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…
As a GOC (General Optical Council) registered optometrist in the UK, writing a compelling curriculum vitae (CV) is crucial to showcase your skills, qualifications, and experiences effectively. With the demand for eye care professionals on the rise, a well-crafted CV can help you stand out from the competition and secure opportunities in this highly competitive field. This blog will guide you through the process of creating a perfect CV tailored specifically for a GOC registered optometrist in the UK. Understand…
Students from schools across south west England took part in a taster day in April, designed to inspire them to consider a career in optometry. The 50 pupils, from years 10 to 13, met academic staff from Plymouth university’s optometry programme, attended mini lectures on eye anatomy and visual processing, and had the opportunity to take part in a practical session using equipment in the optometry lab, including video slit lamps. A much broader career They also met current students,…
Optometrist Katie Martin has achieved her pre-registration qualifications in under a year, surprising her colleagues. Trainees have two years and three months to finish the scheme. Nathan Burn, a director at Specsavers Plymouth, says: “We’ve all said a huge congratulations to Katie for stunning us by completing her pre-reg so quickly. “We're simply in awe of her. It really is a fantastic achievement. She made it look so easy, even though many others will tell you it absolutely isn't. We're…
A project to inspire young people to become optometrists is being expanded across the UK. Specsavers is rolling out its Bright Futures bursary programme into England and Wales after it was initially launched in Scotland and Northern Ireland. More than £2,000 is available to help students into their career and pay for some of their equipment. The programme also offers part-time work in local branches, providing vital experience as well as shadowing and mentoring. "The bursary will allow partners in…
Faye is a qualified optometrist, who recently moved to a role where she visits patients in their homes, working for community opticians The OutsideClinic. What do you start with every day? I usually start the day with an early morning gym session and then breakfast. After this, I load the car with my equipment, check my patient list and set off to see patients at about 8am. Sometimes these times can change around a bit, for example if I need…
Specsavers is helping partners who own and run local practices and home visit domiciliary services to fund optometrists’ professional advancement. Clinical services director Giles Edmonds says: “We know our clinicians love enhanced optical services and the range of development opportunities on offer – so we're making a big investment here. “We're going to go shoulder to shoulder on professional certificates for medical retina and glaucoma in the UK and Ireland as well as for independent prescribing courses in Scotland and…
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The Spectacle Makers’ Charity has opened its bursary application scheme for the current academic year to help students on apprenticeships, degree and diploma courses. These must be in optometry, dispensing, orthoptics or allied eye care subjects. Ophthalmic nurses and clinical technicians are also eligible. People can apply for financial support if they are on a recognised course at Level 4 or above which is designed to lead directly to a career in eye health. This includes: apprenticeships in ophthalmic clinical support…
OutsideClinic officially launches joint venture partnership model Have you thought about specialising in eye care in the home? A new opportunity means that optometrists can now combine a rewarding career delivering genuinely life-changing care, with all the benefits that come from owning their own company. OutsideClinic has officially launched its joint venture partnership (JVP) model as it looks to plug the optometrist gap in the sector and ensure the people most in need of eye care don’t get left behind.…