Visit to the College of Optometrists – Thursday 19^th January 2023 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS EVENT HAVE NOW CLOSED.

The College of Optometrists is the Professional, Learned, Scientific and Examining body for optometry in the UK. It was founded in 1980 as an amalgamation of three prior existing bodies and was granted a Royal Charter in 1995. It is a membership organisation with charitable status and retains a close link with one of its founding bodies, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers. It has occupied its current headquarters building since 1997 and a full refurbishment is nearing completion.

The role of the College is to champion optometrists and the importance of their role in the health care sector. It defines good practice for optometrists in clinical environments, and provides the tools and expert advice to enable them to achieve it. Alongside this the College seeks to enable optometrists to acquire new knowledge, skills and recognised qualifications so that they fulfil their potential and progress in their careers. It supports optical research and innovation that supports and advances the profession. The College also educates and advises the public on eye health care and the role of the optometrist.

The Library and the Museum collections both originate from 1901 and were inherited by the College from the former British Optical Association, the world’s first professional examining body in ophthalmic optics (optometry), originally defined as constituting that group of opticians specifically qualified to test sight and examine the eye for disease. Over the years they have been managed variously as a single or separate departments. They sit within a wider Directorate of Knowledge & Research and both are managed by professionally-qualified staff, with the museum making additional use of volunteers. They have been open to the public since at least 1926 but are still in the process of restoring public access and services post-COVID.

The visit will include a talk and tour of the Library and Museum led by Neil Handley (Museum Curator).

Attendees – a maximum of 25 people can attend this visit.

Location map – a map of the location can be found at: https://www.college-optometrists.org/the-british-optical-association-museum/visiting

For more information or to book a place, please contact Vicky Robertson – v.robertson@ucl.ac.uk

Bookings to be received by 5 p.m. on 12^th January 2023.