Chris Bennett: Universities or optometrist factories?

Graduate employment bingo has become a feature of university open days.

A grid of faces is shown on the screen as the course leader explains to prospective students and parents which graduates have been employed, which have opted for further study and those who have euphemistically decided to do a bit of travelling.

Shouts of ‘house’ will be ringing out through many optometry departments as the latest round of open days get under way if this week’s In Focus is anything to go by.

The growth in optometry undergraduate courses has divided the profession between those who need to employ more professional staff and those who see the training of many more optometrists as damaging to skills and salaries.