Singapore National Eye Centre and Singapore Polytechnic collaborate to strengthen optometrists’ role in community eye care

The partnership will see both parties co-develop the Clinical Decision-Making in Community Optometry training programme for practicing community optometrists to build on their competencies to deliver quality eye care in the community.

Singapore, 5 March 2026 – As Singapore faces a rapidly ageing population and demand for eye care is set to increase, the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) School of Chemical & Life Sciences have come together to establish a training collaboration agreement and develop the Clinical Decision-Making in Community Optometry certification course. The programme aims to equip Singapore’s community optometrists – those who practise in retail settings – with competencies to work in tandem with eye care practitioners in tertiary care. 

In doing so, patients in the hospitals who are deemed suitable to receive care in the primary setting can be well-supported in the community through right siting. Likewise, these community optometrists will also be able to assess for suitability of patients to be referred back to the hospital, should they require it. This initiative enables more community touchpoints to be formed and the enhancement of care outside of hospital, allowing more convenience and reduced wait time for patients who require eye care. 

The course focuses on community optometrists who hold a Diploma in Optometry as their basic qualification. This group represents the majority of the practising optometrists in Singapore, with close to 100 graduates annually from SP and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Participants will be trained in step-down care for less complex eye conditions. Modes of training include online learning, practicum, theory and clinical attachments. The programme is scheduled to kick off its pilot run in May this year, with two runs planned for 2026 and about 20 participants per intake. 

“As the national centre for ophthalmic care, SNEC prides itself on providing not just quality care for our patients, but also training and upskilling eye care professionals via robust curricula to meet the needs of our patients across the whole spectrum of eye care. By augmenting the role of our community optometrists, we enhance our eye care model by ensuring patients receive the appropriate level of care they require in a timely manner,” said Associate Professor Anshu Arundhati, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Education), SNEC. “Vision is one of our most critical senses, and as Singaporeans are living longer, we hope that the elderly continue to age with good visual function. This not only affords them independence in their old age, it also adds quality of life to their years.” 

“Singapore Polytechnic trains the majority of Singapore's community optometrists, so we see firsthand the critical role they play in keeping our communities healthy,” said Mr Dylan Eng, Assistant Director of SP’s School of Chemical & Life Sciences. “This partnership with SNEC equips our graduates and practising optometrists with the clinical skills to better support and manage the delivery of quality eye care in the community. It's about creating a seamless care pathway, so whether you visit your neighbourhood optometrist or a hospital, you get the right care at the right place. We are excited to be part of building a more integrated eye care system for Singapore.”