04 August 2025
New research published in Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics has outlined findings from a survey of 1303 UK optometrists about their mental health and wellbeing.
The study found that 37% of survey respondents had moderate-to-severe psychological distress scores.
Among those who responded to the survey, 24% screened positive for depression and 28% for anxiety.
Around one in five (17%) survey respondents reported receiving treatment for a mental health condition over the past year.
The study highlighted that younger optometrists, those without additional roles and those with lower levels of physical health were more likely to report moderate-to-severe psychological distress.
As a profession, it is essential that we continue to prioritise not only excellent patient care, but also the mental wellbeing of eye care practitioners
Female optometrists were more likely than male optometrists to report anxiety, depression and moderate-to-severe psychological distress.
The researchers found that adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviours was associated with better mental health outcomes.
The study also suggests that optometrists who undertake higher qualifications or additional roles may have improved levels of mental wellbeing.
Lead author, Neil Retallic, of the University of Bradford, highlighted that the research identifies both risk and protective factors that can inform further wellbeing strategies.
“Notably, around one in three (31%) optometrists experiencing psychological distress had not accessed any form of professional support, highlighting a clear opportunity to improve awareness and access to care,” he said.
“As a profession, it is essential that we continue to prioritise not only excellent patient care, but also the mental wellbeing of eye care practitioners. We look forward to continuing our work in this field to help make a difference in how we, as a profession, come together to support one another,” Retallic emphasised.
The research follows a 2021 Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics study that explored the mental health of Australian optometrists.
That research found that around one in three (30%) Australian optometrists were experiencing moderate-to-severe psychological distress, with similar findings for anxiety and depression.
Wellbeing at work
From heavy workloads to discrimination, OT explores the factors that are affecting mental health among UK optometrists
Comments (3)
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Anonymous11 August 2025
Surprised the psychological distress score is not sitting at 80%+
Optometry has become a dead end career with : low stagnant salaries, constant stress, more responsibilities, less time to see Patients, sales pressure and ducking from a GOC claim!
It's very well expecting us to be :the first port of call, IP qualified, Myopia management specialists, Carry out more diagnostic tests and being superman sales specialists etc. but what about our test times and salary? Anyone ever thought about increasing that to alleviate the stress?
I only work part time now as I cannot cope with the thought of working in a sausage factory ( and yes I have worked in Hospital, high street, Academia , private refractive) and it's now all the same- disappointing .
Optometry needs an overhaul and recognition like it does in America , not like a stepped up sale assistant profession that we are viewed as in the UK .
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Anonymous08 August 2025
I'm also feeling disillusioned with optometry at the moment. There are so many new schemes being added to our workload, and while new technologies are emerging, there's no extra time allocated during appointments to properly incorporate them (God help me when Optomap arrives in Specsavers stores!). There's constant pressure to test quickly, with a strong focus on product recommendations and sales performance.
Am I stressed and anxious? Absolutely — and going through perimenopause only adds to the struggle. I'm currently working the minimum number of days I can manage financially (just two days a week) because of the stress. But I know this isn’t sustainable in the long term, especially with no pension in place — which is worrying when I think about retirement.
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Anonymous08 August 2025
Is it a surprise that, with longer working hours (a lot unpaid); an aging population with an increasing level of pathology and higher rates of referrals; an increasing number of GPs who “don’t do eyes any more”; ever increasing expectations that we should provide an A&E-style eye service; an increasing level of expectation that we should be available to speak to patients whenever they want; increasing amounts of new equipment that we are supposed to include in our routine with no extra time and minimal training, and then the GOC forever introducing new and improved ways of forcing us to constantly ensure we have to cover our own backsides by introducing unpoliceable rules generated from the comfort of a nice swish office or the comfort of their own front rooms, it is not surprising that we are showing signs of anxiety.
I was not taught how to cope with a 90 year old patient, sitting in their wheelchair, in tears, having been told they were losing their vision. But I have to cope, I have to treat that patient with all the kindness and empathy at my disposal, offer them alternatives to spectacles to help improve their vision and put them in touch with other services that may well be able to help. I then have to hope the GOC will think I have done everything I could. And then I have to cope with the fact that I know there is a practice (or store, I should say) up the road who don’t seem to care unless someone has gone for their BOGOF offer. I then wonder ‘where is the GOC when you really need them?’
Anxiety -tick. Disillusionment - tick. Looking forward to retirement - big tick. Having to cope with this for many years into the future - even bigger tick!
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