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Optoversity Challenge 2025 tests the best UK young optometry minds
Optoversity Challenge 2025 tests the best UK young optometry minds
Out of the Box Optics’ Optoversity Challenge – now in its ninth year – has grown in strength with an exciting series of rounds, pipping students across the UK with each other. At the same time, the annual event has raised just under £10,000 for its partner charity, Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP).
Top scoring team was the University of the West of England (UWE) from Bristol, and in second place was the Bradford Visionaries team. This is the fourth time that UWE has triumphed in the annual challenge.
Eleven universities competed in a mix of online and live events, with venues kindly provided by Optegra and Optical Express.
“Students competed against each other, and in teams, taking part in a mix of challenging activities. With the third-year students competing live, it was a great opportunity for tomorrow’s optometrists to get together with future colleagues,” said Gajan Singh, Director of Out of the Box Optics, the event organisers.
Individually, the top scoring students were Sophie Whittaker, from Plymouth, as Optoversity Challenge Champion 2025, and in second place, Liam Curran from Bradford, following a head-to-head final cheered on by fellow students.
Top fundraiser for VCHP was Ismail Hussain from the University of Bradford who raised £1302. The overall total raised by student fundraising and generous optical company sponsorship reached £9,919 – the highest total in the nine years of the competition.
“A massive thank you to everyone who took part in the fundraising challenge this year and to all friends, families, lecturers, work colleagues and optical businesses who have donated. The money raised by the event will help VCHP continue to provide free eyecare to people experiencing homelessness,” added Gajan.
Out of the Box Optics is encouraging even more students and optical businesses to sign up for 2026 – the 10th year of Optoversity Challenge.
Special thanks go to Optegra and Optical Express for providing the venues and to Thea and Specsavers as main sponsors. Generous prizes were provided by many optical businesses and supporters including:
Ambri Eyewear, AOP, Bondeye Student Optical, College of Optometrists, FODO, Frost, HEINE, Hoya, Keeler, Menicon, Mondottica, Norville, Optical Express, Optegra, Optelec, Scope, SpaMedica, Specsavers, Thea, Tokai, Topcon, Optical Express, Wolf Eyewear, and Optometry 101.
If students enjoyed the learning experience of Optoversity Challenge and would like to experience more of the Out of the Box Optics learning programmes, please visit their webpages here: Home – Out Of The Box Optics
