Find out what it’s like to work in a hospital 

Are you interested in a healthcare career in a hospital? The University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton are offering students in Years 12 and 13 the opportunity to apply for live virtual work experience. Brighton and Sussex Medical School also offers virtual work experience without any application. At the University of Southampton, a typical timetable usually includes:  Operating theatre Ward rounds Outpatient clinic Wessex Investigational Sciences Hub (WISH) laboratory Apprenticeship opportunities  A chance to to speak to current medical…

What jobs can you do with an optometry degree? 

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…

Day in the life: the 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…

Outstanding apprenticeships grade for optical group

SPECSAVERS’ apprenticeship programme has achieved top marks, with an outstanding rating from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). It is the only optical and retail training employer provider to have achieved this grade on the latest list of outstanding providers in England. Specsavers is one of eight employer providers graded as outstanding. Group chief executive John Perkins says: “An apprenticeship will be the first step for many people starting a career in optics and we want to make sure…

How an apprenticeship works for us

Apprenticeships are a great way for trainees to earn while they learn and develop their career. Employers benefit from staff gaining skills and knowledge. Macey, an apprentice optical assistant at Michael Offord Optometrist – Opticians in Newcastle and Sam, the practice manager, tell us what makes their journey a success.   Macey, apprentice In September I started my apprenticeship with Woodspeen Training after being an optical assistant on a Saturday. I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about dispensing, spectacle…

Day in the life: the eye surgeon

Guy Negretti is a consultant eye specialist – an ophthalmologist – working across three NHS trusts, Moorfields, Barts Health and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare How you start work – what do you do first? Three mornings a week I’m in the operating theatre. I arrive on the ward at around 8am and see all the patients, answering any questions and reassuring them. Other mornings I am in the outpatient clinic, dealing with ophthalmic emergencies or in a specialist clinic.  What…

Exam results not what you hoped for? A career in eyecare can offer a bright future

The government in England is planning to reduce the number of top A level grades this year. Ministers want to return to pre-pandemic statistics, the proportion awarded in 2019. Scotland and Wales are moving more slowly. It may be bad news for some students, parents and schools. But if you miss out, there are still plenty of options for a rewarding career in eyecare. Whether you are into science and technology, fashion or engaging with people, there’s a great future…

Listen up! Care for people with hearing loss

It’s a little-known field but audiology is a rewarding option for everyone from school leavers and graduates to career changers, says Emma Walker, director of hearing services at Farnham Specsavers Hearing Centre.  Emma’s career wasn’t planned. She got a part-time job with Specsavers during university. “My English degree didn’t point me in any direction. When I graduated I went full time as an optical assistant.”  The store had a vacancy for a hearing aid dispenser and suggested Emma take the…

A day in the life: dispensing optician and practice owner Scott O’Neill

Scott set up and owns Doctor Oculus in Birmingham  What is your role? I am a dispensing optician, which means I have studied to become an expert in tailoring different kinds of lenses for glasses. It helps to enjoy maths to do this job, but the most important thing is being able to talk and listen to people’s different lifestyle needs so that they can get glasses that let them see as best as possible. I often say my job…

A winning design: framing the future

Did you ever wonder how spectacle frames are designed? The Royal College of Art (RCA) runs an annual competition for the best design from its students – the winning entry is shown off at the 100% Optical show. This year’s theme was sustainable sunglasses. Students had to use  materials that don’t hurt the planet or people’s pockets during the cost of living crisis. Careers in Eyecare spoke to the winner, Linwei Zheng. What encouraged you to enter the competition?I'm currently…