
EyePod: The optometry podcast
By The College of Optometrists


Autism - Accessibility in eye care

Topic update: The impact of OCT in optometric practice
College Library and Information Services Manager, Marlene Blackstock, talks to College Vice President Professor Irene Ctori PFHEA FCOptom PhD PGDip MSc BSc(Hons) about her research on “The Impact of OCT in Optometric Practice".

International Women's Day 2025 part 2 - For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment
College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to College President Dr Gillian Rudduck PhD MCOptom DipTp(IP) Higher Cert Glauc and Vice President Professor Irene Ctori PFHEA FCOptom PhD PGDip MSc BSc(Hons) about their journeys to their positions of leadership within the College.
They discuss what inspired each of their journeys, the barriers they encountered along the way, as well as sharing advice to other female optometrists on their career paths.

International Women's Day 2025 part 1 - True equity for women
College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom speaks to Rebekah Stevens, Lead Assessor at the College, about what true equity should mean for women.
They discuss the gender pay gap, work-life balance, and what advice they have to women trying to have a career while also supporting their family.

The external eye with Fiona Jazayeri

Optometry 2024 in review

A family's journey after an eye examination
For International Brain Tumour Awareness Week, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talks to Nicola Nuttall, who tragically lost her daughter Laura to a rare form of brain cancer when she was just 23. Denise and Nicola talk about how Laura was diagnosed after a routine eye examination and the incredible campaigning and bucket list goals she achieved in her life.
Denise also speaks to Lorcan Butler BSc (Hons) MCOptom, Prof Cert Paed Eye Care, Optometrist and Optical Engagement Manager with The Brain Tumour Charity, who answers questions about what optometrists should look out for when conducting an eye examination and how to converse with someone who needs to be referred for further tests.

National Eye Health Week: Keeping your eyes healthy
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 episode, Denise Voon MCOptom and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE provide advice on lifestyle changes to help keep your eyes healthy.

National Eye Health Week: Affordable eye care
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 episode, Denise Voon MCOptom and Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom explain how you can save money on your eye care.

National Eye Health Week: Vision across different age groups
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 episode, Denise Voon MCOptom and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE answer questions about children and teens eye health, as well as those over 60.

National Eye Health Week: What is an optometrist?
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 episode, Denise Voon MCOptom and Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom explain the role of an optometrist.

National Eye Health Week: What is a sight test?
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 episode, Denise Voon MCOptom and Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE explain what a sight test is and why having regular sight tests is so important.

Driving home the importance of regular sight tests
At the start of National Eye Health Week College Clinical Advisers Denise Voon MCOptom, Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE, and Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu MCOptom discuss effective ways to reinforce the importance of regular sight tests.

Everything YOU wanted to know about AMD

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

Coping with anxiety: Supervisors and trainees

Coping with anxiety

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

Dealing with bullying and harassment in the workplace
In our latest podcast, College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret talks to Nazia Fitzpatrick, a business psychologist and executive coach and facilitator. They discuss the concerning statistics from the General Optical Council's registrant workforce and perception survey including 41% of responders saying they had experienced bullying and harassment in the workplace.

Headlight glare - A glaring problem - Part 2
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 College, about the issues surrounding LED headlights.
They also discuss the current research and evidence regarding them and how our members can help shape the work of the College on this important topic.
For more information please read our Acuity article - Headlight dazzle: a glaring problem.

Headlight glare: A glaring problem - Part 1
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 of Lords, about her campaign for stronger regulation and guidance on the use of LED headlights.
They discuss how Lady Hayter became involved in the campaign, the effects of headlight glare and how it affects other motorists and pedestrians, and how members can get involved in the campaign.
For more information please read our Acuity article - Headlight dazzle: a glaring problem.

Black History Month 2023: Saluting our Sisters
To mark Black History Month, College Clinical Adviser Denise Voon MCOptom talked to optometrists Chidinma Onyenezido MCOptom and Adaku Eze MCOptom to explore this year’s theme ‘Saluting our Sisters’.
They share their personal experiences, including the successes, challenges and difficulties they've faced working in the UK, the differences in healthcare compared to their home country of Nigeria, and share advice for anyone wishing to come and work in the UK as an optometrist.

WebinarXtra: Artificial intelligence in optometry
In this WebinarXtra podcast, College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE talks to Dr Jeffry Hogg following his webinar on artificial intelligence in optometry. Jeffry is an ophthalmology registrar and NIHR Doctoral Fellow working between Newcastle University and NHS trusts in Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
Jeffry answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during the live webinar which provided a practical exploration of the near-term realities of AI. The subject of the questions include the Turing test, macular age versus retinal age, and clinical governance of AI and optometric practice.
For more information about AI regulation please visit the NHS AI and Digital Regulations Service. You can also read our recent Acuity article on AI and retinal vasculometry and earn CPD.

Acuity podcast: A matter of research
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)
In this WebinarXtra podcast, Martyn Jones, Head of Curriculum Development and Dr Rebekah Stevens, Lead Assessor at The College of Optometrists, answer questions following their webinar 'Preparing for ETR – the new route to qualification as an optometrist." This webinar provided an introduction to the GOC’s new education and training requirements, focussing on how the College will partner with universities and employers in future, and the differences between the current Scheme for Registration and future arrangements.
Martyn and Rebekah address a range of questions which were asked during the live webinar, including why these changes are happening, how standards will be upheld and the arrangements employers will need to make with students for the new Clinical Learning in Practice placements.
If you’d like to find out more information about ETR and what the changes will mean, please visit the ETR area of our website.

The importance of charity work in the eye care sector
College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret speaks to Jane Veys MCOptom, Clinical Editor of Acuity magazine, about her long history and passion for charity work, her involvement with the College, and why she thinks everyone should volunteer.

Motion perception in cataract patients
To mark Cataracts Awareness Month, College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret talked to Dr Sam Strong, Lecturer of Vision Science at Aston University, about motion perception in cataract patients.
Sam talks about her background and research as well as how motion perception affects cataract patients’ ability to judge distances and speeds, especially while driving.

WebinarXtra: Binocular Vision
In this WebinarXtra podcast, College clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret talks to Simon Frackiewicz MCOptom DipTp(IP), optometrist and orthoptist working in private practice and the hospital eye service in Somerset, following his webinar on binocular vision. This webinar gave practical advice for optometrists to help regain confidence in binocular vision, which may have been affected by the altered ways of working during the pandemic.
Simon answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during the live webinar including assessment, low vision, and prisms.
As members of the College, you can access a wide range of online courses on the College's learning platform.

WebinarXtra: Now & future retinal treatments
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Paramdeep talks to Mike Horler BSc FCOptom DipTp(IP) Higher Cert Med Ret, Consultant Optometrist in Medical Retina at Sussex Eye Hospital, following his webinar on now and future retinal treatments. The webinar provided an overview of treatment strategies used for late wet AMD, diabetic macula oedema and retinal vein occlusions.
Mike answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during the live webinar.
As members of the College, you can access a wide range of online courses on the College's learning platform.

WebinarXtra: Best practice for optometrists' written and telephone referrals
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Denise talks to Dr Gordon Hay, Clinical Director for Emergency Care at Moorfields Eye Hospital, following his webinar on best practice for optometrists' written and telephone referrals. The webinar provided guidance on how to make clear and effective referrals to eye casualty.
Gordon answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during the live webinar.
As members of the College, you can access the recorded webinar course here - best practice for optometrists' written and telephone referrals which is worth 1 non-interactive CPD point. Enjoy engaging and effective learning with options to pause, rewind and replay the sectionalised video within this course.
Take a look at our full list of online courses.

Dyslexia and the role of the optometrist
College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom speaks to optometrist Bhavin Shah MCOptom MBABO FBCLA about how he provides help and support to patients with dyslexia in his practice, the difference between dyslexia and visual stress, as well as his views on colour and tinted lenses.
November 2022: Case on acceptable advertising claims in clinical practice - College of Optometrists (college-optometrists.org)
TER328 - Colourimetry interventions to support people with visual stress (healthtechnology.wales) (PDF)
Guidance for eye care professionals on publicity on dyslexia (essex.ac.uk) (Word document)
For further reading on dyslexia please visit our podcast page.

What every optometrist needs to know about visual snow
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. They discuss the potential causes of visual snow, how it affects patients, and the current state of treatments and research.
Dr Rudrani Banik is the Co-Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Icahn School of Medicine, also at Mount Sinai.
In the second part, College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE speaks to Caroline Gill, who has recently been diagnosed with visual snow syndrome, about her condition and how it affects her.
Visual snow syndrome diagnostic criteria by Dr Rudrani Banik M.D.

Advanced Clinical Practice
College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom MBE talks to principal optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital Jay Varia BSc(Hons) MCOptom DipTp(IP) Prof Cert Glauc about the advanced clinical practice course.
They discuss what the course entails, who it is aimed at, the skills that you learn, as well as what the course could lead to after completion.
Advanced clinical practice course at Aston University
Advanced clinical practice course at Moorfields Eye Hospital
Advanced clinical practice course at University of Plymouth

WebinarXtra: OCT in optometric practice for beginners
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to optometrist Dr Rebekka Heitmar MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret following her webinar on OCT in optometric practice for beginners, where she reviewed different OCT scans as well as evidence from research and emerging guidance on clinical practice.
As members of the College you can access the recorded webinar course here - OCT in optometric practice for beginners which is worth 1 non-interactive CPD point. Enjoy engaging and effective learning with options to pause, rewind and replay the sectionalised video within this course.
Take a look at our full list of online courses.

Black History Month 2022: Is optometry diverse and inclusive?
In this special podcast for Black History Month, clinical adviser Denise Voon MCOptom first speaks to Dr Roxanne Crosby-Nwaobi postdoctoral ophthalmic nurse researcher, lead nurse for research at Moorfields Eye Hospital and honorary Associate Professor at UCL and secondly, Sylvia Chengo, visually impaired digital creator and disability advocate.
You can find out more about Sylvia on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

WebinarXtra: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery - Part 3
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to ophthalmologist Kam Balaggan about the macula.
As members of the College you can access the recorded webinar course here - The patient as a teacher: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. Enjoy engaging and effective learning with options to pause, rewind and replay the sectionalised video within this course.

WebinarXtra: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery - Part 2
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to ophthalmologist Kam Balaggan about floaters and the vitreous.
As members of the College you can access the recorded webinar course here - The patient as a teacher: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. Enjoy engaging and effective learning with options to pause, rewind and replay the sectionalised video within this course.

WebinarXtra: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery - Part 1
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to ophthalmologist Kam Balaggan about pseudoexfoliation and lens implants.
As members of the College you can access the recorded webinar course here - The patient as a teacher: Complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. Enjoy engaging and effective learning with options to pause, rewind and replay the sectionalised video within this course.

Myopia guidance review - Part 2
In the second part of our myopia guidance review podcast, College clinical adviser Daniel Hardiman-McCartney MBE FCOptom speaks to optometrist Dr Bhavin Shah MCOptom MBABO FBCLA about offering myopia management in his practice since 2016, the impact of the pandemic on children’s vision and how he communicates complex topics to parents and children.
Read more about myopia guidance.
Listen to part 1 of the myopia podcast.

Myopia guidance review - Part 1

OPO special - Part 2: hospital optometrists survey and cataract advice
In this second episode of the OPO special edition podcast, Daniel speaks to two OPO journal authors; Paddy Gun MCOptom, Principal Optometrist for Education and Training at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and Emily Charlesworth MCOptom, Clinical Research Optometrist at Bradford University.
In the first half of the podcast, Daniel talks to Paddy about the results of the second national survey on the scope of practice of optometrists working in the UK Hospitals. In the second part, Emily tells Daniel about her investigations into the advice optometrists give their patients on target refraction when discussing cataract surgery.
Check out the other OPO episode, where we talk to more College PhD scholars about their work.
To read the articles and for more OPO papers, visit www.college-optometrists.org/OPO

OPO special - Part 1: Is 'comfortable’ print size a useful clinical parameter?
In this two-part special OPO edition of the podcast, Daniel and Martin speak to College scholars, Associate Professor Keziah Latham FCOptom and Doctor Jane Macnaughton FCOptom from Anglia Ruskin University. They discuss their research paper, asking if patient-identified ‘comfortable’ print size is a useful clinical parameter for low vision reading assessment.
Look out for the second episode with three more OPO journal authors, celebrating the work of College PhD scholars.
To read the articles and for more OPO papers, visit www.college-optometrists.org/OPO
Links mentioned in this episode:

WebinarXtra: The future of contact lenses

Creating an AMD one-stop shop
In this episode, Daniel and Martin speak to Principal Optometrist, Denise Voon MCOptom, and Retinal Consultant Ophthalmologist, Mr Markus Groppe, about their unique AMD Medical Management Pathway at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. The pair discuss: how the AMD service was set up, offering an efficient one-stop-shop; the benefits to patients of the ‘treat and extend’ model of care; and how to motivate change and practitioner buy-in.

Vision Care for Homeless People

The restoration and transformation of eye care pathways post-COVID-19
Dr Melanie Hingorani FRCOphth Clinical Lead for Eye Care Restoration and Transformation at NHS England, and the College's clinical adviser, Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom, discuss the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on referrals, patient outcomes, the changes on eye care that the pandemic has brought, and how eye care might look in the future.

OiP: COVID-19 and its impact on eyecare
Professor Leon Davies FCOptom, Editor of OiP, and Professor Shahina Pardhan MCOptom, Director of Vision and Eye Research Institute at ARU, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on eye health and eyecare. They look at the evidence around the link between COVID-19 and sore eyes, photophobia and watery eyes, and the effect of the pandemic on contact lens wearers. They also focus on the need to inform patients of COVID-19-related eye health issues and how and where they can seek advice when suffering from an eye complaint.
Professor Pardhan is co-author of the paper: COVID-19 and its impact on eyecare: a review. To read the paper head to:
https://www.college-optometrists.org/oip-resource/covid-19-and-its-impact-on-eyecare-a-review.html
For more Optometry in Practice articles, visit https://www.college-optometrists.org/OiP

Reforming prisoners through optometry
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 the lives of those entering the system. He used his own knowledge and skills to set up The Prison Optician Trust, which provides offenders with training in optics and a brighter future away from crime. He believes that other professions should do the same.
In this episode, Daniel talks to Tanjit and one of his trainees - an ex-offender who has just qualified as a dispensing optician, and who now has a thriving career in optics.
To find out more about the The Prison Optician Trust, visit: https://prisonopticians.org/
To read more about Tanjit's career in our Acuity article: https://www.college-optometrists.org/acuity-resource/career-profile-tanjit-dosanjh.html

Risks of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in practice
In this episode, Daniel has a fascinating conversation with Professor Jose-Luis Jimenez, aerosol expert and fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA.
In July last year, Professor Jimenez was one of 239 experts in multiple scientific fields who signed an open letter to the CDC and WHO (1) urging them to recognise inhalation as the main mode of transmission of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Daniel and Professor Jimenez’s conversation covers the difference between droplet and aerosol transmission, why it matters and how to reduce the spread, plus Jose’s publicly available modelling tool, which you can use to estimate the transmission risk in your practice (2).
Professor Jimenez shares his own personal recommendations on specific mask types. The College continues to align its views and recommendations on masks with those of Public Health England.
Resources mentioned
1. It Is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/71/9/2311/5867798
2. Aerosol Transmission Estimator Tool - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16K1OQkLD4BjgBdO8ePj6ytf-RpPMlJ6aXFg3PrIQBbQ/edit#gid=519189277
3. Indicators for Risk of Airborne Transmission in Shared Indoor Environments and their application to COVID-19 Outbreaks - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.21.21255898v1
4. Exhaled CO2 as a COVID-19 Infection Risk Proxy for Different Indoor Environments and Activities - https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00183
5. Dismantling myths on the airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195670121000074

WebinarXtra: Common optic neuropathies
In this episode of WebinarXtra, Daniel talks to Consultant Ali Yagan following his webinar on common optic neuropathies, where he presented cases on different types of optic neuropathies and optic nerve swelling, to help optometrists identify urgent situations and when patients need to be managed as an emergency. Ali answers all those questions there wasn't time to cover during the live webinar.
Ali is the Consultant, Education Lead and Clinical Supervisor at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.
Members can watch a recording of the webinar and earn one non-interactive CET point until 16 December 2021: https://learning.college-optometrists.org/course/view.php?id=297
For more live webinars, visit: www.college-optometrists.org/events
Share your thoughts and questions for a chance to have them included in the next podcast episode. Leave us a voice message: https://anchor.fm/collegeofoptometrists/message