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A career in eyecare
A guide for school students (aged 12 or above)
Association of British Dispensing Opticians

Careers in eyecare
Optometrist
Optician
Contact Lens Optician
Low Vision Optician
Optical assistant
Optical technician
Ophthalmologist
Orthoptist
Ophthalmic nurse
Eye care liaison officer

Whats the difference?
So what is the difference between
an optometrist and an optician?

Dispensing optician career prospects
Average salary 26,000
Training salary minimum wage (plus)
Opticians with further training / qualifications improve their
salary potential considerably
Many opticians are involved in management Other roles include training, education, sales, marketing and
professional services within the industry
You can own your own business or open a joint venture
partnership or franchise

Ophthalmic dispensing study options
Full time FD (2 year) and BSc (3 year) courses available at Anglia
Ruskin, Bradford, City, Glasgow Caledonian universities
Entry requirements 2-3 A Levels average grades
Most common route is through blended learning via ABDO
College - involving block release, distance learning assignments,
in-practice supervision and exams through ABDO
Level 6 Diploma, Foundation Degree and BSc (Hons) options
Entry requirements: 5 GCSEs (grade C or above) including
maths, English and a science subject
Full time job with sponsor / employer
Day release options also available eg City & Islington College, Bradford College

Dispensing optician
Qualification = distinguishing letters FBDO
Registration with the General Optical Council
Partially deregulated profession
Must be dispensed by a registered optician:
People with complex prescription needs
are advised to be
Blind (severely sight impaired)
Partially sighted patients (sight impaired)
Children

Optometrist
Formerly called ophthalmic opticians
Examine eyes, give advice on visual problems
May prescribe and fit spectacles and contact lenses
Refer patients with eye disease to medics
Co-manage patients with eye problems
With additional training can prescribe ophthalmic drugs
and treat common eye conditions without need to refer

Optometry
Most optometrists work in high street practice
Others work in hospitals or research depts
Some optometrists are involved in management, professional
services roles in industry, training and education
With the aging population and new treatments for eye
disease putting pressure on the NHS optometry is expanding
into roles traditionally the domain of ophthalmologists

Qualifying in optometry
Three A Levels including maths and physics or biology
Typical offer between BBB and AAA. Lower offers to
applicants with work experience
Degree in optometry from Anglia, Aston, Bradford, Cardiff,
City, Coleraine, Manchester, Plymouth, Glasgow (4 Years)
After obtaining a degree must then do pre-registration
period and professional exams

Career prospects as an optometrist
Salaries and opportunities are greater in areas away from
the main training universities
Pre-registration year: minimum wage (plus)
Newly qualified: 19k to 28k Experienced: 30k to 55k
Own business / practice / partnership ?
Sociable hours and part-time opportunities make
optometry attractive

Careers related to optics
Ophthalmologist
A medical doctor specialising in treating eye
conditions and eye surgery
Orthoptist
Works alongside ophthalmologist assessing and treating
squints, double vision and other anomalies of binocular vision
Ophthalmic nurse
Specialist nurse who assists ophthalmologists in the
care of their patients

Useful websites and resources
www.college-optometrists.org
www.abdo.org.uk
www.newdimensioninoptics.org
www.prospects.ac.uk

Over to you!
Do you have any questions?

Thank you for your attention

a career in eyecare - · pdf filea career in eyecare ... optometrist optician contact lens...

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