In what she called “a giant leap for orthoptists”, Liz Shilling (known professionally as Liz Tomlin), was installed this week as Master of The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, the first orthoptist ever to serve as Master in the Company’s almost 400 year-old history. Liz studied Orthoptics at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. In 1992 she started work at St Thomas’ Hospital, London and has worked there ever since, for the last 25 years in the role of Head Orthoptist…
Orthoptists diagnose and treat defects in eye movement and problems with how the eyes work together. Eliza Green tells us about her work as a highly specialist orthoptist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS foundation trust in London How do you begin your day? I start at 8:15, looking at my schedule for the day and which clinic I will be working in. Some mornings I am in our adult strabismus service. The condition is an inward or outward turn…
Filling in the UCAS form can be daunting. There’s so much information to provide and so many choices to make! Here are some Dos and Don’ts to help your application stand out DO check your deadlines Make sure you know your school’s or college’s deadlines and work back from those dates so that you have enough time to find all the information you need. Most applications have to be with UCAS by 31 January. You can submit your form after…
The optical world is less well known than other branches of healthcare. But it offers a range of rewarding careers, for people with all kinds of talents and interests. Some roles offer recruits the chance to earn while they learn, while qualifications include apprenticeships, diplomas or degrees. From healthcare to fashion, technology to retail, management, design or manufacturing, there’s an eyecare role for everyone. We’ve got a whole host of resources for students and teachers. Careers in eyecare lesson plan …
If you’ve just started your degree, are going into the final year or are doing A levels, you may be wondering about your career options. Becoming a community optometrist is the obvious choice, but there are a wide range of pathways out there. Domiciliary optometrist These are optometrists who visit patients in their homes, schools, care homes or community centres. Your patients may have medical conditions, physical or learning disabilities, so you should be flexible and able to adapt your…
If you think working in eye health is purely about sight tests, think again. There are lots of careers on offer. Does your teen want to carry on studying or start earning straight away? Do they enjoy talking to people or love technology? Enjoy fashion or want to run their own business? An optical career could be the answer. For school leavers Optical assistant This role helps people choose frames and lenses, working under supervision. It is a good option…
EyeThrive – a pioneering ophthalmic leadership programme - is for ophthalmologists, optometrists, orthoptists, nurses and other allied health professionals who are looking to take their leadership skills to the next level. Friday 9th and Monday 12th September 2022 8.30am – 3pm | Live online Learning Objectives Gain insights into your personality and strengths and how to proactively use this knowledge to develop yourself and others.Develop essential skills to empower yourself to be more proactive in nurturing your resilience and…
The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) sounds ancient but has a modern purpose. Its mission is to support better vision for all, and it has a membership scheme that welcomes young people working in eyecare as well as those committed to improving vision. The Company was founded in 1629 and is living proof that eye health is so much more than a presence on the High Street. The name could be misleading as WCSM members don’t all make spectacles. When…
If you would like a medical career, there are many options open to you. Becoming a doctor or nurse are two careers that most people might think of, but there are plenty of other people working in a hospital too. Read on to discover some of the wide range of careers in healthcare where you might work in a hospital. For your first role, why not start as a health care assistant? Your role is to help patients feel as…
There just might be a job for everyone in eye care and eye wear: read on to find a job to suit you. Love technology? Become a lab technician or dispensing optician and you can find out all about lenses and the latest technology to fit and glaze spectacles. There are jobs and careers in optical manufacturing too: you could work on lens design and help thousands of people see better, through thinner, lighter spectacle lenses. Love fashion? Start as…