The muscles that move your eyes are some of the fastest, strongest muscles in your body. And they don’t just help us to make sense of the world around us. Your eyes can also tell us about your health and help detect diseases like diabetes. That’s one of the reasons why Optometry is so important.
What is optometry?
Optometry is a health care profession, just like being a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist. It’s all about caring for the health of people’s eyes and helping to improve their sight.
Optometrists Optometrists examine the eyes for defects in vision, signs of injury, disease or abnormalities and general health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes. To become an Optometrist, you’ll need to study Optometry at university. Typically, you need three A-Levels or equivalent with at least two in maths, biology, chemistry or physics.
Dispensing Optician They can interpret the prescriptions of our Optometrists. They are highly trained to advise customers on which glasses might suit their lifestyle and needs.
Contact Lens Optician A Contact Lens Optician has additional training to a Dispensing Optician. They can help customers who choose to wear contact lenses.
Home visits team Our Home Visits Optometrists and Optical Assistants are there to help the most vulnerable insociety. They visit people to offer eye care from the comfort of their own homes.
Well, the eye is one of the most complex organs in the body. So, you’ll need a good understanding of physics and biology, maths and chemistry. We’re always discovering new things about the eyes, so you’ll be the kind of person who loves learning. You’ll have an eye for detail and be precise and accurate in your work. And you’ll be working with different people every day, so communication skills are important too. This is your chance to change people’s lives every single day, so a passion for helping people is key.
Where to begin
Want to find out more? You could in touch with your local store to arrange a visit with your parents. Or to ask about our work experience programme, where we can show you what it’s like working in Optometry. We also offer apprenticeships for anyone looking for a way into the industry after school or college.
All Optometrists study a degree in optometry which can last three or four years. During training, they also have a period of placement in a practice; usually lasting at least a year.
There are a small number of graduates who complete their placement as part of their four-year degree, but most do it as salaried supervised work after they graduate – the choice is yours.
Anyone! As long as you have the right degree, demonstrate our values and behaviours, and are ready to make a difference, you can become an optometrist.
An optometrist salary can begin at around £30,000 once you’ve got your qualification. This can (and will) increase depending on factors like scope, level of practice, additional responsibilities, and local market forces.
The required university degree in optometry, on top of the College of Optometrists pre-registration period in practice usually takes four years in total, but it can take a little longer in some cases. Once both things are completed, the optometrist can join the General Optical Council’s (GOC’s) register.
Here at Specsavers, you can work towards a range of qualifications while you’re working. That includes learning about all things Audiology too. You also have the chance to swap between store or home visits, depending on what you prefer. And, with our incredible joint venture partnership, you can even own and run your own Specsavers business. The opportunities for progression are (almost) endless.
You will need a university degree to become an Optometrist. But there are certain requirements you’ll need to get into university in the first place.
University requirements can vary a little, but anyone who applies to study optometry should aim to get good grades across one of the following:
Three A-Levels (at least two of which in science subjects)
BTEC in sciences
Access to Science
You’ll also need five GCSE’s (A*-C) including English, Maths and Science.
But you don’t have to go straight into university. You can also get into optometry by first qualifying as a dispensing optician in practice, then applying to university to study optometry.
