Optometrist
Give people eye tests to check their health and decide if they need glasses.
Also known as: optician
About the job
What it's like
Have you got your sights set on a career in healthcare? As an optometrist, you'll help people improve their vision of the world around them.
Optometrists examine people's eyes to check their vision and look for defects, injuries or signs of ill health. You'll also decide if someone needs glasses or contact lenses.
In this role, you'll use your in-depth knowledge of eye diseases. If you detect any abnormalities – including conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure – you'll refer your patient to specialists or ophthalmologists.
You could specialise in a particular area of optometry, including:
working with children (paediatrics)
contact lenses – to advise people about using them
sports vision – helping sportspeople improve skills like distance estimation or hand-eye co-ordination
low vision – showing people how to use lighting and other aids to help them live with low vision that can’t be corrected with glasses or contact lenses
As an optometrist, you'll need to work with precision and interpret mathematical and scientific information. It’s vital to stay up to date with new techniques and instruments.
Some people may be nervous before their appointment. In these cases, you should put them at ease. You may need to carefully and clearly explain the process and instructions – especially when working with children.
Your tasks might include:
testing and measuring a person’s vision using instruments and traditional tools, such as reading charts
making a diagnosis and advising people on what they should do next
prescribing, fitting and supplying glasses or contact lenses
discussing the suitability and shape of frames for glasses
referring clients to specialists or ophthalmologists
doing additional learning to stay up to date with the latest industry developments and trends
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
NHS Careers – check out this optometrist job profile
General Optical Council – find information about how to become a qualified optometrist
Disclosure Scotland – learn more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) – discover how the SWAP programme can help you retrain as an optometrist
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Optometrist'
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- making decisions
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- empathising
- researching
- written communication
- verbal communication
- listening
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Care
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Human Biology
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Physics
You'll need a degree to become an optometrist in Scotland.
But there are a few ways you can work towards this. Let's explore all the routes you can take to get into this career.
University
You’ll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in Optometry.
It'll take you three years to complete the degree. You'll then do a paid pre-registration training block within an optometry practice, working under the guidance of a fully-qualified optometrist.
You'll need to pass a General Optical Council (GOC) final exam before you can start practising on your own.
Use the My World of Work course search to find your perfect Optometry degree.
Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP)
If you're an adult looking to get back into education, consider the Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP). It offers routes to university by learning at college first.
If you don't have a degree and have been out of education for at least three years, you could be eligible.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Applied Sciences
Applied Biological Sciences or Biological Sciences
Chemical Sciences or Applied Chemistry
Physics
Work
Already working as a dispensing optician? You can retrain to become an optometrist – your work experience will stand you in great stead.
You'll still need to complete an Optometry degree and pre-registration year.
Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become an optometrist. Search for optical or healthcare opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
You could also contact high street opticians directly to find out about work experience schemes.
Experience of public-facing or customer service roles is useful.
All optometrists must be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland.
The General Optical Council (GOC) requires you to commit to ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) alongside your work.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Optometrist'
