Love DO Week: A career without limits

When Emily Head started working in an optical practice at 16, she knew she wanted a clinical career, but one that would allow her to develop quickly, learn on the job and make a difference to people's lives.

15 years later, she's a Specsavers Retail Partner, dispensing optician and member of the UK Optics Board. Her journey has taken her from the practice floor in the UK to managing stores in Australia and, ultimately, to helping shape the future of the profession she loves.

For Emily, her story shows that there really is no limit to where a career as a dispensing optician can take you.

"I started in optics at 16 because I knew I wanted a clinical career, but one that moved quickly," says Emily.

She didn't have to wait long.

By 21, Emily had qualified as a dispensing optician and was already managing a practice. Just a few years later, she took her career overseas, managing two Specsavers stores in central Sydney at the age of 24.

"It was an amazing experience."

The opportunities didn't stop there. By 27, Emily had become a store partner back in the UK, and today she's a Retail Partner in Christchurch and a member of the UK Optics Board.

Looking back, one thing stands out above everything else.

"There's no ceiling in this profession. I absolutely love what I do."

For Emily, being a dispensing optician offers the perfect combination of clinical care, problem-solving and human connection.

While optometrists diagnose and manage eye conditions, DOs help bring that care to life, supporting patients in choosing the right solutions for their needs and ensuring they get the very best outcomes from their eyewear.

"We're the bridge between clinical expertise and retail delivery," she explains. "On the practice floor, that matters enormously."

That role becomes even more important when supporting children and families. With services like myopia management continuing to grow, dispensing opticians play a crucial role in ensuring frames fit correctly, measurements are accurate and young patients receive the best possible experience.

"It's often said that children are the future and it's true."

For Emily, the impact of a DO goes far beyond dispensing.

Throughout her career, she has trained colleagues, mentored future dispensing opticians and supported contact lens professionals as they develop their own careers.

The opportunity to help others grow is one of the aspects of the profession she enjoys most.

"The value of DOs goes beyond clinical contribution. It extends into training, mentoring and business performance."

As a partner, she sees first-hand how DOs strengthen practices, support teams and help deliver exceptional patient care every day.

But perhaps the biggest reason Emily is passionate about the profession is its ability to create meaningful change.

Whether she's helping a patient see more clearly, supporting a colleague to achieve their qualification or contributing to the wider profession through her board role, she never loses sight of what motivates her.

"Ultimately, optics is a brilliant option for young people considering their careers. For me, it's also deeply personal. I want to leave the planet in a better place than I found it. If I can change my patients' and colleagues' lives, that's everything."