Optometrists use their clinical expertise to help people achieve the best possible vision and maintain good eye health
As an optometrist, you'll be trained to detect and assess vision defects and abnormalities, injuries to the eye, eye diseases such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, and signs of wider health conditions such as diabetes, brain tumours or high blood pressure.
You'll use your skills to improve patients' vision and will prescribe and fit spectacles, contact lenses or low-vision aids. You'll also make referrals to specialists when further investigation or treatment is required.
In community practice, eye clinics and hospitals, you may help manage patients with long-term eye conditions or low-risk eye conditions, often using specialist diagnostic equipment.
Patients range from very young children to older adults, and you may provide care to both NHS and private patients.
What do optometrists do?
As an optometrist, you'll:
- take detailed patient histories
- examine patients' eyes using specialist equipment to detect vision defects and signs of injury, disease or abnormality
- assess, manage and monitor a range of eye conditions, either independently or alongside other healthcare professionals
- identify signs of wider health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- prescribe and fit spectacles, contact lenses and low-vision aids
- explain findings to patients and provide advice, support and reassurance
- discuss the advantages and limitations of different vision correction options
- liaise with other healthcare professionals and make referrals when further investigation or treatment is required
- maintain accurate patient records and comply with professional, legal and regulatory requirements.
Depending on your role, qualifications and experience, you may also:
- supervise, manage and train optometrists, optometry students, dispensing opticians and optical assistants
- manage the retail and business aspects of a practice
- contribute to the management, organisation and development of a practice
- liaise with suppliers and representatives from optical and vision care companies
- own or manage an optical practice
- treat and manage patients with a range of eye conditions and, if qualified as an Independent Prescriber, prescribe medicines within your recognised area of expertise and competence
- contribute to the development of local and national eye care services through work with NHS organisations and professional bodies.
Optometrist salaries
- During pre-registration training, salaries typically range from £28,000 to £35,000, depending on the employer and setting.
- Once qualified and registered, optometrists typically earn between £40,000 and £55,000.
- With significant experience, specialist qualifications or management responsibilities, salaries can exceed £65,000, while principal, consultant and practice-owner roles can earn substantially more.
Salaries vary according to factors such as location, experience, specialist qualifications, level of responsibility and employer. They also vary according to whether you work in community practice, for the NHS or in a private hospital setting.
Community-based optometrists may receive additional benefits such as bonus schemes, health insurance and discounted eyewear. Hospital optometrists are usually employed on NHS Agenda for Change pay scales and may benefit from the NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave entitlement and opportunities for career progression into specialist, principal and consultant optometrist roles.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
How many hours does an optometrist work?
You'll typically work between 37 and 40 hours per week during normal business hours. However, in community practice, evening and weekend work is common, particularly in larger optical chains.
Part-time and temporary locum work is popular and can offer greater flexibility, often allowing you to work across a variety of practices and settings.
How do you become an optometrist?
To work as an optometrist in the UK, you must be registered with the General Optical Council (GOC), the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. This involves completing a GOC-approved integrated Master of Optometry (MOptom) degree, which includes 48 weeks of patient-facing clinical experience. Courses last four years full time (five years in Scotland).
For students on most MOptom degrees, The College of Optometrists facilitates and quality-assures 44 weeks of the required patient-facing clinical experience through its Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) programme.
Entry requirements vary between universities, but you'll typically need three A-levels (or equivalent), usually including at least two science-based subjects, such as biology, chemistry, maths or physics, plus five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent), including English, maths and science.
If you are already qualified as a dispensing optician, you may be able to qualify as an optometrist in a shorter time.
View the list of course providers
You must remain registered as a student with the GOC throughout your degree and pass all required assessments before registering as a qualified optometrist on graduation.
What skills does an optometrist need?
You'll need:
- confidence using specialist diagnostic equipment to examine eyes and monitor eye conditions
- clinical decision-making skills to assess symptoms, interpret test results and make appropriate treatment or referral decisions
- excellent communication skills to explain eye conditions, discuss treatment options and build trust with patients
- strong interpersonal skills and empathy to reassure anxious patients and provide person-centred care
- the ability to apply scientific knowledge when assessing eye health, vision problems and wider health conditions
- excellent attention to detail and precision when carrying out eye examinations and fitting vision correction solutions.
Do you need optometry work experience?
Work experience isn't usually a formal requirement for entry to an optometry degree, but it can help you gain an understanding of the profession and strengthen your university application. Opportunities may include work shadowing an optometrist, observing practice in a community optical practice or hospital eye department, or working as an optical assistant.
If opportunities aren't advertised, consider making speculative applications to local optical practices to ask about work shadowing or part-time work.
Volunteering can also provide valuable experience. Opportunities may be available with charities and organisations working in eye care and vision health. You can also become a free student member of The College of Optometrists, which provides access to professional resources, networking opportunities and careers advice.
Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.
Where do optometrists work?
Most optometrists work in community optical practice, either in independent practices or for regional and national optical chains. Others provide domiciliary eye care, visiting patients in their own homes, care homes and day centres.
If you have a strong interest in the medical side of optometry, you may choose to work in hospitals or eye clinics alongside healthcare professionals such as ophthalmologists, orthoptists and specialist nurses.
It's also possible to work in universities and research centres, or in the optical manufacturing industry with spectacle lens, contact lens and ophthalmic instrument manufacturers. Roles may involve research and development, education, training or technical support.
Other employers include laser eye surgery providers, charities, local government, the armed forces and public health organisations.
Some optometrists choose to work as locums or develop portfolio careers combining clinical practice with teaching, research or professional leadership roles. Self-employment through a franchise, partnership or independent practice is also possible.
Look for job vacancies at:
You can also search the websites of major optical chains and independent practices, use LinkedIn, or register with specialist optical recruitment agencies.
Where can a career as an optometrist lead?
During your first few years in practice, you may take on additional clinical responsibilities and begin to develop specialist knowledge. Opportunities for further study include postgraduate qualifications and College of Optometrists higher qualifications in areas such as glaucoma, low vision, contact lens practice, medical retina and paediatric eye care. With further training, you can also qualify as an independent prescribing optometrist, allowing you to prescribe medicines for a range of eye conditions.
You must renew your registration with the General Optical Council (GOC) each year to keep practising and undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career. Many optometrists also join The College of Optometrists, which provides access to professional resources, networking opportunities, events and career development support.
In community practice, career progression can involve management positions, partnership opportunities or owning your own practice. Changing employer or location may also help you gain experience and progress more quickly. In hospital settings, there is a structured career pathway from optometrist to specialist, principal and consultant optometrist roles.
Some optometrists move into supervision and training roles, while others progress into research, teaching or leadership positions within universities, professional bodies, industry or the NHS. Many combine a number of roles or move between sectors throughout their career. Portfolio careers that combine clinical practice with education, research or management are also becoming increasingly common.