Optometry

If you’re looking for a challenging career in healthcare that offers lots of job satisfaction, working in optometry may be the answer. As well as treating and caring for eyes, optometry is about using your skills and technical understanding to make a real difference to people’s quality of life. Career roles in optometry include Optometrists, Dispensing opticians (DO) and Optical assistants.

Working in the optical profession requires a unique blend of technical knowledge and people skills. As an optometrist, you focus on science-led theory and practice, learning about the mechanics of the eye and how to test and manage eye conditions. And you continue to learn after your optometry degree, too.

Find out more about studying for a career in optometry by visiting our dedicated website at https://gmprimarycarecareers.org.uk/optometry.

Reducing the risk of sight loss across Greater Manchester

The Local Eye Health Network has collaborated with Health Education England (HEE) to develop the first, funded, non-medical prescribers programme for optometrists to enable them to better manage minor eye conditions in the community. To encourage care closer to home, the network has agreed a common pathway for glaucoma- related and cataract referrals. Implementation of these schemes and similar community eye care initiatives at scale across Greater Manchester would significantly reduce unnecessary referrals to hospital.

Innovative models of shared care for patients with long-term eye conditions are being developed. Greater integration of primary care optometry and hospital eye services would offer elderly patients in particular, timely care closer to home. These patients require a lot of follow-up care, so developing this at scale across Greater Manchester will significantly reduce demand for hospital eye services and help prioritise specialist care.

This transformation will help make high street opticians – which are increasingly open in the evenings and at weekends – people’s first port of call for eye care problems, especially minor ones, relieving pressure on both A&Es and general practice.