The Institute of Optometry is one of the country's leading centres for vision care. Based in London, it offers a comprehensive range of services to support the optical professional throughout the UK. The Institute can help optometrists, pre-reg students and ophthalmologists provide the best possible eyecare to their patients. Established in 1922 as the London Refraction hospital, it became the Institute of Optometry in 1988 when its role expanded to include postgraduate training and education. Its overall philophy has, however, remained the the same since its formation. This is a total commitment to offering quality visioncare support to everyone who attends - whether they be a member of the profession or the public. As a registered charity, the Institute of Optometry relies on voluntary support to develop its services for the benefit of the profession and the public.

The Institute of Optometry is recognised as a centre of excellence for the clinical training of members of the profession. It offers numerous courses throughout the year which enable optometrists to enhance their existing skills or learn about more specialised services such as paediatric visioncare.

These courses are either held in the Institute's recently refurbished lecture theatre, which can accommodate 100 delegates, or in its clinics which provide practical "hands on" workshops. There is a wide range of training available, with subjects including diagnostics, therapeutics, ophthalmology, contact lenses, paediatrics and binocular vision, as well as specific issues such as reading difficulties and dyslexia.

The Institute also offers a refraction refresher course for optometrists who have been out of practice for several years and a comprehensive revision course for pre-reg students about to take their POL.

With an increasing emphasis by government and the General Optical Council on continuing professional development, the Institute of Optometry is well placed to meet the education needs of the profession. The courses are always DOCET approved and qualify for CET credits. One to one tutorials on a wide range of subjects are also possible and are helpful to those requiring more clinical experience. Whatever your personal training requirements, there is likely to be a course to help you.

Specialist Eyecare Clinics

A fundamental part of the Institute's work is to provide specialised eyecare which is not always available from optical practices. Patients come from all over the country to receive such treatment, usually after being referred by their local practitioner. Most tend to have ocular complications which require more detailed investigation and specialist knowledge to ensure a successful outcome.

For example, the Institute is particularly well known for its children's eyecare, especially where learning difficulties are related to visual problems. The Institute also specialises in contact lenses, primarily helping patients who are either experiencing problems with their current lenses or appear unable to wear them at all.
Other specialist services offer by the Institute include:

Specific Learning Difficulties

The Institute is closely involved with research into, as well as the treatment of, visual complications relating to dyslexia. Although it is generally accepted that sight problems are not the main cause of dyslexia, certain visual complications do occur more often in dyslexic patients and these may contribute to reading and learning difficulties, especially for children. The most common indications are a reduced ability to focus close-up and binocular instability, sometimes leading to visual distortion. After a thorough investigation at the Institute, each patient's treatment is tailored to that individual's specific requirements. This may involve eye exercises, colour overlays and coloured lenses. A full report is also sent to the patient's own practitioner.

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How You Can Help The Institute

The work of the Institute would not be possible without the support of the optical profession and the public. Such support is vital if the Institute is to maintain its commitment to quality and excellence across its range of eyecare services. If you are able to contribute to the Institute in any of the ways described below, please contact us.