’ll receive a full recording.
Applications for the relaunched Hamblin Memorial Prize will remain open until Friday 16 October, so please take a moment to review the refreshed criteria – and consider making a nomination for this prestigious prize, kindly sponsored by Boots Opticians. The recipient will be announced during an online awards ceremony on 3 December – and receive a prize of £200.
The ABDO clinical and policy team are continuing to receive feedback on the General Optical Council’s (GOC) consultation on the testing of sight, supervision and delegation – to help shape ABDO’s formal response regarding how any proposed changes might impact our members in everyday practice. If you would like to respond, please send your views directly to the policy team at policy@abdo.org.uk by 12 October – prior to the consultation closure date of 21 October. Your views are important.
As part of its 2026 Annual Plan and centenary celebrations, ABDO is launching a new member directory this month. The directory will go live alongside a broader overhaul of ABDO’s searchable advice and guidance hub to streamline member support. The aim is to enhance member visibility, help patients locate trusted, qualified ECPs, and to help ECPs connect and share their areas of clinical expertise. To ensure we have all your details correct before the launch, including any further qualifications, please log in to the member dashboard to review and update your profile details.
Finally, thank you to everyone who has signed up to participate in our centenary celebrations this year. The response to our practice visits applications has completely exceeded our expectations – and emphasises just how much ABDO is a member organisation.
We want to support you in every way we can – and if I can be of assistance with any matter, don’t hesitate to contact me by emailing brennie@abdo.org.uk
Book a place on the Annual Members Review meeting on 7 October.