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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

What’s the difference?

So what is the difference between

an optometrist and an optician?

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

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

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

Useful websites and resources

www.college-optometrists.org

www.abdo.org.uk

www.newdimensioninoptics.org

www.prospects.ac.uk

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

Over to you!

Do you have any questions?

Association of British Dispensing Opticians

Thank you for your attention

Association of British Dispensing Opticians