20 March 2025

FODO statement on World Optometry Week

The Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians proudly celebrates World Optometry Week and reaffirms our commitment to advancing eye health across the UK.

Good vision and eye health connect us to the world around us - it is essential for children's education and everyone's participation in society.

In a country where the demand for eyecare services continues to grow, it is more important than ever to celebrate the vital work optometrists do - and raise awareness of the challenges they face.

Primary eye care providers employ the largest qualified eye care workforce and are at the heart of every community. The bedrock of our eye health system is the sight test. Providing a universal eye health assessment, case finding and vision correction service, it is the front door from which all other eye care services flow. As a result, no child or adult in the UK need suffer uncorrected vision or its impacts.

These are all significant achievements which we should celebrate and be proud of, but protecting and advancing patient access to vital optometry services, including the sight test, remains critical.

There is still much to be done to streamline and expand access to eye care in the community, so that no patient suffers avoidable sight loss due to the delays in accessing hospital eye services.

As always, FODO is committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve this aim.