How to become an Optometrist
Official title: Optometrists
Also called: Optometrist, Doctor of optometry, Ophthalmic optician, Consultant ophthalmologist
Ophthalmic opticians test patients’ vision, diagnose defects and disorders and prescribe glasses or contact lenses as required.
Main tasks
- Examines eyes and tests vision of patient, identifies problems, defects, injuries and ill health
- Prescribes appropriate spectacle lenses, contact lenses and other aids
- Advises patient on proper use of glasses, contact lenses and other aids, and on appropriate lighting conditions for reading and working
- Refers patient to a specialist, where necessary
- Carries out research with glass and lens manufacturers
How to become one
Entrants require a degree in Optometry, must have passed the Professional Qualifying Examination of the General Optical Council, and have completed a pre-registration year. Advanced training in specialised areas is available.
Ways in
- University: Allied Health degrees, Offered by 17 universities in the UK
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 21 universities in the UK
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £51,030 a year
- About 26,100 people work in this job now, and about 28,600 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an Optometrist?
Entrants require a degree in Optometry, must have passed the Professional Qualifying Examination of the General Optical Council, and have completed a pre-registration year. Advanced training in specialised areas is available.
How much does an Optometrist earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £51,030 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is an Optometrist a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 26,100 to about 28,600 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become an Optometrist?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.