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How to become an Optometrist

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Optometrist jobs

Optometrist courses

Career progression and salary expectations for an Optometrist

Trainee Optometrist

| Up to £20,000

Optometrist

| Up to £32,000

Specialist Optometrist

| Up to £40,000

The role of an Optometrist

What does an Optometrist do?

If job satisfaction is in the eye of the beholder, careers don’t come much healthier than this…

Optometrists work everywhere from in hospitals to on the high street, examining their patient’s eyes and giving advice on how to solve vision problems. Traditionally, an Optometrist would stop short of any formal diagnosis and refer their patients on to a specialist for further treatment. However, these days they have become much more involved in primary care, offering vital support and improving quality of life for anyone struggling with their vision.

Typical day-to-day duties for an Optometrist may include:

Having consultations with patients to learn more about their optical health
Examining eyes for any abnormalities or sign of disease
Performing tests, such as reading charts, to monitor changes in vision
Diagnosing problems
Advising patients on suitable frames or contact lenses

Is a career as an Optometrist right for me?

In order to become an Optometrist, excellent analytical and conversational skills are absolutely essential.

You’ll encounter patients on a daily basis who may be seriously struggling with their sight, and being able to deal with these frustrations as simply and as tactfully as possible will be key in this profession.

Having good taste in glasses will also help. Because life is too short for unflattering frames…

Other key skills for an Optometrist include:

Excellent attention to detail
Assertiveness
Adaptability
Manual dexterity
Patience, and excellent concentration skills

What's it like to be an Optometrist?

"I’ve been a fully-qualified Optometrist for just over two years, and I’m still loving it. I work in a well-known high-street opticians, which means I get to meet people from lots of different backgrounds, and solve everything from glaucoma to people simply looking for their perfect pair of glasses. The optometry degree is pretty challenging, especially when you do your pre-registration year, but all the hard work is well worth it in the end. The discount on glasses and contact lenses doesn’t hurt either..."

Get qualified as an Optometrist

To become an Optometrist, you will need a degree in Optometry, followed by a pre-registration period of one year in a hospital, or high street practice.

Recommended Optometry courses

Optometry: Ocular Anatomy and Physiology

Care Skills Centre

CPD Accredited | 9 CPD Certified Topics + 2 Free PDF Certificates + Instant & Lifetime Access
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- 3.1 hours · Self-paced
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Welcome to the Optometry: Ocular Anatomy and Physiology course, where we deliver comprehensive knowledge and essential skills to help you excel in this field . Our course is meticulously designed by industry experts to ensure it stays relevant and dynamic, providing you with a …
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Optometry Techniques and Applications

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A fun fact about optometry techniques is that optometrists can use retinoscopy to estimate a patient's eyeglass prescription without them having to provide feedback. Retinoscopy involves shining a light into the patient's eyes and observing the reflection (reflex) off the retina. …
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