Are you considering a career in optometry? Or on track to qualify soon? Your immediate focus might be on passing your exams, or your pre-registration year after university, but what comes next? Here we explore different pathways you could take, from paediatrics to research, low vision, higher qualifications or owning your own business.
Build experience
Newly qualified optometrists may want to build up their experience in practice. If you have worked in a multiple, why not try working for an independent – or the other way round. If you are interested in the clinical side of optometry, you could think about working in a hospital. Or for a company providing cataract and laser eye surgery to the NHS, such as SpaMedica, Independent Health Group, Newmedica or others.
Specialise
Some optometrists specialise in working with children or people with low vision. If this might appeal, look for a specialist practice in your area and ask if you could sit in on a clinic to see what it would be like to work with one group of patients all the time. Find out more about low vision.
Further qualifications
Higher qualifications cover the latest research, enabling you to provide the highest standards of patient care. The College of Optometrists offers courses in five areas: contact lens practice , glaucoma, low vision, medical retina, and paediatric eye care. These are available at different levels:
- certificate – enabling you to work in community schemes
- higher certificate –enabling you to work in community or hospital-based schemes involving diagnosis, treatment and management. This includes conditions such as glaucoma, or you could work in a consultant ophthalmologist-led medical retina service
- diploma – designed for optometrists working in hospitals, or community practitioners wanting to offer NHS-commissioned services or run specialist clinics.
Manager or owner?
If you are interested in management or owning your own practice, download a copy of the Independent Practice Guide here. This eBook covers key issues from managing staff and marketing to business planning and finance. Find out more about management and leadership training or starting your own practice from ABDO, the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.
Research
If you are interested in developing new treatments or lenses, you could go into research. You could study for a doctorate and then look for a research assistant post in a university or company. Or you can look at working with professional bodies, such as the College of Optometrists, to engage with research and education programmes.
Read about a day in the life of clinical research optometrist Paulina here.
You could choose a further or higher qualification from the College of Optometrists.
Independent prescribing
Optometrists with an independent prescribing (IP) qualification can clinically assess and diagnose patients, determine the clinical management required and prescribe where necessary. Once qualified you can prescribe any licensed medicine – except for controlled drugs or injected medicines – for conditions affecting the eye and the tissues surrounding the eye, within your recognised area of expertise and competence. You will be able to prescribe privately and write an NHS prescription.
Optometrists who qualify as IPs join the General Optical Council’s specialist register.
Your future
There are so many directions an optometry career can take you in – the hard part will be working out which you want!
Find out more:
- Starting from scratch? Find out more about becoming an optometrist
- Already registered? Read our guide to crafting the perfect CV
- A day in the life of clinical research optometrist Paulina