“I’m optimistic for optometry’s future”

As an early career optometrist 30 years ago, my typical day concentrated mostly on sight testing, referrals and contact lens examinations. I referred every patient to secondary care via the GP, and we had very limited interaction with other healthcare professionals.

Today we are recognised as a critical part of the primary care system.

We’ve moved from detecting and referring eye problems to using our higher qualifications to actively treat and manage acute and chronic eye conditions. Access to diagnostic technology like optical coherence tomography, and enhanced clinical training, has empowered the profession to do much more. The shift towards community-based care, which started with PEARS back in 2002 and the Low Vision Service Wales in 2003, has completely changed how we practise.

During my career I’ve tried to be a voice for community optometry – whether through contributing to local enhanced pathway discussions as health board optometric adviser, or national discussions and service protocols as clinical adviser at Optometry Wales, or by supporting colleagues through CPD and mentoring.

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I think my most passionate aspiration has been to support a culture where optometrists and dispensing opticians feel confident in their clinical skills and are supported to grow beyond traditional roles. I’ve always believed in the potential of our profession, and it has been a privilege to help support the realisation of that potential, particularly here in Wales.

Equally, the most humbling time in my career was observing how the profession stepped up to provide essential emergency eye care services during an incredibly challenging time, supporting hospitals that were overwhelmed caring for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic.

Wales and eye care reform

A standout moment during my career was being involved in the early discussions around enhanced national services in Wales. Seeing that vision materialise into eye care reform in Wales has been incredibly rewarding.

The transformation that we have experienced in eye care across Wales has been pioneering. Wales has absolutely recognised the value of community-based eye care.

We’ve moved from local systems to one that is increasingly integrated, patient-focused, and preventative.

I’ve been fortunate to contribute to this at both a local and national level – whether by piloting services myself in practice, such as the Hydroxychloroquine Monitoring Service; supporting a local health board to pilot new services such as the Independent Prescribing Optometry Service, feeding back on policy consultations, or being part of stakeholder meetings to develop referral pathways. It’s been a collaborative effort across the profession, NHS Wales and Welsh Government, and I’m proud to have been part of that journey.

For patients, reform has meant faster, more convenient access to care – and often [care that is] closer to home, including in a domiciliary setting. For many conditions, patients no longer need to wait weeks for a hospital appointment when an accredited optometrist or dispensing optician can manage it safely in practice.

For us as practitioners, it’s elevated our role and made our work more clinically fulfilling. It’s also fostered greater collaboration with ophthalmology and primary care, which is essential for sustainable health care.

In the future,I look forward to seeing the further integration of digital systems – particularly the national rollout of shared access to patient ophthalmology digital records early in 2026 – which will make care safer and more efficient. Also, the rollout of a national electronic eye care referral system will be welcomed by all stakeholders in Wales in 2026.

I think the profession in Wales is well-positioned to be a cornerstone of community healthcare, particularly as we look at managing acute and chronic conditions and reducing hospital backlogs. The next stage should be about scaling what works and continuing to innovate.

In Wales, we continue to ask the question ‘what else can optometry do to support and improve eye health services, what’s next?’

I’d tell myself to embrace and learn from my more experienced colleagues – I have had the opportunity to work with so many talented colleagues who have been inspirational as mentors in shaping my journey

Reflections and the future

Having retained my passion for optometry during my career, if I could tell my younger optometrist self anything, I would tell her: ‘Don’t underestimate your value.’

Early in my career, I sometimes felt like optometry was on the periphery of healthcare – but that’s changed – and I wish I’d had more confidence in how vital our role would become. I’d tell her to be open to change – some of the best parts of my career came from stepping outside of my comfort zone. I’d emphasise to not dwell on failures, as many a time I have picked myself up and used the experience to shape how I approach the next challenge. Finally, I’d tell myself to embrace and learn from my more experienced colleagues – I have had the opportunity to work with so many talented colleagues who have been inspirational as mentors in shaping my journey.

Reflecting on the profession’s advancements, I’m optimistic for optometry’s future. I think we’ll see more collaborative working across professions, with optometry taking a leading role in managing chronic eye conditions. With advances in technology and artificial intelligence, I believe we’ll see even earlier detection of disease – but the human element of care, which optometrists and dispensing opticians provide so well, will remain crucial.