FODO Ireland member update – 19 June

Latest news:

• Guidance outlines driving assessment requirements
• Matching training to workforce
• Conference for the extended eye care team
• IOES promotes shared care scheme
• Dublin eye hospital helps autistic patients
• Government appointment for board member
• At a glance
• Health policy

Guidance outlines driving assessment requirements

FODO Ireland has published new guidance for optometrists on driving reports, outlining the clinical and administrative requirements.

The guidance covers all the vision standards required for driving and clarifies the difference between a driving assessment and a sight test, including the circumstances in which a sight test may be clinically indicated. It also lists situations in which optometrists should contact the NDLS.

Members can access the full guidance.

Matching training to workforce

FODO Ireland continues to work on behalf of its members to address the shortage of training opportunities in optometry and dispensing optics, highlighting the workforce as one of the most significant risks to the eye care sector.

Last month, the government added optometrists and ophthalmic opticians to the Critical Skills Occupations List for recruitment from overseas, something we have been seeking for some time.

FODO Ireland’s educational charity also invests in workforce developing, including supporting extra training places at Technical University Dublin (TUD) and more recently being involved in plans for a school of optometry at the South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford.

Read more in Clarity.

Conference for the extended eye care team

The Irish College of Ophthalmologists’ Eye Care in Focus Annual Conference 2026 for the extended eye care team, including optometrists and dispensing opticians, will take place at The Ashling Hotel in Dublin on 7 October.

This is an opportunity for FODO Ireland members to join ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses and technicians for a multi-disciplinary clinical education day.

Further event and registration details will be posted on the ICO website.

IOES promotes shared care scheme

The Institute of Eye Surgery (IOES) is promoting its Cataract Shared Care Scheme, which aims to support optometrists in managing cataract patients from referral through to post-operative care.

The IOES says the key benefits include a streamlined referral pathway for cataract patients, with direct access to consultants and surgical services. It also offers complimentary CPD-accredited training.

If any members are interested, please contact Eddie O’Keefe at [email protected] for further information.

Dublin eye hospital helps autistic patients

A project at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin has shown how simple adjustments can improve the experience of autistic patients, reduce anxiety and improve care outcomes.

The initiative, presented at the Irish College of Ophthalmologists conference, suggests that low-cost, scalable ‘social stories’ can significantly improve access to care and the success of procedures, including the administration of dilating eye drops and slit-lamp biomicroscopy examinations. Read more.

Government appointment for board member

The Minister of Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has appointed Owen Blee, FODO Ireland board member and chair of The Association of Eye Care Providers of Ireland Educational Charity, to the Optical Registration Board. Read more.

At a glance

• Derek Tierney became secretary general of the Department of Health, with responsibility for delivering ICT and digital health, reports Pulse IT.
• Alcon UK and Ireland has launched Clareon PanOptix Pro, a cataract implant that claims to have the lowest light scatter of any trifocal lens, according to eyenews.
• CooperVision has launched clariti one-day multifocal contact lenses in the UK and Ireland, designed for people with presbyopia.
• Lia EyeCare, an eye care technology start-up, has won an award for best spinout of 2026 for its wearable solution to address dry and sore eyes. Read more.

Health policy news

Galway: a leading light in integrated care

An ICO conference report examines in detail the success of the Integrated Eye Care Team (IECT) model and how it has enabled community services to assess, monitor and treat eye conditions that were once managed in acute hospitals.

The article explains how Galway, one of the regions that has adopted IECTs since their launch in 2020, has seen significant improvements in eye care services through a cataract pathway that helps patients move more efficiently from referral to assessment and onward to treatment, while ensuring hospital services are focused on surgery and more complex cases.

Speaking at the conference in May, Ms Aoife Doyle, national clinical lead for ophthalmology, said that the integrated pathways introduced in Galway offered “a strong blueprint for the future of ophthalmology services across Ireland”. Read more.

A new report into Ireland’s ophthalmology workforce for 2025-40 was launched at the same conference. It has called for expanded eye care services in the community to meet the growing demands of an ageing population, which will increase the burden of cataract, glaucoma, and age-related maculopathy.

MacNeill outlines health priorities for EU presidency

Ireland has outlined its health agenda for its upcoming presidency of the EU Council, placing strong emphasis on life sciences innovation, digital health and disease prevention. Central to this is the proposed Biotech Act, which aims to simplify regulatory processes and support clinical trials, according to online magazine eureporter.

Also on the agenda are amendments to medical device regulations. The revisions are expected to generate between €3 billion and €5 billion in annual cost savings for manufacturers, accelerate patient access to innovative devices and address chronic shortages of critical medical equipment.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, the health minister, said: “The theme of the presidency health programme is investing in health to improve competitiveness.”