Optometrist

Optometrists examine the eyes to find defects in vision, signs of injury, diseases and problems with general health. They make a diagnosis, give advice and, where necessary, prescribe and fit glasses or contact lenses. They work in a number of places, for example, in private (high street) practice, hospital eye departments, research and teaching posts.

Also known as:

Ophthalmic optician

Work activities

Most optometrists work in independent (high street) practice, where they examine patients’ eyes by running a series of tests. Eye examinations usually take about 20-30 minutes. If the patient has come in for a specific reason, the optometrist will need to find out what the symptoms are and for how long the patient has had them. The optometrist asks questions to find out about the patient’s general health, including whether they experience headaches, for example, when they read. They will ask about any illnesses the patient has, such as diabetes, and any eye conditions that might run in the patient’s family. Optometrists find out how well the patient can read with each unaided eye. The optometrist examines the eye tissues from a variety of directions, using instruments that shine light into the patient’s eye and magnify various features, such as the cornea and retina. They use an ophthalmoscope to look at the inside of the eye. Then, they do further tests, for example, to measure pressure within the eye (a test for glaucoma).

As well as problems specific to the eye, optometrists can spot some general health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, that can show symptoms in the eye. They can also use instruments to find and examine any injury in the eye, for example, caused by a piece of grit or the impact of a squash ball. If the patient has an illness or specific eye problem, such as a detached retina or cataract, the optometrist must refer them to their GP. Optometrists can also refer patients directly to a hospital eye department. In urgent situations, they can refer patients immediately to hospital accident and emergency departments. At a later stage in the examination, the optometrist places combinations of lenses in front of one or both eyes, to check how well the eye focuses. This will also detect any errors or limitations in the range of vision and colour vision. If the optometrist diagnoses a vision problem, they will work out a prescription to correct it. Generally, optometrists advise the people they see on how to look after their eyes and deal with specific problems. Throughout the process of examining eyes, optometrists need to refer to and update the customer’s or patient’s records.

In some practices, the optometrist will go on to supply and fit spectacles and contact lenses and test the accuracy of the lenses. In larger practices, a dispensing optician will help the optometrist. Experienced optometrists can qualify and specialise in prescribing contact lenses or in correcting the visual problems of young children. In hospitals, optometrists usually diagnose and advise on the treatment of more serious eye conditions, often caused by accident or disease. Certain problems require an operation and the optometrist will advise the eye doctor/surgeon (ophthalmologist) on this. Hospital optometrists might specialise, for example, in diabetes monitoring and screening, glaucoma management, or monitoring patients before and after cataract operations. Companies that make glasses or lenses employ optometrists to research into lens theory and design, optical instrumentation and optical design. Much of the work is laboratory-based and there is little contact with patients. This work also takes place in some universities and academic research centres.

Personal qualities and skills

To be an optometrist, you’ll need:

An interest and ability in science.
Communication skills to explain things and give advice clearly.
Tact, patience, understanding and the ability to reassure nervous patients.
Good hand skills, for example, for fitting contact lenses into patients’ eyes.
The ability to take accurate notes.
Teamwork skills, and also the ability to work on your own.
Good judgement, observational skills and a logical, methodical approach to your work.
Decision-making skills, for example, to decide when to refer a patient to a doctor.

Self-employed optometrists in independent general practice need the skills to manage their own business. In senior positions, you’ll need the ability to manage staff.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries for optometrists vary depending on the branch of optometry and the organisation they work for. NHS employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities. Trainee optometrists start on band 4, qualified and registered optometrists sraer on band 6, with consultants rising to band 8d. This means pay can range from £25,147 to £96,376 (as of November 2023). In the private sector, pay rates vary depending on the organisation and role and responsibilities, but are broadly in line with NHS rates.

Optometrists work about 37.5 hours per week. They might need to work at the weekends and have some late finishes.

Employers include high street spectacle retailers (where some optometrists own franchise branches), the NHS (in hospitals) and lens manufacturers. Opportunities for optometrists occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

There are opportunities for optometrists to become self-employed in independent general practice.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Jobs are advertised on job boards, in local/national newspapers, and on the NHS Jobs website.

Entry routes and training

To become an optometrist, you need to complete a degree in optometry that is accredited by the General Optical Council (GOC).

After the degree, you’d spend a year in the Scheme for Registration (SfR) working under the supervision of a registered and experienced optometrist. During SfR, you’ll have work-based assessments and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). After successfully completing SfR, you’ll need to register with the GOC before you can practise.

With experience, you could become self-employed in your own practice or in partnership. You could go into an NHS hospital or a research post, for example, for a lens manufacturer. Optometrists also progress into teaching and lecturing posts. Some optometrists qualify to prescribe drugs that can treat some eye problems.

An optometrist apprenticeship is in development but not yet available.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

For entry to a degree course in optometry, the usual minimum requirement is:

Three A-levels, including at least two science subjects. Biology is essential at some universities.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in your A level subjects.
A further two to three GCSEs (9-4), including English and maths.

Equivalent qualifications, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, can be acceptable for entry. Please check prospectuses carefully. Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 Nationals might also be acceptable for entry. However, some universities will accept these only alongside the specified academic A-levels. Again, please check prospectuses carefully.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

A few universities offer an optometry degree course with an extra foundation year (preliminary year) for students without the traditional science A levels usually required for entry to optometry courses. If you don’t have the qualifications usually needed to enter an accredited degree in optometry, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course, such as Access to Science. You don’t usually need any qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check this with the course provider. There are some exemptions to entry requirements for optometry degree courses if you are a graduate with a relevant background.

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