Qualifying as a dispensing optician offers well paid employment, flexibility over location and multiple career options. One of those options is to undertake a further period of study for accreditation as a contact lens optician.
Jo Underwood, principal at ABDO College, says: ‘Any dispensing optician wishing to extend their scope of practice to become a contact lens optician needs to fulfil the GOC requirements to enter the contact lens register. ABDO College provides a blended learning programme to prepare students for the ABDO level 6 certificate in contact lens practice, which is recognised by the GOC for entry onto the contact lens specialty register.’
Underwood explains that a student will complete weekly written units for one academic year to prepare for the theory examinations, which are normally sat at the end of this year of study. Anyone taking part in the course must also attend ABDO College for two one-week blocks during the year in order to consolidate knowledge and gain practical experience.
‘The student must also be working in practice alongside a suitably qualified supervisor, who will further guide them in gaining the practical skills required and aid them to prepare case records to submit as part of the practical examinations,’ says Underwood.
‘These examinations could be taken at the end of the year of study, alongside the theory exams, if the student is in a position to complete the required case records and practical hours. More commonly these practical examinations are taken six to 12 months after the theory exams.’
City and Islington College also offers a GOC-approved training course for the contact lens specialty which is similarly split into theory and practical sections typically undertaken in sequential academic years.
Once qualified contact lens opticians must obtain 18 contact lens speciality CET points and 18 general CET points (a total of 36 points) while participating in at least one peer review group or discussion event using contact lens cases per cycle.
Low vision
The ABDO College Low Vision Honours Course provides an opportunity for dispensing opticians to develop their professional skills and to actively help those with sight impairment.
The course includes the theory and practical aspects of low vision consultation and fully prepares candidates for the ABDO level 6 FBDO (Hons) LVA examinations. Distance learning assignments are complemented by a short block release at ABDO College to reinforce practical skills and routine.
Michael Potter, head of marketing and communications at ABDO, says: ‘Due to changing demographics the demand for specialist low vision services is steadily increasing.
‘By enhancing their low vision skills DOs can greatly help the visually impaired, which is both valuable, extremely rewarding and even life-changing for the patient; hence ABDO is urging more of its members to become more involved in low vision work by undertaking the Low Vision Honours Course.’
Case study: Karen Hughes, professional services manager at Cantor + Nissel
Karen Hughes, pictured above, trained as a contact lens optician at City and Islington College and has since worked for independent and multiple practices before her current role at contact lens manufacturer Cantor + Nissel
‘This was a day release course that predominantly concentrated on the academic side to contact lens fitting with the majority of practical experience learned in practice throughout the rest of the working week,’ says Hughes. ‘It is hard work being in practice five days a week and then going to college for one day but I loved the course. I particularly enjoyed the increased amount of anatomy covered compared to the dispensing optician course.’
During subsequent years in practice, Hughes found the contact lens specialty allowed her to assist a wider variety of patients.
‘I particularly enjoyed helping patients that benefit cosmetically from contact lenses,’ says Hughes. ‘This could be because they don’t like the look of themselves in spectacles or they have a high Rx producing thick lenses, or an abnormality that can be covered with prosthetic lenses – which I’ve always found fascinating.
Hughes developed her interest in prosthetic contact lenses at exhibitions like the BCLA, and was eventually approached by Cantor + Nissel to apply for a job with the company.
‘I was delighted when I was tracked down by Cantor + Nissel,’ she says. ‘Although I sometimes miss being in practice, I feel that I have the best of both worlds working for a contact lens manufacturer, as I help practices as well as patients.’
Given Hughes’ satisfaction with her career path, it is no surprise that she strongly recommends the contact lens optician option.
‘It ensures no two days are the same and offers a great deal of job satisfaction. While doing the course it is important to work for a practice that doesn’t restrict the types of lenses you fit. It is useful to attend the BCLA conference to meet different contact lens manufacturers and learn what products they offer, as well as getting to know their professional services team who will be more than happy to help in any way they can throughout your training and beyond,’ she adds. W
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