The Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) has published the 29th annual edition of Optics at a Glance - the key source of information about optometry, opticians, the optical ...more

 Optics at a Glance 2009

ABDO, in conjunction with Optometry Scotland, has organised a special optical training day that will take place on Thursday 9 September at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

This event will be ...more

 NES Optical training day.pdf

In India the need for dispensing opticians as key players in eye care has now emerged, with the onus on skilfully interpreting the prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist and ...more

Please select the link below to view the Annual report and accounts 2009.

 ABDO Annual Report 2009

ABDO College has announced August application deadlines for the forthcoming courses:

Foundation Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing (Year 1) - 13 August 2010

Contact Lens Certificate - 25 ...more

 ABDO College courses application deadlines

A revised pdf version of the popular ABDO Safety and protective eyewear brochure has been produced, you can view the brochure by selecting the link below.



 Safety and protective eyewear 0610

The Home Office announced on Tuesday (15 June) that the Registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) will be halted to allow the Government to remodel the scheme back ...more

The ABDO, AOP, The College of Optometrists and FODO have issued a new document which complies with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act for all practices to have ...more

 Model Publication Scheme England, Wales Northern Ireland April 2010
 Scottish Publication Scheme 2010

Be a part of National Eye Health Week because Vision Matters!

For the first time ever the UK eyecare sector is joining forces with charities and healthcare professionals to ...more

ABDO Annual General Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the twenty fourth Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held on Saturday 9 October 2010 at 5pm, at ...more

 ABDO AGM

NOTICE IS GIVEN OF THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD OF ABDO 2010

There will be up to four places open for election. Three seats are currently held ...more

 ABDO Election Notice

In the run-up to the general election, LOCSU (Local Optical Committee Support Unit) has been very successful in lobbying many candidates and sitting MPs.

Now the election is upon ...more

 The 2010 General Election - A guide for Local Optical Committees

Based on statements in the media, it was reported in the last issue of the ABDO email newsletter that the 'Give me my pupillary distance campaign' had received the support ...more

Colleagues please treat this message as urgent.

At the end of the month the GOC will have to remove non-renewed/unregistered optometrists, dispensing opticians and businesses from their register. ...more

ABDO College has announced the dates and details of its 2010 pre-examination summer revision courses.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 19 May.

For further information click the link below.

 ABDO College 2010 Summer revision courses

GOC retention deadline 15 March: three weeks to go!
The retention deadline for all fully-registered optometrists and dispensing opticians is just three weeks away. All full individual and ...more

2009 No. 3062 and 2009 No. 3063

Legislation has been passed to clarify the position of dispensing opticians ordering, supplying and using certain drugs.

The legislation ...more

ABDO, working jointly with ACLM, AOP, FMO and FODO, has issued advice regarding consumer credit licences, interest free debit schemes and money laundering regulations.

To view this important ...more

 Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) Advice December 2009

The GOC is hosting five consultation events around the UK to hear feedback on its revalidation proposals.

Revalidation for dispensing opticians and optometrists will be introduced ...more

Please select the link below to read or download the briefing paper.

 Opticians and VAT briefing paper 14-12-09

ABDO College’s Access Courses are designed to help prospective dispensing optician students to meet the necessary entry requirements. They are also a useful refresher for those who have been out ...more

 ABDO College Access Courses Jan 2010

This year, The Optometry Blog has offered its online CET programme free to all ABDO members via the 'Free CET' link on the CET Scheme page. This service has ...more

ABDO College is now accepting registrations for the Low Vision Honours course and the range of Access Courses that will commence in January and February 2010 respectively.

For further ...more

 ABDO College Low Vision and Access courses December 2009

To view the 2009 Graduation Ceremony brochure, please click here.

 2009 Graduation Ceremony Brochure

Fellow Members

Since the news of the fees increase I have been unable to sit down and concentrate fully on composing a response to the membership primarily down to ...more

" The GOC has issued this statement in response to our letter to members. It completely misses the point that we asked for staged payments a year ago and were ...more

Please select the link below to view a map of the Cathedral precincts.

Please note the order of proceedings for graduation day are:

3.30 to 6.00pm: Registration
Upon ...more

 ABDO Cathedral Map

Please note car parking is not available at the Cathedral or within its precincts.

Park and Ride is the cheapest and fastest way for car drivers and their passengers ...more

November 9 - 15 2009 marks the Eyecare Trust’s 15th annual National Eye Week. The Week, which this year has been generously sponsored by Simplyhealth, an organisation which helps thousands ...more

In light of the continuing postal problems, ABDO area meeting notifications will only be circulated by email for the time being. It would be appreciated if all ABDO members ...more

ABDO College will once again be offering its popular revision courses this winter to help students prepare for the ABDO examinations. Half day sessions will be offered in the OL ...more

 2009 Winter Revision Courses

ABDO WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The results of the recent ABDO Board elections were announced at the Association's AGM on Saturday, the successful candidates are Kevin Gutsell ...more

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians has joined forces with the British Contact Lens Association to produce a new leaflet encouraging more optometrists and dispensing opticians to specialise in contact ...more

 For a copy of the See yourself as a CLO leaflet, please click here

To view the ABDO Conference handbook, please click here.

 ABDO Conference Handbook 2009

The General Optical Council (GOC) has launched a recruitment drive for up to 50 individuals to sit on its statutory committees. Positions on committees are open to optometrists, dispensing opticians, ...more

ABDO Conference Handbook 2009

To view the ABDO Conference handbook, please click here.

The Association is pleased to announce the winners of the area prize draw, who will now receive tickets to attend the 2009 ABDO Conference and Exhibition.

The lucky ...more

Please select the link below to view the Annual Report 2008.

 ABDO Annual Report 2008

Are you a qualified Optometrist or Dispensing Optician or with a BSc (Hons)?

ABDO College is offering a fantastic opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join our team ...more

 ABDO College Lecturer Advert

Please select the link below for further information.

 Lone Practitioner Guidance

Please select the link below for the Swine Flu Government leaflet.

Information about swine flu and links to obtain further information.

If you believe you have ...more

 Swine Flu Government Leaflet

A new search facility now is functional in the Advice and Guidelines section of the ABDO website.

Select the link Advice & Guidelines

This year we have received six valid nominations for candidates wishing to serve on the ABDO Board from October 2009 until September 2012. As there are only two vacancies ...more

ABDO College extends a warm welcome to everyone who visits our new website www.abdocollege.org.uk. It has been designed to offer you quick and simple navigation routes so that ...more

ABDO College provides comprehensive education for dispensing opticians and is currently accepting applications for a range of different courses.

Please select the link below for further details and course deadlines.

 ABDO College Courses - August deadlines

Please select the link below to view or download a copy of the Conference brochure.

 ABDO Conference and Exhibition Brochure 2009

To read the advice notice issued jointly by ABDO, AOP and FODO, please select the link below.

 NPSA - Patient numbers advice Jul09

General Optical Council press release, 30 June 2009
For immediate release

The General Optical Council (GOC) is today reminding all optical businesses, students and supervisors to ensure their ...more

General Optical Council press release, 29 June 2009
For immediate release

The GOC today warned thousands of optometry and dispensing optics students to renew their registration by ...more

ABDO College now offers two distance learning pathway options on the route to becoming a Dispensing Optician; the Foundation Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing and the Fellowship Dispensing Diploma.

For ...more

 ABDO College Information - July 2009

Transitions Optical launches ‘Eye Know Eye Care’ a schools programme targeting 150,000 Key Stage 2 primary school kids and their parents from this September in conjunction with ABDO and AOP.
...more

 Transitions Optical Launches Innovative Schools Programme

Please select the link below to view or download a copy of the Conference brochure.

 ABDO Conference and Exhibition brochure 2009

Please select the link below for the Notice of the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Association.

 Notice of ABDO Annual General Meeting

Please select the link below for the notice of the Election of Directors to the Board of ABDO 2009.

 ABDO Board - Election of Directors 2009

Please select the link below for guidance from ABDO, AOP, The College of Optometrists and FODO.

 Swine Flu Advice - 29 April 2009

Please select the link below for the GOC CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT: For individual and for business registrants

 GOC Code of Conduct Consultation April 09

NICE has issued guidelines on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma which have a significant effect on optometric management of glaucoma patients.

To view the NICE glaucoma guidelines click the link below.

 Advice on NICE glaucoma guidelines

The Department of Health (DoH) has provided notification dated 31 March regarding the General Ophthalmic Services increases to NHS sight test fee and NHS optical voucher values that will come ...more

 DoH notification of increases to NHS sight test fee and NHS optical voucher values

Many practices may not realise that they should be registered with the Medicines Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for "assembly" of spectacles. For optical practices assembly is the act of ...more

 MHRA Registration Form

The new edition of the highly useful Vouchers at a glance, which will come into effect 1 April 2009 has now been published - a free copy will be included ...more

 Vouchers at a glance - 1st April 2009

Please select the link below for a report on the ABDO Open Forum Day on 4th March 2009.

 Open Forum Report 040309

New Voucher Values, England have been announced, please select the link below for full details.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have confirmed that they will all adopt the same voucher values

 New Voucher Values, England 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010

General Optical Council press release, 16 February 2009
For immediate release.

GOC warns, “Renew your registration now or face £20 penalty”

The General Optical Council ...more

ABDO Winter 2008 Examination Results Release Dates

PQE/FQE & Final Dispensing : Monday 16th February 2009

Examination results will be sent by first class ...more

This is a copy of a recent letter issued to all members in England and Wales send on behalf of the President, Barry Duncan. It is important you read ...more

ABDO to publish Optician Index summary, please click on the link below for further information.

 ABDO to publish Optician Index summary

In addition to the extensive CET provided by the Association, ABDO is pleased to announce a unique and exclusive offer - following negotiations with ABDO’s Head of Professional Services, Elaine ...more

 Free CET for ABDO members

Over the past few months I am aware that there have been some members expressing concern over the direction in which the ABDO Board is moving the Association. This apparent ...more

For further details please select the link below.

 Johnson & Johnson Vision Care CET Roadshows

The Department of Health has published a letter from Derek Busby announcing increases to the NHS sight test fee, pre-registration supervisors allowance and continuing education and training allowance.

Please ...more

We are pleased to inform members that the Advice and Guidelines section of the website has been fully updated with effect from Monday 22 December 2008.

A primary ...more

Please refer to the addendum below.

 Implications of VAT Rate Change to Optics (Addendum)

Are you one of those students who can’t quite get forms and other material in before a deadline? If the answer is ‘yes’ then this news is important for you. ...more

As you will be aware the Chancellor announced that the standard rate of VAT will be reduced from 17.5% to 15% from Monday December 1 2008.

This ...more

 VAT advice to optometrists - Shaun King
 VAT advice to optometrists - Steve Botham

The following guidance is offered from the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists, the British Medical Association and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.

...more

 Managing GOS Contracts in England

Today the GOC have announced a substantial increase in their annual fees to £219. This follows a 4 year period of stability where the fees have remained unchanged. Over recent ...more

ABDO’s Membership Services department is delighted to announce the launch of a series of practical and stylish new ABDO corporate items that will promote and enhance your membership. Each of the gifts ...more

 ABDO Corporate Gifts order form

To view the Ceremony Brochure please click the link below.

 Graduation and Prizegiving Ceremony - Brochure

All ABDO College FD students should have received a letter from Canterbury Christ Church University with a student ID and a booklet with details of activating your computing account (to ...more

We recently suffered a serious failure in the computer system holding our database.

This failure was caused by a fault on the hard drives. The fault has also affected ...more

It has come to our attention that a number of optical practices have received calls from individuals claiming to be phoning from the General Optical Council, asking for employee details. ...more

A new National Eye Health Epidemiological Model (NEHEM) will, for the first time, make data on the prevalence of four common eye conditions freely available. The model was launched ...more

For further information please click on the link below.

 Optometry Dispensing Optics Advert 2008

Please see the attached programme update for the 2008 ABDO Conference and Exhibition (to be held 27-29 September at The Midland Hotel, Manchester).

For further information ...more

 Manchester Programme update 22 September 2008

ABDO General Secretary Sir Anthony Garrett, on behalf of the ABDO College Trustees, held an informal reception on 11th September at Godmersham Park, Kent to celebrate the new partnership between ...more

Please see the attached 'handbook' for the 2008 ABDO Annual Conference and Exhibition (to be held 27-29 September at The Midland Hotel, Manchester).

For further information and bookings log-on here.

 ABDO Conference and Exhibition 2008 - Handbook

A 21-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his girlfriend, dispensing optician Hollie Green, who was found dead in her home in Lordswood, Southampton during the ...more

Please see the attached programme update for the 2008 ABDO Conference and Exhibition (to be held 27-29 September at The Midland Hotel, Manchester).

For further information ...more

 Manchester Programme update 12 September 2008

The attached consultation has just been posted on the MHRA website. The proposal will allow registered dispensing opticians to obtain wholesale supplies of Tropicamide, Cyclopentolate, Amethocaine, Oxybuprocaine, Chloramphenicol, Lignocaine ...more

For details of the ABDO College Low Vision and Revision courses please select the link below.

 ABDO College Low Vision and Revision courses

Something totally new is the Spectech forum which will take place on Saturday 27 September 2008, at the prestigious Midland Hotel in Manchester, as part of ABDO’s ...more

 Spechtech at the Midland Hotel, Manchester

The NEW Advanced Contact Lens Diploma Preparation Course has been designed to guide & support those interested in attaining a higher contact lens qualification.

The course consists ...more

REDEMPTION OF OPTICAL VOUCHERS IN ENGLAND
ADVICE FROM ABDO, AOP, BMA AND FODO

7 August 2008

Recent changes in regulations by the Department of Health have created a ...more

Please select the link below to read or download the report.

 ABDO Annual Report 2007

Please select the link below to read or download the report.

 ABDO College Annual Report 2007

Under the transitional arrangements, existing contractors (excluding grandfathers and subject to the limited exceptions set out in regulations) have an absolute right to a contract under the law, provided they ...more

 GOS Contracts (England) Countdown to 1st August 2008
 NHS Notice - Finalisation of Contracts

Voting for the ABDO Board elections closed at NOON on MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2008. The result of the ballot will be announced at the Association’s AGM, which will take ...more

Please select the link below to view or download the Practice poster.

 Practice poster

ABDO has various documents relating to the new GOS contract that can be found on the our website eg guidance, sample letters to PCTs and frequently asked questions. The ...more