12 September 2025

FODO member update – 12 September

This week:

• Optical sector unites behind driver sight tests proposal
• IAPB launches ‘Vision Atlas' of sight loss globally
• Eye hospital tops acute trust league table
• Ophthalmology continues recovery
• At a glance
• Health policy

Optical sector unites behind driver sight tests proposal

Optical organisations have endorsed government road safety proposals that require motorists to provide proof of recent vision tests.

David Hewlett, FODO's director of policy and strategy, said: "Improving driver vision has been a long-standing public health policy of all the UK optical bodies and we are delighted to be part of this new push for fairness and improvement. The benefits to road safety are self-evident following the recent coroner's report and the many tragic accidents that preceded it."

Read more @Clarity. 

IAPB launches 'Vision Atlas' of sight loss globally

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has updated Vision Atlas, a digital platform that provides an overview of global eye health data and evidence. UK data estimates 4.6% of the population has some form of sight loss compared to 4.3% in Ireland.

Read more @Clarity. 

Eye hospital tops acute trust league table

Moorfields has topped the first NHS England acute trust league tables, with other specialist acute trusts making up the top eight. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was the top general hospital, ranking ninth overall.

The government hopes the tables will "raise standards and ensure better value for patients and taxpayers".

The Department of Health and Social Care is rolling out the league tables to rank every trust in England quarterly based on specific standards. Read more @Clarity. 

Ophthalmology continues recovery

The latest NHS waiting time data for England shows that in July, ophthalmology completed 70% of pathways within the 18-week target, marking its ongoing recovery and making it one of the top-performing specialities in meeting the prime minister's goal to restore NHS Constitution standards. 591,884 patients were waiting for a hospital appointment. 

At a glance

• Fidia Farmaceutici from Italy acquires UK ophthalmology firm Altacor. Read more.
• Asda Opticians launches in-store pre-registration training for optometry graduates. Read more.
• British Optical Association Museum in London unveils the world's oldest collection of ophthalmic and optical exhibits. Read more.
• Scottish Vision Services Steering Group's new name, Collaborative Scotland, emphasises the bringing together of sector organisations to help transform vision impairment services. Read more.
• NICE approves Idebenone (Raxone) treatment through the NHS in England for those aged 12 and above with a rare mitochondrial genetic condition. Read the NICE technology appraisal guidance.
• Sightcare invites independent opticians to connect at its networking roadshow in Macclesfield on 15 September. Read more.
• BCLA Japan invites authors registered for BCLA Asia 2026 to submit new science or case reports for peer review and discussion - deadline: 30 November at 11.59pm, Japan Standard Time. Read the details.
• OSA has outlined its strategy for optics over the next 10 years. Read more.
• Specsavers sets out plans for discussions with MPs and delegates during party conference season. Read more.
• The Optical Benevolent Fund of the Association of Optometrists and The College of Optometrists plans to relaunch as OptomHelp with a new website in the new year. Read more.

Health policy

• Planning framework for the NHS in England was published without fanfare. The new framework outlines how to achieve goals in the 10 Year Plan: "a new model of planning is required to meet the challenges and changing needs of England's population and, crucially, build the foundation for the transformation of our services."
  It advises ICBs, providers and other stakeholders to collaborate in understanding population needs and planning sustainable services to meet them. FODO and the NCHA will be working with sector partners and members to help protect and advance access to NHS care on behalf of patients.
• Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: "Neighbourhood health services fundamentally reimagine how the NHS works - bringing care closer to home while helping to tackle this nation's shameful health inequalities." 
  The government has confirmed that the first 43 areas to see changes will each have a programme lead. They will lead the effort to collaborate with existing local services, including optometry, and establish a new neighbourhood health service. Mr Streeting added: "Through our Plan for Change, we will stop people from being bounced around a broken system as we get the health service back on its feet."
• Optometry Northern Ireland (ONI) reports on a meeting with the permanent secretary for the Department of Health. Raymond Curran, head of ophthalmic services and his policy colleague James Murphy were also present. ONI said it had a "very positive meeting" at which it highlighted "the incredible work that optometrists do in the community, all backed up with evidence from the recent Ulster University study".
• NHS England has made further changes to the NHS Standard Contract technical guidance. They clarify how to use the escalation process to challenge activity management plans. It has also made minor amendments to the Service and General Conditions regarding medicines optimisation.