Student opportunity knocks

This year, a record number of students have enrolled on optometry programmes in the United Kingdom. At the same time new refraction technologies are emerging and, with the increase of online spectacle and contact lens retailers, there is understandably some concern among students regarding the direction the profession is heading.

However, I think there is plenty of cause for the next generation of optometrists and other eye care professionals to feel optimistic about the future. This lies in the potential of upskilling optometrists and driving the public towards identifying optometry as a health-led profession. One of the areas where this is key is with minor eye conditions. In the United Kingdom, countries such as Wales and Scotland have established protocols and schemes in place for minor eye conditions. Such schemes recognise the specialism and skill of optometrists, while relieving pressure on the health services. As such, different areas are also rolling out these Mecs (Minor Eye Condition Service) schemes and at the same time, we are seeing practices invest in technologies like OCT. Practices are also looking to further their work and recently, we saw the United Kingdom’s first Healthy Living Optical Practice (HLOP), which seeks to work with the community on wider health issues.