From Arkansas to Cork: Angela’s journey into a new life in optometry

I’m Angela, an optometrist who recently swapped life in Arkansas for a fresh start in Cork. It’s been a big move in every sense, but one that’s already changed my life in the best possible ways.

I’ve lived in Ireland for just over two months now, and honestly, it still feels a little surreal to say that out loud. I moved during what everyone keeps telling me was an extremely wet season, but luckily, I landed prepared with four raincoats and a pair of rain boots.

Before Specsavers - where it all started

My life and career haven’t exactly followed a straight line. I didn’t grow up dreaming of being an optometrist. What I did grow up with was a dad who always wanted to go to medical school but never got the chance after dropping out of college to get married. That unfulfilled dream of his somewhat nudged me and my brothers to consider a career in healthcare. One of my brothers became a family practise physician and the other a physical therapist.

I spent a summer working in my brother's office and his lifestyle was insane. You know, he would get up early and go to the hospital and do rounds. And then he would do the clinic and then he would do rounds again. And then he would take call. And I thought; “that's a lot”.

And I started looking into other medically oriented fields that had a better work-life balance. And then I discovered that optometry could be a fit.

I found the preoptometry route was like premed but with more physics thrown in, and after four more years of optometry school, I was on my way.

In my first few years, I bounced around a bit. I spent time in Tennessee working for an ophthalmology company and even specialised in diabetic care. At one point I earned my MBA and planned to become a medical science liaison. But everything changed when my older son was diagnosed with a sensory disorder at age four. While searching for therapy options, I realised just how much vision influences sensory processing. That discovery completely reshaped my career path.

I ended up opening my own clinic back in Arkansas. For 16 years, that clinic was my world, a small team of three employees and a steady flow of patients, some of whom drove hours to reach us. I specialised in in traumatic and acquired brain injury, sensory issues and children with developmental delay… it was very fulfilling. And watching my son thrive over those years only made the work feel even more meaningful.

Why I started considering a change

By 2020, being in the US didn’t feel right for me anymore. At the same time, I’d found myself feeling strangely at home every time I travelled to Europe. And then there was Orla. She and I first met on a parenting forum long before either of us realised the other was an optometrist. Over the years, we became close friends. She lived in Dublin and worked as an optometrist. She never pushed me to move, but her openness and emotional support made me think, maybe I could do this.

The licensing process alone took nearly two years. Selling my clinic took far longer than I expected and almost made me reconsider everything.

Where Specsavers came into my journey

I didn’t approach Specsavers until some of my initial paperwork was in place, and by the time I finally did, my sons were older, and I was determined to make a clean transition without relocating them. Specsavers was incredible about my unpredictable and ever-changing timeline.

Once I registered my interest, things picked up quickly. I interviewed, completed online assessments, and got connected with the Cork store partners after telling the team that Cork was where I wanted to be. The team guided me through the work permit process and made everything feel less overwhelming.

Arriving in Ireland – a warm welcome

When I finally arrived in Ireland, I stayed in Airbnbs for two months with a ridiculous amount of luggage. At one point, I was dragging the first of many suitcases up five flights of stairs but halfway through the first run, a young woman appeared at the top of the stairs holding a cup of coffee. Before I knew what was happening, she and her boyfriend were helping me carry everything up. No hesitation. No awkwardness. Just kindness. And honestly, that moment sums up the experience I’ve had in Ireland over and over again. I felt welcomed immediately.

My first days at Specsavers were full of shadowing and adjusting. There are small differences between US optometry and Irish optometry, lighting conditions, workflows, software systems.

How it’s going 2 months in

Now that I’m settled, what I love most is being surrounded by other optometrists again. After so many years running my own clinic, I’d forgotten how nice it is to have colleagues right there to bounce ideas off. Being able to talk through tricky cases, laugh through the day, and share the clinical load has been one of the best parts of this move.

Going from business owner to employee felt strange at first, but it’s been surprisingly refreshing. Work life balance genuinely matters here, and that alone has been life changing.

People often tell me I’m brave for doing this alone, and maybe I am. But mostly I’m persistent. I planned, I researched and I kept going.

And now Cork feels like home. I call it my “tiny Paris” - full of culture, great food, and so much character. One day I might use my MBA within Specsavers or help other optometrists make the jump overseas. I already get lots of messages from people considering it.

For now, though, I’m just enjoying being here, breathing easier, and settling into a life that feels right.