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Optometrists

Ophthalmic opticians test patients’ vision, diagnose defects and disorders and prescribe glasses or contact lenses as required.

Wages

New workers
AVERAGE
Experienced
£18,559
£39,137
£57,134

New workers start around £18,559. Normal pay is £39,137 per year.
Highly experienced workers can earn up to £57,134.

Available jobs

In the past year there were 20,420 vacancies for this type of job

0.13%

Projected job growth over the next 8 years

Related courses

People work towards these careers by taking these courses at college and uni.

What they do most days?

  • Carries out research with glass and lens manufacturers.

  • Refers patient to a specialist, where necessary.

  • Advises patient on proper use of glasses, contact lenses and other aids, and on appropriate lighting conditions for reading and working.

  • Prescribes appropriate spectacle lenses, contact lenses and other aids.

  • Examines eyes and tests vision of patient, identifies problems, defects, injuries and ill health.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Ophthalmology

  • Optometry

  • Glaucoma

  • Performance Management

  • Employee Engagement

  • Talent Management

  • Retina

  • Surgery

  • Contact Lenses

  • Clinical Governance

Soft Skills

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education.

Skills are ranked based on the number of job adverts that list them as required skills.

  • Teamwork

  • Communication

  • Detail Oriented

  • Customer Service

  • Rapport Building

  • Enthusiasm

  • Management

  • Ethical Standards And Conduct

  • Teaching

  • Research

How do I get a job like this?

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

Routes to this career

See all

Optometry

University of Manchester

MSci · 4 Years · Full-time · Manchester · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Optometry

Aston University, Birmingham

MOptom · 4 Years · Full-time · Birmingham · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Optometry

Anglia Ruskin University

MOptom · 4 Years · Full-time · Cambridge · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: N/A

Optometry

Ulster University

MOptom · 4 Years · Full-time · Coleraine · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 128/144

Operating Department Practice

University of Leicester

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Leicester · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Optometry

University of Huddersfield

MOptom · 4 Years · Full-time · Huddersfield · 22/09/2025

Tariff points: 128/136

Optometry

Teesside University

MOptom · 4 Years · Full-time · Middlesbrough · 15/09/2025

Tariff points: 128/128

Operating Department Practice

Swansea University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Blended learning (full-time) · Swansea · 09/2025

Tariff points: 104/104

Operating Department Practice

Northumbria University, Newcastle

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Newcastle upon Tyne · 09/2025

Tariff points: 112/112

Operating Department Practice

Edge Hill University

BSc (Hons) · 3 Years · Full-time · Ormskirk · 09/2025

Tariff points: 104/112

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