FODO member update – 29 May
This week:
- Webinar on glaucoma guidance
- ‘Test early, allow more time, simplify communication’
- Mileage allowance increased
- ABDO white paper on paediatric vision care
- Laser heat treatment could stop sight loss
- At a glance
- Health policy news
FODO members are invited to a joint sector webinar, Glaucoma Care Reimagined: Empowering Primary Care Optometry, on 30 June at 7.30pm.
The webinar follows the publication of NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time best practice guidance on managing glaucoma, and the joint sector response. It will explore how primary care optometry can play a fuller role in the pathway. Hear from the panel on new commissioning developments, the policy and funding landscape, and equipment and infrastructure decisions for practices.
We encourage optometrists, dispensing opticians and practice owners to attend. You can submit questions before the event and register here.
‘Test early, allow more time, simplify communication’
Kamran Saha, a Moorfields ophthalmic consultant who runs an eye clinic for people with dementia, has highlighted the importance of vision checks in the dementia diagnosis pathway.
In an interview for Clarity marking Dementia Action Week, he said that simple vision and hearing checks should be a routine part of dementia care, not an optional extra. Ideally, they’d be done early, when patients can adapt well to glasses or hearing aids and avoid further health complications.
The government has announced a 10p increase in the mileage allowance rate for cars for the first 10,000 business miles in the tax year, marking the first uprating of mileage rates in 15 years.
Mileage rates will increase for 2026/27, rising from 45p to 55p for the first 10,000 miles, and 25p thereafter. The change will take effect retrospectively from 6 April 2026
ABDO white paper on paediatric vision care
ABDO has released a white paper on vision care for children. ‘Advancing paediatric vision care: evidence-based insights and best practices for dispensing spectacles to children’ combines the latest research and practices to guide eyecare professionals and assist frame producers.
Dr Alicia Thompson, ABDO research director and the paper’s author, said: “Children’s vision is foundational to learning, social development and long-term wellbeing, and dispensing spectacles to children remains one of the most rewarding, complex, challenging, and yet, at times, underestimated areas of primary eyecare practice.”
Read more in Clarity.
Laser heat treatment could stop sight loss
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland are exploring whether they could help vulnerable eye cells defend and repair themselves before they succumb to AMD, using infrared light to gently heat the fundus at the back of the eye. Read more.
- Optician interviews Paul Carroll, who has recently retired from his role as FODO board member and Specsavers director of professional advancement services.
- LOCSU has published three new case studies showing how enhanced optometry services are supporting glaucoma filtering and monitoring across different parts of the country. Read more.
- The College of Optometrists has also now responded to the UK government’s Health Bill, welcoming its “ambition to strengthen integrated care”.
- The AOP has introduced four new positions on its council, dedicated to new students and early career professionals. Read more.
- Mary Foy MP visited Durham-based optometrist Simon Berry, where they discussed the challenges of running an independent practice. Read more.
- The Duchess of Edinburgh, in her role as global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, celebrated efforts to improve eye health. Read more.
- Fight for Sight discusses its hopes for Vis-Ability 2026, an invitation-only conference on 10 June that brings together vision-impaired leaders and senior figures from business, government, research and the charity sector.
Community Pharmacy funding increases by 10%
Community Pharmacy England has confirmed that the NHS pharmacy budget will increase by 10% to £3.636 billion, including an allowance for central digital costs. The £215 million Pharmacy First budget will also merge into the NHS Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in 2026/27. Read more.
SNP appoints new health secretary
The Scottish Government has appointed Angela Constance as the new cabinet secretary for health and care. She replaces Neil Gray.
On her first engagement to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, she said: “The absolute priorities are better, faster care, for patients to get care closer to home – and when they do need to come to hospital, that they spend as little time there as possible.” Read more.
Resident doctors to strike again
The British Medical Association has announced that resident doctors in England will strike for four days from 15 June after talks with the new health secretary, James Murray, failed to reach an agreement on pay, the BBC reported.
This will be the 16th time resident doctors have taken industrial action over pay. Mr Murray said he was disappointed that members had rushed into “unnecessary and unreasonable” strike action.