Optometrists are professional clinicians responsible for a number of aspects of vision care and specialise in preserving sight by diagnosing and treating visual problems. They’re trained to examine the eyes and detect disorders originating in the eye, brain and other parts of the body.
Jagdeep Singh
Having worn glasses from a very young age, I would constantly look forward to my annual sight test at my local opticians. When I turned 15, I managed to arrange a week of work experience at my local Specsavers and this gave me a greater insight into the world of optics, whilst also developing my confidence and enabling me to learn valuable skills.
I would recommend contacting your local opticians to anyone considering a career in optometry. The team I worked with were so helpful and answered all my questions to the best of their knowledge. I was also able to shadow clinics and better understand what working as an optometrist involved.
I qualified as an optometrist over five years ago after completing a four-year degree with an integrated masters at Aston University. Since qualifying I have worked for a variety of high street opticians. I have also worked in my local hospital’s eye department in Shrewsbury for over three years and continue to do so in a variety of different clinics. This has allowed me to take on many of the responsibilities and roles once carried out by consultant ophthalmologists.
For the last two years, I have been responsible for the implementation and management of Enhanced Optical Services (EOS) in Cheshire, Merseyside, and Staffordshire and have worked with NHS trusts, optical bodies and community optometrists. I currently work as a divisional clinical engagement manager for Specsavers and work closely with store directors and optometrists. Studying optometry can certainly lead you to an exciting and varied career!
A great aspect of being an optometrist is that there is always something new to learn. As an optometrist you will be able to study for postgraduate qualifications and specialise in areas that interest you. I chose to do postgraduate qualifications in glaucoma, medical retina, and independent prescribing and this has allowed me to manage and treat my patients much more effectively.
Working as an optometrist will often involve being part of a multidisciplinary team of optical assistants, contact lens opticians, dispensing opticians, orthoptists, and consultant ophthalmologists. You also have the chance to use a range of cutting-edge optometry equipment, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT); hospital-grade technology that can identify eye conditions such as glaucoma years earlier compared to traditional methods alone.
Optometrists get to make a positive difference to the lives of patients each day. After all, what could be more important than looking after people's eyes?