A roadmap for the future role of optometrists and dispensing opticians has been laid out by the Foresight Project and College Workforce Survey in the past few years.
Last year’s Foresight report addressed the potential impact of technology on the sector to 2030, including e-commerce, 3D printing and online refraction.
The Workforce Survey, meanwhile, painted the picture of an undersupply of full-time optometrists despite the arrival of several new courses. This will need to be reversed should the profession continue its movement towards more clinical eye services.
Now though, is the time for action and the GOC’s strategic review of education is an example of activity taking shape.
Both established and fledgling optometry courses must reflect not only the present but also future demands on the high street. An ageing population, enhanced optical services and keeping up with rising levels of childhood myopia are just some of the challenges ahead.
The profession has already gone some way towards helping the GOC form its conclusions for education, with 55 responses to the original call for action and many more expected in December. But as its chair Gareth Hadley points out, changing CET guidelines and expectations of university students only goes so far.
There must also be a concerted effort by each optical body to continue lobbying government and convincing commissioners there is more to high street optics than meets the eye.
