Optometry Scotland is responsible for representing the views of the Optometry sector in Scotland
25/12/2025
Merry Christmas from everyone at Optometry Scotland. We would like to thank all our members and colleagues who continue to deliver essential eye care to communities across Scotland, today and throughout the year.
We hope you all have a peaceful day with family and friends. 🎄👀✨
24/12/2025
Final reminder!
1 week left for members who have not yet completed the 2025 GOS Mandatory Training module, Population Health: Community Optometry Making an Impact in Scotland.
Complete on TURAS, the new extended deadline must be completed by Wednesday 31 December 2025, in order to remain eligible to claim CPD allowance in 2026.
If you have not yet completed the training, we strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Please also take a moment to remind colleagues who may have missed this, including those on maternity leave or long term leave.
Thank you for your support.
24/12/2025
Wishing all our members, colleagues and partners a very Merry Christmas Eve from everyone at Optometry Scotland.
Thank you for the dedication, care and commitment you show to patients and communities across Scotland throughout the year.
Olly Jolly the Elf passes on his festive wishes on his way back to the North Pole.
We look forward to continuing our work together in 2026 to strengthen community optometry and improve eye health for all. 🎄👀✨
23/12/2025
A Christmas message from Eilidh Thomson, Chair of Optometry Scotland, we thank our members for their continued dedication and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. 🎄✨
19/12/2025
Elf is trying out a low vision aid today and says he can finally see his place on the nice list clearly again.
Low vision remains a major priority for Optometry Scotland. We are committed to strengthening and expanding access to low vision services across Scotland, ensuring patients receive the right support, in their local communities.
This is an area we will be actively progressing throughout 2026 as part of our wider strategy. Elf will be keeping a very close eye on this one. 🧝♂️👓✨
17/12/2025
Reminder!
We encourage members who have not yet completed the 2025 GOS Mandatory Training module, Population Health: Community Optometry Making an Impact in Scotland, to do so asap
Complete on TURAS by the new extended deadline on Wednesday 31 December 2025 in order to remain eligible to claim CPD allowance in 2026
Please also take a moment to remind colleagues who may have missed this, including those on maternity leave or long term leave
Thank you for your support
16/12/2025
Member spotlight!
Congratulations to Drs Scott and Roisin Mackie, who were recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement honour at the Scottish Optometry Awards, with Jenni Minto MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Public Health and Women’s Health, in attendance.
Reflecting on the award, they shared that they were humbled to receive recognition from their peers and very proud to be presented with the honour.
A well deserved recognition of their long standing contribution to optometry in Scotland.
15/12/2025
Our Vice Chair, Richard Spruce, was pleased to welcome Alexander Stewart MSP to R.D. McFarlane & Nicols Opticians last week.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the role of community optometry, local access to NHS-funded eye care, and how practices support patients in their communities.
Thank you for taking the time to visit and engage with the profession.
12/12/2025
Olly Jolly the Elf has returned to the clinic today with a sore eye and, just like everyone else, his first point of call is his local community optometrist. Olly the Elf is getting his eye checked and is very relieved to be in safe hands. 🧝♂️
This is exactly the kind of care that the new delivery of the GOS Specialist Supplementary Service (GOS SS) is designed to support. With full implementation planned for 19 January 2026, conditions such as anterior uveitis, herpes simplex keratitis, marginal keratitis and blepharitis will be managed more easily and efficiently in the community. 👀
Elf is giving this one a very festive thumbs up. 🎄
11/12/2025
Yesterday our Chair, Eilidh Thomson, and Vice Chair, Richard Spruce, travelled to Holyrood to meet with the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto.
They had a constructive discussion on our OCT report, and the contribution community optometry can make to patient-centred care in Scotland.
We were pleased to share OS’s continued commitment to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to strengthen local access, advance technology and reduce hospital burdens.
We extend our thanks to the Minister for her time.
11/12/2025
Our Winter Newsletter Is Now Live!
Our Winter Newsletter is now available to read. It includes updates on our current priorities, progress across key workstreams and what’s coming up for early 2026.
A lovely day in Edinburgh today at the Scottish Parliament, as we look ahead and plan our Low Vision parliamentary event in March 2026!
We are committed to expanding enhanced community services and utilising the full optical workforce, this includes low vision services, across Scotland. ☀️🏙️👓
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We are a not-for-profit organisation and the only representative of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians to the Scottish Government
Mission Statement & Objectives
Our mission is to advance world class eye care in Scotland. We will achieve this aim by:
Establishing clear aims objectives to the industry
Placing good communications and membership at the centre of our strategic plan
Securing the correct funding to facilitate our objectives
Work with industry stakeholders and the media to raise awareness of the importance of optometry in the primary care sector.
History
Through extensive negotiations, meetings, lobbying and sheer will and determination, our previous Chairmen Frank Munro, Hal Rollason and Donald Cameron led the newly formed Optometry Scotland to the introduction of the new GOS eye examination in April 2006. The introduction of the new structure of fees and standards heralded new levels of professional eye care which have become the envy of the optometry world and other professional health bodies who have learned from our experience and are now lobbying for funds. Our thanks to these pioneers of modern optometry in Scotland.
Function
Optometry Scotland is the sole negotiator for terms and conditions for the optical sector with the Scottish Government. A key aim is to negotiate the best possible fee structure in support of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians to allow them to continue to offer increasingly vital services within primary care.
