About us

We protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services in the UK . We currently register and regulate around 35,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student optometrists and dispensing opticians, and optical businesses, known as registrants. 

We hold registers for optometrists, dispensing opticians, student optometrists and dispensing opticians, specialty practitioners and bodies corporate conducting business in optometry or dispensing optics in the UK.

We have four core functions:

• Setting standards for the performance and conduct of our registrants.
• Approving qualifications leading to registration.
• Maintaining a register of individuals who are fit to practise or train as optometrists or dispensing opticians, and bodies corporate who are fit to carry on business as optometrists or dispensing opticians.
• Investigating and acting where registrants’ fitness to practise, train or carry on business may be impaired.