Optoversity Challenge draws 12 universities together

Out of the Box Optic’s Optoversity Challenge 2025

has brought 95 students from 12 UK universities together to take part in the exciting competition. The annual event – now in its ninth year – is a major fundraiser for Vision Care for Homeless People (VCHP).

First and second years competed online on Sunday 16February – testing their optical knowledge and highlighting the work of companies supporting the competition this year. The quiz was followed by a mock OSCE session. Two students volunteered to take part in front of their peers, with one station run by Thea and another by Specsavers as the major sponsors this year.

‘Thea Pharmaceuticals UK are delighted to support Optoversity Challenge and continue our fundraising initiatives for VCHP. Not only do we look forward to supporting students with their ongoing optometry education, something that is at the core of Thea’s ethos, we also look forward to helping VCHP look after the sight of those who need it most but are unable to access the right services. This year’s event promises to be bigger and more exciting than ever with team activities and OSCE training delivered by Thea’s education team,” said Dr Navneet Gupta, Thea’s Professional Education Lead.

The final part of the challenge takes place on Saturday 22 February with some meeting in Bristol, hosted in the Optical Express Eye Clinic. Teams of third year students from UWE, Plymouth and Cardiff will compete. In Manchester at Optegra’s Eye Hospital, teams from City, Aston, Huddersfield and Bradford will get together. Activities include sessions led by Out of the Box Optics, Hoya, VCHP, Specsavers and Thea. The students will also tour the respective hosts’ eye care facilities.

As Philippa Simkiss, Specsavers’ Senior Engagement Manager, said, “As part of Specsavers’ ongoing support for VCHP we are pleased to support Optoversity. We are passionate about encouraging young optometrists to become future clinical leaders and improving access to care for people experiencing homelessness. We look forward to welcoming the two top scoring students to our annual clinical conference with complimentary tickets and a whole day of professional development and networking.”

The competition, organised by the pre-registration training providers, Out of the Box Optics is an important fundraiser for VCHP, with £42,000 raised over the past eight years. This year’s competition is on track to raise the total to £50,000.

The organisers are very grateful for all the support and prizes donated, especially Keeler and Frost Optical’s prizes for the top fundraisers, to be announced next week.

Support is always welcome:

Companies wishing to be involved in next year’s special 10^th Anniversary Optoversity Challenge should contact Alison Gordon, VCHP fundraiser: alison.gordon@vchp.org.uk. To sponsor a student or university team directly please follow: Vision Care For Homeless People: Out of the Box Optoversity Challenge 2025

Optoversity Challenge 2025 is supported this year by:

Ambri Eyewear, AOP, Bondeye Student Optical, College of Optometrists, FODO, Frost Optical, HEINE, Hoya, Keeler, Menicon, Mondottica, Norville, Optegra, Optelec, Optical Express, Scope, SpaMedica, Specsavers, Thea, Tokai, Topcon, Wolf Eyewear, and 101 Optometry.