Optometry Ireland today announced a new President – who stated her commitment to achieving better eye care for children in Ireland.

The new Optometry Ireland (OI) President is Tania Constable, a specialist in children’s eye-care who has been working within the HSE (and CHI@Temple street) for the last five years. (Photo of Tania Constable attached.)

Beginning her tenure Tania Constable thanked outgoing OI President John Weldon for an excellent service to eye health and fellow professionals, particularly during the difficult Covid-19 period.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead OI into what promises to be a period of dynamic change in the profession. Optometry can provide a key role in addressing the pressures facing the health system now and into the future.

“The first issue that needs to be addressed is access to public eye care for children, particularly for 8-16 year olds for whom there is no national public scheme. Optometry Ireland has long raised the issue of the lack of a national scheme for the provision of public eye care for children.

“Optometrists are trained, have the required equipment and are available to provide a public programme to older children to improve their health outcomes. We can alleviate unacceptable waiting times and unsustainable pressure on hospital eye departments and GPs.”

Ms. Constable graduated from Manchester University in 2007 and worked in the UK for a number of years before returning to Ireland in 2012. She has worked in a number of different practice settings including multiples, independents and as a locum before starting her current role as a paediatric specialist within the HSE. She completed an MSc in Clinical Optometry in 2021.

She is being accompanied by a new Vice President at Optometry Ireland, Sinéad Ryan who is qualified in both Optometry and Pharmacy. Sinead has over fifteen years of practical experience working in hospital, community and academic roles in both the UK and Ireland. 

Optometry Ireland CEO Seán McCrave welcomed both Tania and Sinéad into their new roles: “I am confident that Tania assisted by Sinéad will bring strong initiative. They both bring new experiences and energy to their roles.”

“There are opportunities for Optometrists to provide needed capacity to the health system and they are both focused on progressing this. Both I and our Council will work closely with them to achieve better eye-health for the population aided by a thriving Optometry profession.”