The British and Irish Orthoptic Society is the professional body for Orthoptists and was founded in 1937, it’s also a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. BIOS members in the UK are also automatically trade union members of the British Orthoptic Society Trade Union (BOSTU). BIOS is affiliated to the Allied Health Professionals Federation, a group made up of 12 bodies representing more than 158,000 workers in the UK. BIOS is also a member of the International Orthoptic Association and OCE.