Optometrist
Also called Ophthalmic optician.
Optometrists test vision, identify eye health problems, manage treatments, prescribe glasses and fit contact lenses.
- Potential salary
- £40,000 starter to £65,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 37 to 40. Working pattern: evenings on shifts.
- Career area
- Health and care
- Where they might work
- You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre, at a GP practice or at a store.
- A typical task
- examine eyes to identify vision problems
- Subjects that may help
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- Typical route
- To become an optometrist you'll need to:
- Interest area used here
- Health and laboratory science, Helping and teaching
What you might do
- examine eyes to identify vision problems
- identify signs of underlying health conditions, like diabetes
- design treatment plans and give advice about eye care
- prescribe and fit glasses, medical contact lenses and low vision aids
- run eye health clinics in hospitals and community settings
- refer patients to specialists, including ophthalmologists (eye surgeons), when needed
More tasks (1)
- supervise dispensing opticians and trainee optometrists
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- knowledge of medicine and health conditions that can affect sight
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- thinking and reasoning skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of biology
More skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- analytical thinking skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
Routes into this career
University route
- To become an optometrist you'll need to:
- get a postgraduate master's degree in optometry, approved by the General Optical Council (GOC)
- complete a pre-registration work placement for 1 year under the supervision of a registered optometrist
- pass the GOC final assessment to qualify
- You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including at least 1 science
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Optometry
Direct qualifying route. Registration follows an approved degree and the required practical period.
Career progression
- With experience, you could:
- specialise in age-related issues like macula degeneration or glaucoma
- work with particular groups like young children or people who are partially sighted
- take up a senior management position in a hospital department
- teach optometry students at university
- move into eye health research
Registration and requirements
you'll need to be registered with the General Optical Council
pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 3 A levels, or equivalent, including at least 1 science