EyePod: The optometry podcast

Optometry 2025 in review

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At the end of another busy year for the College, Clinical Advisers Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE discuss the m...

Atropine approval: What does it mean for the management of myopia?

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Advisers Denise Voon MCOptom, Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom, and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE discuss the recent news from th...

The Optometry Student Experience

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Four optometry students at different stages of their optometry journey share insights about their experience so far.They talk about why they chose opt...

A guide for new optometry students with Dr Sam Strong

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Starting your journey in optometry can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. In this episode, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks...

Access to eye care overseas with Sightsavers

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to Nazaradden Ibrahim, Global Technical Lead for Eye Health in the West Africa Region for the char...

The psychology of sight loss with Jasleen Jolly

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Dr Jasleen Jolly DPhil MSc FCOptom, Optometrist and Associate Professor in Vision Science, about...

Behind the pages: 100 years of OPO - Part 2

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To mark the 100th anniversary of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO), four past editors — Neil Charman, Bernard Gilmartin, Christine Dickinson...

Behind the pages: 100 years of OPO - Part 1

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

To mark the 100th anniversary of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO), four past editors — Neil Charman, Bernard Gilmartin, Christine Dickinson...

Autism - Accessibility in eye care

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Advisers Denise Voon MCOptom and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom talk to Simon Berry MCOptom, an optometrist who owns and runs...

Topic update: The impact of OCT in optometric practice

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Library and Information Services Manager, Marlene Blackstock, talks to College Vice President Professor Irene Ctori PFHEA FCOptom PhD PGDip MS...

International Women's Day 2025 part 2 - For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to College President Dr Gillian Rudduck PhD MCOptom DipTp(IP) Higher Cert Glauc and Vice President...

International Women's Day 2025 part 1 - True equity for women

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to Rebekah Stevens, Lead Assessor at the College, about what true equity should mean for women. Th...

The external eye with Fiona Jazayeri

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Fiona Jazayeri, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Buckinghamshire Health Trust, about the external ...

Optometry 2024 in review

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As we come towards the end of another busy year College Clinical Advisers Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom, Denise Voon MCOptom, and Daniel Hardiman-McCart...

A family's journey after an eye examination

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Nicola Nuttall, who tragically lost her daughter ...

National Eye Health Week: Keeping your eyes healthy

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of National Eye Health Week, our College Clinical Advisers answer some of the most common questions about eye health from patients. In this ep...

National Eye Health Week: Affordable eye care

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of National Eye Health Week, our College Clinical Advisers answer some of the most common questions about eye health from patients. In this e...

National Eye Health Week: Vision across different age groups

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of National Eye Health Week, our College Clinical Advisers answer some of the most common questions about eye health from patients. In this ep...

National Eye Health Week: What is an optometrist?

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of National Eye Health Week, our College Clinical Advisers answer some of the most common questions about eye health from patients. In this e...

National Eye Health Week: What is a sight test?

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As part of National Eye Health Week, our College Clinical Advisers answer some of the most common questions about eye health from patients. In this ep...

Driving home the importance of regular sight tests

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At the start of National Eye Health Week College Clinical Advisers Denise Voon MCOptom, Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE, and Dr Paramdeep Bilkh...

Everything YOU wanted to know about AMD

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom and Mike Horler, Consultant Optometrist at Sussex Eye Hospital and College Assessor and Council member, a...

I’ve received a GOC complaint; will I get struck off?

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

College Clinical Adviser and Optometric Adviser to the GOC Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Kayleigh Allen, Head of Fitness to Practise Legal; Roma Malik,...

Coping with anxiety: Supervisors and trainees

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of our anxiety podcast, Ruth Bennett, Deputy Lead Assessor on the Scheme for Registration, Dave Burke, Mental Health First Aid Inst...

Coping with anxiety

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ruth Bennett, Deputy Lead Assessor on the Scheme for Registration, talks to Dave Burke, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and Neil Constantine-Smith...

WebinarXtra: What's new in the Guidance for Professional Practice - 4th edition

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this WebinarXtra podcast, College clinical advisers Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE, Denise Voon MCOptom, and Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom d...

Dealing with bullying and harassment in the workplace

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest podcast, College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret talks to Nazia Fitzpatrick, a business psychologist and executiv...

Headlight glare - A glaring problem - Part 2

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of our special podcast, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Mike Bowen, Director of Knowledge and Research at the...

Headlight glare: A glaring problem - Part 1

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the first part of this special podcast, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, Member of the House...

Black History Month 2023: Saluting our Sisters

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To mark Black History Month, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talked to optometrists Chidinma Onyenezido MCOptom and Adaku Eze MCOptom to...

WebinarXtra: Artificial intelligence in optometry

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this WebinarXtra podcast, College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE talks to Dr Jeffry Hogg following his webinar on artifici...

Acuity podcast: A matter of research

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this special College podcast Acuity spoke to College members Amy Hughes MCOptom and Ian Jarvis MCOptom about their experiences of research.

WebinarXtra: Education and Training Requirements (ETR)

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this WebinarXtra podcast, Martyn Jones, Head of Curriculum Development and Dr Rebekah Stevens, Lead Assessor at The College of Optometrists, answ...

The importance of charity work in the eye care sector

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret speaks to Jane Veys MCOptom, Clinical Editor of Acuity magazine, about her long history...

Motion perception in cataract patients

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

To mark Cataracts Awareness Month, College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret talked to Dr Sam Strong, Lecturer of Vision Science ...

WebinarXtra: Binocular Vision

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this WebinarXtra podcast, College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret talks to Simon Frackiewicz MCOptom DipTp(IP), optometrist ...

WebinarXtra: Now & future retinal treatments

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Paramdeep talks to Mike Horler BSc FCOptom DipTp(IP) Higher Cert Med Ret, Consultant Optometrist in Medical Retina at ...

WebinarXtra: Best practice for optometrists' written and telephone referrals

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Denise talks to Dr Gordon Hay, Clinical Director for Emergency Care at Moorfields Eye Hospital, following his webinar ...

Dyslexia and the role of the optometrist

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom speaks to optometrist Bhavin Shah MCOptom MBABO FBCLA about how he provides help and su...

What every optometrist needs to know about visual snow

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the first part of this podcast, College clinical adviser Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom talks to Dr Rudrani Banik M.D. about visual snow syndrome. The...

Advanced Clinical Practice

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE talks to principal optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital Jay Varia BSc(Hons) MCOptom D...

WebinarXtra: OCT in optometric practice for beginners

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to optometrist Dr Rebekka Heitmar MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret following her webinar on OCT in optometric pr...

Black History Month 2022: Is optometry diverse and inclusive?

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special podcast for Black History Month, clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom first speaks to Dr Roxanne Crosby-Nwaobi postdoctoral ophthalmic...

WebinarXtra: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery - Part 3

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to ophthalmologist Kam Balaggan about the macula. As members of the College you can access the recorded w...

WebinarXtra: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery - Part 2

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to ophthalmologist Kam Balaggan about floaters and the vitreous. As members of the College you can access...

WebinarXtra: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery - Part 1

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to ophthalmologist Kam Balaggan about pseudoexfoliation and lens implants. As members of the College you ...

Myopia guidance review - Part 2

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of our myopia guidance review podcast, College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom speaks to optometrist Dr Bhav...

Myopia guidance review - Part 1

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

College clinical advisers Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE discuss the latest updates on myopia management guidan...

OPO special - Part 2: hospital optometrists survey and cataract advice

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this second episode of the OPO special edition podcast, Daniel speaks to two OPO journal authors; Paddy Gun MCOptom, Principal Optometrist for...

OPO special - Part 1: Is 'comfortable’ print size a useful clinical parameter?

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this two-part special OPO edition of the podcast, Daniel and Martin speak to College scholars, Associate Professor Keziah Latham FCOptom and  ...

WebinarXtra: The future of contact lenses

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Paramdeep talks to Dr Manbir Nagra MCOptom following her webinar on contact lenses. In her webinar, Dr Nagra provided ...

Creating an AMD one-stop shop

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Daniel and Martin speak to Principal Optometrist, Denise Voon MCOptom, and Retinal Consultant Ophthalmologist, Mr Markus Groppe, abou...

Vision Care for Homeless People

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our Clinical advisor Daniel Hardiman-McCartney talks to Elaine Styles optometrist and co-founder of Vision Care for Homeless People, about eye exams, ...

The restoration and transformation of eye care pathways post-COVID-19

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Melanie Hingorani  FRCOphth Clinical Lead for Eye Care Restoration and Transformation at NHS England, and the College's clinical adviser, Dani...

OiP: COVID-19 and its impact on eyecare

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Leon Davies FCOptom, Editor of OiP, and Professor Shahina Pardhan MCOptom, Director of Vision and Eye Research Institute at ARU, discuss the...

Reforming prisoners through optometry

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After optometrist Tanjit Dosanjh's own father was imprisoned for a serious criminal offence 2003, he knew that he wanted to do all he could to change ...

Risks of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in practice

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Daniel has a fascinating conversation with Professor Jose-Luis Jimenez, aerosol expert and fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Re...

WebinarXtra: Common optic neuropathies

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Consultant Ali Yagan following his webinar on common optic neuropathies, where he presented cases on d...

WebinarXtra: Is this child likely to be myopic?

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Clinical Adviser, Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom, asks Professor Kathryn Saunders FCOptom and Dr Sara McCullough MCOptom ...

How refractive blur affects driver judgement and our Focus On Life campaign

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Martin talks to Dr Joanne Wood - a Professor at Queensland University of Technology, Australia - about her latest research published ...

WebinarXtra: Monitor, manage, treat or refer?

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Michelle Hanratty MCOptom Dip Tp(IP) on how to decide what is best for your patient. Michelle - an Ind...

Mental health and newborn eye care

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Daniel and Martin interview not one, but two special guests. Martin, a new parent himself, discusses eye-related issues to look out fo...

WebinarXtra: Is this young child going to be at risk for strabismus or amblyopia?

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Rowan Candy delivered the keynote lecture at our recent virtual conference, Optometry Tomorrow Bitesize, on young children who are at risk for stra...

WebinarXtra: A headache for optometrists

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel catches up with Dr Benjamin Wakerley to answer questions there just wasn't time to cover during the live event....

WebinarXtra: Glaucoma laser treatments; what are they and should optometrists be doing them?

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Martin and Daniel bring you another WebinarXtra, where we answer questions there just wasn't enough time to answer during our live session. This time,...

WebinarXtra: Urgent ophthalmology cases

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Martin and Daniel bring you another WebinarXtra covering all those questions there wasn't time to answer during the webinar. In this episode...

WebinarXtra: What’s changed in the College's Guidance for Professional Practice?

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Clinical Advisers Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom and Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom, answer questions there wasn't tim...

Nutrition for optometrists

19 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world of nutrition and nutritional supplements can sometimes be a minefield for both patients and optometrists. In this “Take Over” episode of...

WebinarXtra: Delivering eye care in the current lockdown – your questions answered

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In January 2021, a national lockdown was reintroduced in England. Now the whole of the UK is in lockdown and, in accordance with each nation's governm...

20 years of advising the profession

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With the end of an extraordinary year approaching, Martin and Daniel thought it was time for a bit of nostalgia. Having recently stepped down from her...

OiP: MOLES algorithm - scoring system for managing patients with melanocytic choroidal tumours

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Choroidal naevi can be difficult to distinguish from melanomas, which means that many patients with benign tumours are referred to hospital eye clinic...

WebinarXtra: Double trouble - when ocular motor nerves go horribly wrong

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Simon Frackiewicz MCOptom DipTp(IP) who answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during ...

Living with hallucinations

13 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a common, but little known condition which refers to the silent visual hallucinations experienced by people who have ...

I'm a foreign body, get me out of here!

22 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the College's podcast, we cast our minds back to February 2020 when Martin spoke to Malcolm McPherson MCOptom about managing cornea...

WebinarXtra: OCT in community practice with Mike Horler MCOptom

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Mike Horler MCOptom who answered all those 'Xtra' questions there wasn't enough time to cover during h...

OiP: Lissamine green – where have we been and where are we now?

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Optometry in Practice (OiP) Editor-in-Chief, Professor Leon Davies FCOptom, interviews Claire McDonnell MSc elearning FAOI, one of the authors of the ...

COVID and the eye with Professor John Lawrenson FCOptom

16 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Martin and Daniel bring you another College podcast episode and, this time, Martin talks to Professor John Lawrenson FCOptom of City University, Londo...

The 15 seconds, 30-minute movement with Dr Rachel Pilling

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered how your actions affect those around you on a day-to-day basis? In this episode of the College's podcast, Martin and Daniel tal...

WebinarXtra: Scleral contact lenses for the regular eye with Katie Harrop MCOptom

21 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Katie Harrop MCOptom - Professional Services Director for No7 Contact Lenses - about the use of sclera...

WebinarXtra: Smoothing out a bumpy ride in oculoplastics: distinguishing benign from malignant lesions, with Raj Das-Bhaumik

10 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our WebinarXtra episodes cover 'Xtra' questions there just wasn't time to answer during the live webinar. In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks...

The eyes and lows of lockdown (Part 3): Taking care of your career

08 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

College Council member and optometrist,  Dr Parth Shah MCOptom,  takes over our airwaves for the final time in with his third COVID-themed p...

The algorithm's gonna help you - with Professor Alastair Denniston

16 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel loves all our podcasts, but he was particularly excited to have the opportunity to talk to Professor Alastair Denniston at our annual conferenc...

WebinarXtra: Peripheral vitreoretinal disorders for optometrists with Mr Kam Balaggan

10 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the UK there are around 7,300 new cases of retinal detachment every year, with many patients presenting with flashes and floaters to optometrists. ...

The eyes and lows of lockdown (Part 2): Taking care of your practice

22 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

College Council member and optometrist Dr Parth Shah MCOptom continues his podcast takeover with part two of 'The Eyes and lows of lockdown'. In this ...

WebinarXtra: Glaucoma case presentations - from core skills to diploma with Angela Whitaker MCOptom

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Daniel catches up with Angela Whitaker MCOptom following her webinar where she presented case studies from glaucoma clinical practice patients who hav...

The eyes and lows of lockdown (Part 1): Taking care of yourself

15 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 lockdown seems to have given some people the opportunity to try their hand at new things. College Council member and optometrist Dr Parth...

WebinarXtra: How to recognise diabetic retinopathy and manage your patients with Kate Powell MCOptom

06 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Kate Powell MCOptom, who answers questions from her recent webinar on diabetic retinopathy. The webina...

The battle to save my only eye

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Bernard Gilmartin FCOptom has very severe macular degeneration which has resulted in a dramatic loss of vision in one eye and threatens the ...

Blazing the trail for women in vision science

10 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A little later than planned, this month we talk to the inspirational Professor Shahina Pardhan - the first female Professor of Optometry in the UK. Pr...

OiP: The use of OCT in the detection and diagnosis of glaucoma with Dr Jonathan Denniss MCOptom

28 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Optometry in Practice (OiP) Editor-in-Chief, Professor Leon Davies FCOptom, talks to Dr Jonathan Denniss MCOptom, one of the authors of a recent paper...

Back and to the future of eyewear trends

21 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This month we look at a different aspect of optometry - eyewear trends through the ages. Following on from London Fashion week, Neil Handley, Curator ...

WebinarXtra: Orthoptics for the busy optometrist with Professor Bruce Evans FCOptom

14 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of WebinarXtra, Professor Bruce Evans FCOptom replies to the member questions there wasn't enough time to answer during his recent web...

Treating eye disease with gene therapy with Jasleen Jolly MCOptom

17 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of 2020, Martin and Daniel introduce Jasleen Kaur Jolly MCOptom, optometrist and researcher working at the Nuffield Laboratory of...

WebinarXtra: Glaucoma - piecing together the puzzle with Adam Wannell MCOptom

23 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

WebinarXtra answers all those member questions we didn't have time to cover during our popular webinars. In this episode, Daniel talks to Adam Wannell...

OiP: Keratoconus and cross-linking with Dr Vijay Anand MCOptom

20 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In November we published a hospital optometry special issue of Optometry in Practice (OiP) to coincide with the AOP Hospital Optometrists Annual Confe...

WebinarXtra: Interpreting OCT scans with Polly Dulley MCOptom

17 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In her recent webinar (https://learning.college-optometrists.org/course/view.php?id=213), Polly Dully MCOptom advised members on how to interpret OCT ...

Living with AMD

09 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Daniel talks to Jane Johns, a retired health visitor living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and Vanessa Camp, a Senior E...

WebinarXtra: Myopia management with Dr Nicola Logan MCOptom

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New to our podcast, Daniel and Martin bring you WebinarXtra, where we answer all those member questions we didn’t have time to answer during our web...

OiP: Myopia management with soft contact lenses

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Optometry in Practice (OiP) Editor-in-Chief, Professor Leon Davies FCOptom, talks to Dr Susie Jones MCOptom, about her recent paper on 'Myopia managem...

Orthoptics and optometry - spot the difference

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The College of Optometrists' podcast, Daniel talks to Simon Frackiewicz MCOptom who works as an optometrist and orthoptist both in ...