The Optical Suppliers Association (OSA) and Fight for Sight recently joined forces for their first-ever joint charity golf day and summer members meeting, proudly supported by gold sponsors Topcon Healthcare and Performance Finance.
Held at the picturesque Warwickshire Golf & Country Club, the two-day event brought optical professionals together from across the sector, raising over £10,000 for sight loss research.
Day 1: golf, mixology, and evening festivities…
The event kicked off with a competitive yet fun-filled golf tournament.
A standout feature of the course was the 10th hole, where players wore sight-impaired simulation glasses to complete their shots—offering a unique, hands-on perspective on the challenges of living with sight loss while promoting the vital importance of eye health.
After a hard-fought day on the green, The OSA Team took home the trophy as the tournament’s crowned winners!
For non-golfing attendees, the day offered plenty of opportunities to connect. Participants enjoyed an interactive mixology class, providing a relaxed setting for optical professionals to catch up, socialise, and hone their cocktail-making skills.
The day concluded with an elegant evening dinner that brought all attendees together. Hosted by the talented MC Thomas Rose, the night featured:
· A lively charity auction raising funds for groundbreaking eye research.
· A spirited game of “Spex On, Spex Off”.
· A high-stakes raffle with fantastic prizes contributed by supporters.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of guests and sponsors, the full day of fundraising successfully raised over £10,000. In a true spirit of partnership, 20% of the funds raised will be donated to the England Blind Golf Association to support blind and visually impaired golfers.
“We are so deeply grateful to everyone who came out to support this joint event.
Seeing the optical community unite for an incredible cause like this means the world to us—the funds raised will make a real, tangible difference in transforming lives through research and accessible sport.”
— Debbie White, Chair of Fight for Sight Warwickshire Committee
Day 2: OSA Summer Members Meeting
Day two transitioned to business and networking during the OSA Summer Members Meeting.
OSA Chair James Conway welcomed members and extended a warm thank you to everyone who contributed to making this first joint initiative between the OSA and Fight for Sight such a resounding success. He celebrated the tournament victory of the OSA golf team and highlighted the power of bringing the industry together for a great cause.
Beyond celebrating the charity success, the business sessions tackled several pivotal topics shaping the optical supply landscape:
· Dry Eye Developments: Key industry insights were shared regarding emerging technologies, diagnostic advancements.
· Regulatory Compliance: The meeting addressed the evolving regulatory landscape, emphasising the importance of staying ahead of medical device compliance, environmental standards, and quality management protocols to ensure high-grade supply chain integrity across the UK market.
· Expanded Media Support: The OSA outlined exciting new initiatives to bolster member visibility, including enhanced trade media collaborations, public relations campaigns, and continuous marketing support to champion member innovations across the broader optical sector.
“Feedback received throughout the event was overwhelmingly positive, with many members expressing their strong support for making this a regular joint event—with a potential return to The Warwickshire next year.”
— James Conway, OSA Chair