Optometrist : Employers and vacancy sources

Optometrists work in a variety of settings. These include:

• corporate practice;
• independent practice;
• hospital practice;
• the optical industry;
• academic research and teaching.

Large corporate companies, for example Boots Opticians, Specsavers and Vision Express, employ a large proportion of optometrists. There are also many smaller regional chains. Companies offering laser refractive surgery also employ optometrists in a pre-operative consultation and post-surgical follow-up role.

Those with a strong interest in the medical side of optometry choose to work in hospitals, employed by The National Health Service (NHS) .

It is also possible to work in industry for spectacle lens, contact lens and ophthalmic instrument manufacturers, involved in research and development. Optometrists may also work in industry in a professional services role, giving technical support.

A small number of optometrists are employed by universities and charities. Other employers of optometrists include local government, the army and public health bodies.

Self-employment through a franchise or partnership, or as a sole practitioner, is another route open to optometrists. It can be particularly attractive to those interested in developing a specialist optometric service.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Optometry Today (OT)  
• Optician  
• NHS Jobs    
• NHS Scotland Recruitment   
• Local and national press.

Recruitment agencies also handle vacancies, details of which may be found in the optometry press. Search the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)  website consultancy finder for a list of optical member organisations.

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