On the 12th of October, Optometry Scotland Chair Eilidh Thomson attended the College of Optometrists’ Royal Charter Anniversary Reception in London, which celebrated 30 years of the College’s Royal Charter and recognised outstanding contributions to the profession.
The event was attended by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh, who was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the College in recognition of her longstanding support for sight loss and vision related charities.
Eilidh was honoured to attend the event and meet the Duchess. Eilidh shared details on Scotland’s model of universal NHS-funded eye care, and discussed the impact of this, detailing how this ensures that everyone has access to a comprehensive eye examination at no cost. Eilidh discussed how integral community optometry is to manage vision issues, particularly in young children, noting the integral role of protecting sight loss.
Speaking after the event, Eilidh reflected:
“It was a privilege to speak with the Duchess about the impact of universal eye care in Scotland and the importance of ensuring that all children benefit from early eye screening. These services are vital to detecting and managing vision issues early, giving every child the best possible start in life.”
The event also provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the UK to discuss ongoing developments in optometry, including advances in technology, workforce development and the future of community-based eye care.
You can read the full College of Optometrists article here.
Optometry Scotland thanks the Duchess for her time and commends her work within sight loss and vision related charities.
As the representative body for the optometry sector in Scotland, we welcome open dialogue with our members as we continue to represent their interests.
If you would like to discuss anything, please get in touch with your organisation’s OS Representative or Regional OS Representative, or contact us at office@optometryscotland.org.uk.