Membership is open to all Optometrists practicing in Northern Ireland who are members of the College of Optometry and dispensing opticians.

Benefits of Membership

Local D.O.C.E.T approved C.E.T

The courses are discounted to members
Contact Lens Day (strongly recommended for DOCET points for the contact lens register)
Evening Lectures
Refresher Courses

Conferences

Members meet with colleagues in both a social and educational atmosphere. The conference is alternated as “home” or “overseas” annually. The past president Fergus Bain organised the past two conferences. The 2008 “home” conference was in the Slieve Donard Hotel. Mr Simon Rankin was among the guest speakers. It was a great success and with Hastings investing well in their new Spa resort the venue and service exceeded our expectations and the society immediately decided to have the next “home” conference there again. The previous 2007 “overseas” conference was in Barcelona at the NH Podium. This was a splendid weekend in a rich cosmopolitan city with fantastic architecture, restaurants and bars. Mr David Frazer was our guest speaker there and as always gave stimulating food for thought. For future conferences see the events page.

Monthly NIOS newsletter

Keeping you up to speed on local and UK-wide professional issues and events. This is posted here on the website monthly and forwarded to you at your chosen address.

Golf and Social Events

Events will be posted  here on the website and forwarded by post through our newsletter. The Charity Eyeball was on 14th Feb 2009 at the Ramada, Belfast. With champagne pyramids, chocolate fountains and a six course banquet it was then up to the able to dance the night away to a live band.

NIOS committee

This provides a forum for local feedback from professional bodies, government bodies and other professional associations within Northern Ireland and abroad. The NIOS will work with Optometry Northern Ireland during this exciting period to develop educational requirements to facilitate successful negotiation in our future GOS contracts.  The current President Andrew Petticrew represents Society at UK and Irish Optical Society Meetings to further local professional interests.
Access to the latest NIOS Locum Lists on-line.

How do I join?

How much will it cost me?

Full membership:  Optometric practice owners/partners can join the NIOS by filling in the “full membership” form thereby joining a voluntary levy of one penny in every pound of income received from NHS sight tests.  Membership benefits are extended to employed optometrists of the practice. 

Employed optometrists who work for non-levy paying practices  may become members for an annual membership fee.

Membership forms can be downloaded from the right hand side of the screen ‘Levy form’