There’s a great future waiting for you in eyecare, with lots of choice whatever your interests and skills. Whether you are planning to go into employment straight from school, head to university, or you are already working and looking for a new career, there are plenty of reasons to go into this field.
Enjoy flexible training and careers
Whether you want to train or work full or part-time, weekends or weekdays, there’s a job for you. More and more high street optical practices are open seven days a week so you can find a working pattern that suits you. If you prefer weekends off, hospital roles such as orthoptics tend to offer this routine.
There are lots of different ways to learn
Start off as an optical assistant and you can study online to learn more about eyecare and eye wear. Learn through block release or day release as a student or apprentice dispensing optician and you can get a diploma or a degree while working and earning a wage. You could head to college or university for a degree in ophthalmic dispensing or optometry, or go into medicine and then head for specialist training in ophthalmology.
Choose where you want to work
You could work in a high street optical practice as an optical assistant, dispensing optician, optical retail manager or optometrist. If a hospital is for you, check out careers as an ophthalmologist or orthoptist – some optometrists and dispensing opticians work in hospitals too. And there are careers in manufacturing, design and technology too if a lab, studio or factory appeals. If you enjoy being out on the road and visiting clients or patients, perhaps optical sales or domiciliary care might be your thing.
Opportunities are growing
People will always need eyecare, and there are growing opportunities across the age ranges. Dispensing opticians can now treat childhood myopia (short sight) with special contact lenses or glasses, while with an aging population more and more people will need glasses or cataract surgery. Working in an optical practice or hospital means you can have a real impact on your patients’ lives.
Make a difference
Opt for a career in eyecare and eye wear and you can help children and adults see better and live life to the full. You’ll help children succeed at school, elderly people keep active, and everyone stay healthy. This field is incredibly rewarding, whether you are business-minded, want to develop your people skills, or enjoy healthcare.
Find out more
Look at our career guides for more inspiration and find helpful articles on everything from writing the perfect CV to how to revise or doing well in Zoom or Teams interviews.