“I have already seen a shift in the way we practice during my optometry career”

Through my early education I undertook work experience in a variety of healthcare professions – in hospitals, GP surgeries and in opticians – to help guide me in picking a career that I would thoroughly enjoy and that would be right for me.

I believe that over the next 10 years, with optometrists currently acquiring a wider skill set and providing advanced eye care within the community, the profession will move more towards the role of doctors

Through working at an independent opticians close to home, my love for optometry began, and later so did my applications for optometry at university. By having this relevant work experience from a young age, and then further building my experiences throughout university and in the workplace, I had a strong understanding of what would be expected moving onto the pre-registration year. As I come to the closing stages of my pre-reg period and I start to become more independent in my career, my experiences through my training year have given me huge insight into life as a newly-qualified optometrist. 

Having attended university during COVID-19, I have already seen a shift in the way we have practised during my optometry career. Hospitals have longer backlogs and, although the pandemic was four years ago, we are still adjusting in both High Street and hospital settings. There have been developments in further training for optometrists and increasing community services, which I believe will emerge further still in the future, allowing optometrists to build their skill sets further and provide readily available enhanced eye care.

The next steps in the journey

During my pre-reg, I have learnt how diverse optometry can be and how there are many routes in further qualifications, and training. Upon qualification I would like to gain more hospital experience, allowing me to expand my skill set outside of a High Street setting. My professional interests include myopia control and technology within optometry – areas that I see changing and developing in the early stages of my career, which I am keen to get involved with. 

I believe that over the next 10 years, with optometrists currently acquiring a wider skill set and providing advanced eye care within the community, the profession will move more towards the role of doctors. With more optometrists able to prescribe with independent prescribing, and getting higher qualifications, we are the first port of call for managing, and often treating, eye conditions.

About the author

Priya Tanda is a pre-reg optometrist at Jaysons Opticians, Long Eaton. She is also an AOP Councillor, representing pre-reg optometrists.