JUMP TO CONTENT

Exploring Independent Prescribing in Welsh optometry

Mike Davidson our consultant managing the role
Written by Mike Davidson
Posting date: 26 Sep 2024

I had the pleasure of chatting with Omair Khan and Mohammad Hamza Anwar from Specsavers Bridgend Derwen, Wales.  They shared how they’ve motivated each other to achieve new milestones in optometry and what fuels their passion for further qualifications. Plus, they let me in on a little secret about what it's like to work in Wales...

Thank you both for joining me today. Can you introduce yourselves and describe your current roles?

Omair: I’m Omair, the Director Optometrist at Specsavers in Bridgend, Sainsbury’s. I've always wanted to become a director because it was naturally the next step in my career. I think the current partners of Bridgend saw the drive and potential I had so when the opportunity to open up a new store came along, they suggested I be a partner in it...it’s the best decision I made. 

Hamza: I’m Hamza, a resident optometrist at the same store. I started in October 2020, qualified in September 2021, and was promoted to lead optometrist about a year later.

How did you two end up working together?

Omair: Hamza was actually the first pre-reg I supervised! We’re family friends and, funnily enough, distant relatives. When I found out he was studying optometry, I encouraged him to join the team!

Hamza:And living close to the store made it a perfect fit for me. I literally walk to work. It’s great!

Hamza, you’ve advanced quickly. Was that due to Omair’s influence?

Hamza: Definitely. After qualifying, I pursued certifications in Medical Retina and Glaucoma and am now finishing my Independent Prescribing (IP) course. Omair’s support and example played a big role in that.

Omair, you’re also pursuing the IP qualification. What motivated you both to do it?

Omair: For me, it’s about providing comprehensive care. With the IP qualification, we can offer more services in-store, almost like GPs for the eyes. Hamza’s achievements have also inspired me; he was my student, but now I’m learning from him as he’s ahead in the course.

Hamza: I wanted to build on my certifications and the IP qualification helps us manage more patients, which is crucial given long waiting times with hospitals at the moment.

What advice would you give to optometrists considering an IP qualification?

Hamza: Just go for it. It might seem daunting, but universities offer lots of support, and there are helpful networks and resources available. The learning curve can be steep, but the support system is strong.

Let’s move on to Wales. What makes it such an attractive place for optometrists to live and work? I’ve heard about quite a few people relocating there recently.

Jobs are easier to find here, and the cost of living is lower compared to cities like London or Bristol. Bridgend has great parks and beaches, and there are many opportunities for professional growth, especially in primary care. The work-life balance is excellent.

Omair: Commuting is also easier because Wales is compact. You can live in one town and easily commute to another, offering a good mix of professional and personal benefits.

Could you share the benefits of working in Wales, especially with an IP qualification?

Omair: Wales offers a collaborative environment with health boards working closely together. This means you can use your qualifications across various parts of Wales and fully integrate your skills. Outside of Wales, transferring skills from region to region can be tough.

Hamza: Exactly. Wales is small enough that you get to know other optometrists and learn from them. The sense of community is strong, and Cardiff University provides excellent IP courses, adding to the appeal.

Thanks for sharing your insights. Your experiences and perspectives on working and advancing in optometry, especially in Wales, are really valuable. I really look forward to seeing the continued impact of your work in the field. 

Put your IP qualification to work

Mike Davidson our consultant managing the role
Written by Mike Davidson
List #1

#FeelsLikeSpecsavers

“I believe that we're not just Specsavers - we are lifesavers.”

Teaser

Optometry

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/28/2025

Summary

A career begins with a life-changing moment When Mahnoor Khan joined Specsavers Norton as a pre-reg optometrist, she never imagined her clinical training would be put to the test in such a personal an

Teaser

Read more
Deepali Modha’s unconventional career journey

Teaser

Optometry

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/25/2025

Summary

When Deepali Modha first qualified as an Optometrist, she never imagined her career would one day take her far beyond the test room. But over the years, she’s carved out a path that’s as inspiri

Teaser

Read more
“Keep at it”: Louise’s 14-year journey from optics to audiology.

Teaser

Audiology

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/23/2025

Summary

When Louise Turton first joined Specsavers in Coventry back in 2011, she wasn’t chasing a dream career - she needed a job. “I’d recently moved to the area and wanted something stable,” she says. “I di

Teaser

Read more
Turning a life-changing diagnosis into a life-changing career

Teaser

Home Visits

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/23/2025

Summary

Turning a life-changing diagnosis into a life-changing career Meet Gemma, a brand-new Specsavers Domiciliary Audiology Partner, whose journey from Optical Assistant to qualified Hearing Aid Dispenser

Teaser

Read more
From Spain to Republic of Ireland: Danna's story

Teaser

Optometry

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/21/2025

Summary

When Danna Garcia Reyes first began her studies in optometry in Barcelona, she wasn’t sure where the path would lead. Like a lot of students, she chose her degree with curiosity and a want to help oth

Teaser

Read more
Why I swapped a classroom for a career

Teaser

Apprenticeships

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/10/2025

Summary

Not everyone thrives in a traditional classroom—and Kaydyn Kent is living proof that success doesn’t have to start with a university degree. After a year at college left him uninspired and unsure of

Teaser

Read more
My 10-year story – with the badges to show for it!

Teaser

Optometry

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/09/2025

Summary

From Optical Assistant to Dispensing Optician and now Trainee Contact Lens Optician, Kerry Berridge has spent the last decade building a fulfilling career at Specsavers – all while raising a family an

Teaser

Read more
From the test room to the open road: Eleanor’s journey into home visits

Teaser

Home Visits

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/08/2025

Summary

After nearly three decades in optics, Eleanor Hickman knew it was time for a change. But it wasn’t just any change – it was one that would take her out of the test room and into the homes of patients

Teaser

Read more
A Saturday job that sparked something bigger

Teaser

Partnership

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

07/07/2025

Summary

At 16, Charlie-Leigh Martin took a Saturday job at her local Specsavers in Chelmsley Wood. Six years later, she’s running her own store in Alcester as a director. “I was still in sixth form and thinki

Teaser

Read more
From college to clinical tech - growing with Specsavers

Teaser

Apprenticeships

Content Type

Blog

Publish date

06/30/2025

Summary

From college to clinical tech...and beyond Ellie Long, Apprentice Optical Assistant, tells us about her apprenticeship journey so far, and how she went from leaving college to joining Specsavers wi

Teaser

Read more
View more jobs
List #1

Selected jobs for you

Trainee Optical Retailer

Salary

£10.20-£12.41 an hour DOE

Location

Erith, Greater London, United Kingdom

Store ID

0808

Contract Duration

Permanent

Area of Interest

Retail Assistant

Locations

Erith

Description

Erith Specsavers. Are you a caring individual looking to start your career as an Optical Assistant? You’ve come to the right place.   We aren’t looking for people with years of experience and heaps of

Reference

sf-83581-1

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Hannah Crook

Author

Hannah Crook
View job
Optical Assistant

Salary

£20,155.20

Location

Erith, Greater London, United Kingdom

Store ID

0808

Contract Duration

Permanent

Area of Interest

Optical Assistant

Locations

Erith

Description

Erith, Specsavers.Specsavers. A household name and a Highstreet staple. And you could be part of the team.  As an Optical Assistant at Specsavers, you’ll be the friendly face at the heart of our store

Reference

sf-83580-1

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Hannah Crook

Author

Hannah Crook
View job
Optical Assistant

Salary

£20,155.20

Location

Bexleyheath, Greater London, United Kingdom

Store ID

0315

Contract Duration

Permanent

Area of Interest

Optical Assistant

Locations

Bexleyheath

Description

 Bexleyheath, Specsavers.Specsavers. A household name and a Highstreet staple. And you could be part of the team.  As an Optical Assistant at Specsavers, you’ll be the friendly face at the heart of ou

Reference

sf-83573-1

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Hannah Crook

Author

Hannah Crook
View job
View more jobs