Andrew McClean: Who inspired you to go into dispensing?
Toby Baverstock: Like many colleagues I have met in optics since starting with Leightons Opticians in 2019, I fell into dispensing. Previously, I qualified as a teacher. Although I enjoyed many aspects of teaching, it was not my perfect fit and I sought something different. I joined Leightons as an optical assistant in 2019 and enjoyed working in optics. When Leightons offered me the chance to train as a dispensing optician (DO), I leapt at it and have not looked back. Becoming a DO had not been the plan at the start, but dispensing is now a passion and I continue to be inspired each day by the excellent colleagues, tutors and patients who help me become better.
AM: What do you love about dispensing?
TB: What I love most about dispensing is when you make a positive difference for someone. Whether it’s by helping a child see the board clearly for the first time, repairing someone’s beloved frame or by helping a sight-impaired person do crosswords again. The ways in which we can help people are almost endless. I love taking the time to chat with patients about all the different options available to them, excitedly explaining and demonstrating the latest technology and products, like the Miyosmart lenses. I often dash around to find things that patients may find interesting.
AM: What are your career aspirations?
TB: Since starting on my dispensing journey, I am increasingly inspired by the educators and colleagues who have already taught me so much and continue to do so, especially the Association for British Dispensing Opticians College lecturers who embrace their teaching with such passion. The positivity with which anyone embraces their vocation is significantly influenced by those who teach them and with this in mind, I feel very fortunate. I would love the opportunity after I qualify to make use of my teaching qualification and aspire to an educational role specialising in dispensing optics. I have always been passionate about teaching and education, even if mainstream teaching wasn’t for me, and feel this would fit me well. The idea certainly puts a fire in my belly, which drives me to be the best practitioner every day. I would also value the opportunity to work alongside future trainees in practice, encouraging them to become their best in the career I love and supporting them each step of the way.
AM: How challenging did you find the DO course?
TB: The content of the DO course is exceptionally vast and varied and everyone will excel in different areas, although I think that’s part of what makes professional practice so exciting. I was never the strongest mathematician in secondary school, so it took me a while to get into gear with the onslaught of formulae but I enjoy finding the answers. The ocular anatomy aspect of the course also challenged me. I’ve always been tenacious when presented with something new or difficult and enjoy the buzz of overcoming challenges and becoming more knowledgeable and skilled.
AM: What parts of your role in practice excite you?
TB: One of the most exciting aspects of practice is learning new things each day, accessing the latest technologies and sharing exciting new options with patients. I enjoy the spark that patients often have when they know they are experiencing the latest and best technology, such as being shown their first Optomap images or collecting spectacles with a freshly developed varifocal design. As slightly nerdy as it may be, I feel a satisfying thrill after a more complex or quirky dispense. I often worry my colleagues with my enthusiastic anticipation when those more interesting, high prescription and unusual-lens-type jobs come back from the lab, as I hastily tear the boxes open to see how they’ve come out.
AM: How do you view the future of the profession?
TB: Optics is a fast-paced and ever-evolving profession. From freeform surfacing technology to frames with inbuilt cameras and headphones, to the developments of artificial intelligence contact lenses and even surgical advancements. When previous generations of DOs trained, the emergence of intraocular lenses changed the demand for regular aphakia dispensing solutions. Fast-forward to today, advancements in laser treatment and contact lenses reshape the need for spectacle wear and arguably the perception of eyewear. Other technical advances have continued to change how we test and dispense to patients in practice. The practitioners that will thrive and deliver the best practice for their patients will be those who embrace the changes, are passionate about their ongoing learning, and make advantageous use of the latest developments.
- Toby Baverstock is a third-year trainee dispensing optician at Leightons Opticians in Poole.