“It is great not to have to ask patients what the weather is like outside”

When and why did you decide to become a domiciliary optometrist?

I wanted the opportunity to do work that I believed was more community and patient-focused. It was a bonus to be out and about during the day – it is great not to have to ask patients what the weather is like outside.

What do you enjoy most about domiciliary optometry and why?

Being able to provide a service for people who otherwise would find it impossible to have their eyes tested. For some of my patients, I will be the only person they see all day – being able to spend time with them and seeing how much of a difference it can make to their day is very rewarding.

What would you change about domiciliary optometry and why?

How low its profile is with the public. Many people I meet doing a first-time eye test tell me how long they have gone without one because they didn’t know that this kind of service existed.

What is the most common misconception you hear about domiciliary optometry and what do you say to demystify it?

That you cannot do as thorough an eye test as you can in practice. Actually, I find that I can take a more holistic approach to the test, because I get to see the everyday living conditions of my patients – for example, I will see the exact lighting conditions of their home or the distance between their armchair and their television.

I find that I can take a more holistic approach to the test, because I get to see the everyday living conditions of my patients

What is your most memorable moment as a domiciliary optometrist?

When I visited a deaf lady and her son. They had both been so worried after the communication difficulties she had previously encountered when having her eyes tested, that they had put off having her eyes tested for some time.

She was very concerned that the reduction in her vision was down to an eye health condition – but in the end all she needed was some new glasses, which fully corrected her vision. She and her son were so happy that they cried – both at the improvement in her vision and at how comfortable the process was for her.

What has been your most challenging moment as a domiciliary optometrist and why?

Having to tell a man who was living alone in an isolated area that he would be unable to drive anymore due to his age-related macular degeneration. It was very tough to have to deliver that news, because I knew it would affect his independence.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to those considering domiciliary optometry?

That every day is so different when compared to working in a practice. You’ll see patients in a wide variety of living situations, each with their own specific needs. You need to be flexible in your approach, because in domiciliary optometry you will more frequently encounter complex patient needs.

What is the piece of kit you could not live without and why?

My handheld fundus camera. It has become indispensable in practices, and in domiciliary it vastly improves our ability to monitor patients’ eye-health.

It is amazing to be able to take that capability into the home. My patients are always amazed when I pull a printer out of my backpack at the end of the appointment to print out their prescriptions, too.