FODO member update – 18 September

This week: 

• MHRA requirements for registration 

• Scottish GOS statistics published 

• Retinal imaging could help detect atrial fibrillation 

• NICE reports on digital technologies to support home monitoring of AMD 

• National Eye Health Week begins next week 

• NHS England publishes waiting time data 

• WorkNest webinars 

• Monmouth opticians reopens after flood damage 

• At a glance 

• Health policy

MHRA requirements for registration 

FODO has learned that optical practices do not need to register and pay a fee to the MHRA if they surface lenses and cut and fit finished lenses into frames – and only supply products to their own patients. 

Please see our health policy update below.  

Scottish GOS statistics published  

GOS statistics for Scotland show that there were around 2.54 million eye examinations in 2025-26 – 4.4% more than the previous year. 

Of these, 21,000 were specialist supplementary examinations undertaken since the service was introduced in August 2025. Primary eye care providers managed more than 93% of patients without the need for onward referral. 

Access the full statistics here. 

Retinal imaging could help detect atrial fibrillation 

Researchers have used OCT and retinal photographs from over 90,000 individuals across two large independent datasets from the UK Biobank data to assess whether these might help detect atrial fibrillation (AF).  

In a study published in PLOS Digital Health, researchers found AF-associated differences in imaging. They suggest that their findings could indicate a future role for retinal imaging in supporting the early detection and improved management of AF. 

NICE reports on digital technologies to support home monitoring of AMD 

The prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its impact on the hospital eye service, prompted NICE to look at digital technologies to support home monitoring. This week NICE reported on its review, stating more research is needed to support home monitoring of vision changes for people with advanced AMD before these can be funded by the NHS.  Learn more. 

National Eye Health Week begins next week 

The Eyecare Trust is giving members access to social media materials to help spread awareness of eye health during National Eye Health Week. 

The week runs from 21 to 27 September 2026, and you can download the materials here. 

NHS England publishes waiting time data 

The latest NHS RTT data covering the period to July 2026 shows that ophthalmology saw almost 73% of patients within the 18-week RTT target. In total, 620,931 were incomplete ophthalmology pathways and 187,512 of those were new pathways started in the reporting period. 

WorkNest webinars 

WorkNest is holding two webinars to help organisations prepare for upcoming changes to employment law and to tackle workplace issues with confidence. Follow the links below to sign up: 

• Preventing Harassment at Work: What Employers Need to Know
  24 September, 2pm – 3pm
• Managing Menopause in the Workplace
  6 October, 2pm – 3pm 

Monmouth opticians reopens after flood damage 

A charity raffle at the reopening of Monnow Eyecare practice on 15 September has raised funds for Monmouth Aid to continue helping the local community recover from the devasting impact of Storm Claudia in November last year.  

FODO’s membership and compliance officer, Malcolm Smith, was among the guests who attended the event. 

Read more in Clarity. 

At a glance  

• Public Services Delivery Scotland has published eight redrafted Community Eyecare Guidelines to help clinicians manage a range of eye conditions.  

• Visual problems are among the most common conditions recorded with the DVLA, data from FOI requests finds. 

• The BCLA is hosting a webinar on 13 October 2026 to explore the clinical impact of early-onset presbyopia in the digital age. 

• Doug and Mary Perkins awards have recognised DOs Anni Waldorf and Nicola McLeod for excellence in clinical eye care. 

• EssilorLuxottica has launched a new partnership programme called ELevate. 

• University of Huddersfield holds successful optical conference, with sponsorship support from FODO. 

• The College of Optometrists hosts a celebration of innovation and collaboration in eye health research. 

• SightGlass Vision’s DOT lenses win Technology Breakthrough of the Year at the Gold Stevie Awards.  

• ABDO announces new Board members. 

• The College’s British Optical Association Museum hosts hundreds of visitors at Open House 2026. 

Health policy  

MHRA registration 

The MHRA considers that the surfacing of lenses and the cutting and fitting (‘glazing’) of lenses by optical practices is the manufacture or assembly of a medical device. Registration with the MHRA may be required – but only if a medical device is ‘placed on the market’.  

The MHRA has published guidance to help organisations understand whether they need to register with the MHRA. FODO has recently received clarification from the MHRA about how this guidance applies to optical practices.  

The MHRA has confirmed that an optical practice that custom surfaces, cuts and fits lenses and only supplies the product to a patient of that optical practice would be putting the product ‘into service’ and not on the market. They would therefore not be required to register and pay a fee. We will publish guidance for members to explain requirements in this area further.  

The MHRA is consulting on proposed increases to registration fees for medical devices, from £300 to £511 per year. If agreed, the new fees would start from 1 April 2027. FODO will respond on members’ behalf.