Specsavers optoms complete enhanced services qualification

A total of 1000 Specsavers optometrists have achieved enhanced services qualifications in glaucoma, cataract and minor eye conditions (MECS) this year.

Overall, more than 11,000 practitioners at the multiple have completed WOPEC Level 1 and Level 2 accreditations.

Specsavers has funded the accreditation programme in order to upskill and develop its optometrists to deliver enhanced optical services. It also forms part of the multiple’s Transforming eye health campaign, which includes investing in optical coherence tomography technology, as well as partnerships with the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the International Glaucoma Association to raise awareness of the importance of eye tests in detecting sight threatening conditions.

Director of professional advancement at Specsavers, Paul Morris, said: “These fantastic figures show just how committed our optometrists are to furthering their clinical expertise and reflects a shift in expectations of the services opticians can provide, both from the public and within the profession.”

Mr Morris highlighted that graduates who join the multiple for their pre-reg period expect to be working towards further qualifications and development during or soon after qualifying.

“They, like the rest of us, recognise that this medicalisation of optometry represents a great opportunity to broaden their scope of practice,” he said.

Optometrist Adnan Nawaz qualified in July and gained his Level 2 MECS and glaucoma qualifications earlier this month. He commented: “Knowing I would be supported in gaining my WOPEC accreditations was one of the reasons I joined Specsavers in the first place. It’s been great to meet such a variety of optometrists and find out about how they are delivering enhanced services in their area. It’s also opened my eyes to the many other opportunities that are available to me over the course of my career, from working with ophthalmology clinics to potential store partnership.”