Wilma Paton is a contact lens optician at Specsavers in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire What's your role? I’m a dispensing optician (DO) and contact lens optician (CLO). I quickly knew that optics was my career when I first joined Specsavers Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, in a meet and greet role nearly 20 years ago. That developed into the practice manager role. I’ve been learning ever since to progress and support our patients. I moved to Specsavers Newlands, in Glasgow, ten years ago…
Specsavers is offering staff e-learning to help them understand the needs of customers with conditions such as autism or ADHD. The module is available for community practices as well as in support offices. 'With around 15% of people in the UK thought to be neurodiverse, it's really important that we all understand neurodiversity. Having this knowledge, and the ability to have the right conversations, will make a big difference,’ says Amy Cooper, co-chair of the neurodiversity colleague network group. 'The…
Claudio Tarantino is a trailblazer for dispensing and contact lens opticians who want to expand their clinical practice. He has achieved accreditation under the contact lens optician Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC) Minor Eye Conditions (MECS) scheme. It means Claudio can do more to support his patients and the NHS. Primary eye care practitioners triage, manage, and prioritise patients presenting with a minor eye condition. Claudio Tarantino of Specsavers Stratford-upon-Avon has taken an extra qualification to manage patients with minor…
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…
If you are still at school or college you may want to know more about which careers offer flexible ways to work. There are plenty of ways to work flexibly when you work in eyecare, and in this article we look at being a locum. A locum is a stand-in for a regular member of staff. You can find locum doctors, optometrists and opticians. Nurses, support workers and health care assistants can also work flexibly. You might hear about working…
Becoming a dispensing optician or optometrist gives you a range of options for your career. Some people may enjoy the clinical side of the role, while others may like to focus on management and retail. If you would like to have control over all aspects of the business, have you thought about running your own optical practice? You can discover more about running a practice at the ABDO Become an Independent Optician twilight session. This event is free of charge…
Jodie is a contact lens optician in the South West of England. Read on to find out more about her day. Describe your typical day as a contact lens optician. My typical day involves seeing a variety of contact lens fits, routine aftercares and emergency eye care appointments, meeting patients’ expectations and making sure they leave happy. What do you start with every day? First things first I start with a coffee! Then I start by looking at my clinic…
There are lots of careers and it can be hard to know where to start when making choices. One thing to look out for is a career with a pathway that will allow you to start work, gain experience and take qualifications so you can progress. Working in eyecare, there are a range of entry level jobs that allow you to earn and learn at the same time. You could start as an optical assistant or lab technician. There are…