For the month of International Women’s Day (March 8), Optician has collated the views of female eye care professionals on how to empower and retain women in the industry, especially at leadership levels, and the importance of having female clinicians to treat female patients in vulnerable communities globally.
Optometry Scotland chair and optometrist for Black & Lizars, Eilidh Thomson (pictured right), said that while there is a strong female presence in Scotland’s optometry workforce, with a higher percentage of female student optometrists than male: ‘Women are under-represented in practice ownership and decision-making roles at a national level. Addressing this requires continued efforts to support career progression and leadership opportunities.
‘Supporting flexible working arrangements, promoting fair pay structures and encouraging visibility at all levels of the profession will also ensure that female voices continue to shape the future of eye care,’ she added.
Sarah Joyce, director of optometry at Specsavers, also said that she has not felt disadvantaged being female in the optical sector but highlighted a lack of women taking on roles in eye care outside of the testing room in areas such as leadership and academia, ‘though I think we are slowly starting to see this change’.
A survey, conducted by Women Leaders in Eye Health, consisting of Orbis, Seva Foundation and Women in Ophthalmology, found that despite the vast population of females in the global health and social workforce making up 70%, there is still gender disparity in optical leadership positions, with women representing just 25-30% of ophthalmologists.
Challenges & advice
Dr Michelle Le Cheminant, consultant anaesthetist and deputy chair at the Medical Specialist Group in Guernsey, and Orbis volunteer since 2017, said: ‘The first obvious challenge that all women in eye care face is the question of how to balance your chosen career with family commitments. Doing so requires a degree of flexibility by both training providers and employers.’
Thomson outlined that practices and hospitals foster a workplace culture that empowers: ‘Many women balance their professional career with personal commitments and ensuring equitable access to opportunities for mentoring, such as working with pre-registration optometrists or supporting university placements, leadership roles and career development opportunities like independent prescribing higher qualifications, should be encouraged by businesses.’
Kristy Jackson, optical professional development manager at Asda (pictured right), said one of the biggest challenges faced is receiving the right support to continue to upskill alongside coping with everyday responsibilities.
She said: ‘At Asda Opticians, we’re helping women overcome this by offering some of our hourly paid optical colleagues the opportunity to complete the level 6 Dispensing Optician Apprenticeship – with all training and study being done within working hours.
‘The top advice I would give to women progressing in optical roles is to seek out mentors. In an industry like optometry, you never stop learning. Finding a mentor will allow you to tap into their experience and continue your own development.’
Joyce advised taking on opportunities and joining your LOC, sector body committees, university departments and GOC committees and panels. ‘Your voice is as valid as anyone else’s at that table, and you will learn loads from your peers by getting involved too.’
Supporting female workforces
Eye sight charity Orbis also believes that breaking gender disparity in professional development required strong role models. In the latest Flying Eye Orbis Hospital project in Mongolia 2024, Dr Le Cheminant said the majority of her hands on trainees in anaesthesia were women. ‘I think the gender balance has shifted, with the benefits of expanding the female workforce better recognised.’
‘Women make up a large proportion of the staff and volunteer faculty and this allows us to demonstrate the valuable contribution of female leaders in medicine. I think women in healthcare bring different skills and attributes,’ Dr Le Cheminant added.
Thomson said: ‘While we acknowledge there is still work to be done to be truly representative
of the diversity of the sector in Scotland, our current chair, immediate past chair, and several board members are women and we have an all-female staff team, demonstrating that opportunities within the profession are open to all.’
Global female eye health
Dr Le Cheminant explained that often women in many cultures are more likely to seek healthcare from female clinicians, so it helps improve access to healthcare for women.
‘Women are disproportionately affected by global blindness and visual impairment. For me, the most rewarding aspect is to see Orbis providing access to eye care for women who might otherwise be left behind,’ she said.
The United Nations’ policy report outlined the eye health disparities across female populations worldwide and recommended systematic changes for improvements including creating incentives to increase the number of women in leadership positions and working with organisations and eye care providers to reach women and children.
