There’s a great future waiting for you in the growing field of optics. Almost 60% of people in the UK wear spectacles, among the highest percentages in Europe, and 9% wear contact lenses. Did you know dispensing opticians and optometrists can help to slow the progression of myopia (short sight) in children? Or help to manage conditions such as dry eye, often linked to screen use?
Key roles
- Optometrists are health professionals who provide vision care. They are trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormalities and problems with general health. They can treat some eye conditions.
- Dispensing opticians advise on and supply spectacles and visual aids. Some have further training to supply and fit contact lenses. They provide the best spectacles or lenses, taking account of each patient’s visual, lifestyle and vocational needs.
- Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialise in eyecare. They are both physicians and surgeons, trained to examine, diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries.
Find lots of other opportunities with our career guides.
The workplace
Eyecare professionals work mainly in high street practices, hospitals and in people’s homes.
Big names such as Boots, Specsavers, Vision Express and more are known as multiples. They place high importance on the sales side of the business, with busy schedules offering you the chance to make swift progress and climb the career ladder.
Practices in the independent sector tend to concentrate on customer service, great clinical care, or quirky, boutique styling. Each company has its own character.
There are also optical roles in hospitals. This can be a great place for optometrists to flourish, allowing them to focus on patient care and make full use of their clinical skills.
The domiciliary sector offers you the chance to visit people at home, sometimes in residential care. It can be very rewarding – you will make a real difference to vulnerable patients.
Find your next job
One of the most effective methods of finding a job in the optical industry is to use a specialist employment agency, such as Vivid Optical. They will assess your skills and experience and match you with client vacancies – including opportunities you’d never find yourself.
More information
Explore the world of eyecare with articles on everything from a day in the life of an orthoptist to top tips for Zoom interviews at Careers in Eyecare