“We are capable of providing more”

I began my career as a pre-reg in the hospital, where there was the potential of doing a PhD afterwards. However, when the funding didn’t come through, I jumped into locuming in High Street practice, which was a big shock. After some travelling, I joined Asda Opticians before returning full circle to the hospital eye service, first in paediatrics, then in a full-time role for six years, training to provide glaucoma management.   

It was during this time that things changed following the Crown Report and independent prescribing (IP) became an option for optometrists. I think I was in the second cohort to complete the qualification in 2010. As I had been part of discussions with Optometry Scotland regarding the funding of the qualification for optometrists in Scotland, it felt daft for me not to complete the qualification. Working in the hospital setting at the time, I knew it would enable me to manage my patients better.   

My IP qualification was my first further education post-qualification. Afterwards, a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University pointed out to me ‘now you’ve done IP, you’ve got a third of the points towards a Master’s degree.’ They persuaded me to pursue my Master’s by highlighting that it would be good for the future direction of the profession – I agreed.   

After the pandemic, I began considering further education again. As a practitioner who is keen for those working within the profession to keep developing and learning, I felt it was only right that I should undertake additional qualifications too.   

Having supported the writing of the learning outcomes for the College of Optometrists’ paediatric professional certificate, and having focused heavily on paediatrics in the hospital setting, I signed up. That was my first professional certificate.   

After completing my paediatrics professional certificate, I was working in diabetic screening so I enrolled on the professional certificate in medical retina. My low vision certificate followed when the Scottish Government began looking at creating a new national low vision service – there was discussion about building up a cohort of low vision optometrists who would help with training when the scheme was rolled out.

These qualifications have changed the way I have been able to practice. They help provide practices with a source of additional funding and bring patient care closer to home

A win-win

Over the years, I have selected qualifications to upskill in based on where I’m working, the patients I’m seeing and the direction of the profession. They’re not at random.   

These qualifications have changed the way I have been able to practice. As a profession we’ve known for a while that we are capable of providing more with our skills and our knowledge – and this is now being seen in Scotland and Wales.   

We’re evolving from being people who test eyes and give out glasses, to people who are capable of managing most eye conditions within the community rather than having to refer things to the hospital.   

For patients, our enhanced skills mean they are dealt with and monitored close to home, and their conditions can be resolved faster because they’re getting treatment more quickly. While the benefits for patients are huge, the benefits for secondary care are massive too, reducing referrals and supporting the reduction of waiting lists.   

Those who take additional qualifications realise that it empowers them and makes the job much more worthwhile.   

One challenge that we’re still working through is a business model which is funded by spectacle sales. While some have managed to break that model and survive (and thrive) mainly on clinical and private work, much of the profession is still trying to find a solution that pulls them further away from the reliance on spectacles sales.  

Another challenge is that we need to educate the public, letting them know that optometrists can do all these things now. We should be shouting about it louder and helping our colleagues across healthcare realise that we can do a lot more for them too. 

We’re evolving from being people who test eyes and give out glasses, to people who are capable of managing most eye conditions within the community rather than having to refer things to the hospital

Daily use 

Today I work two days a week in my own practice, and three days in an NHS diabetic screening service delivered in the community. I use my additional skills almost a daily. Some days I’ll prescribe two or three times, and others nothing, but I’m using that knowledge daily.   

My qualifications complement each other; they don’t stand in isolation. I’ll continue to upskill. It’s about keeping myself learning and developing as a professional, and enjoying what I do.