Key skills needed to be an optometrist

Our Honours Degree in Optometry and Vision Science will provide you with a broad scientific base and specialist clinical skills. You will need a strong academic background and an interest in scientific principles.

Since Optometrists are principally dealing with patients, strong communication skills are critical. Successful applicants tend to have a friendly, caring personality and our course incorporates training in communication skills to further enhance students' ability to communicate with tact and empathy, and to inspire confidence in others.

A professional attitude from the start is essential. The General Optical Council (GOC) requires all students enrolled on an optometry training course, to register with them. Rejection of an application for GOC registration prevents an individual studying for a degree in optometry. Please consult the GOC website (http://www.optical.org/) for further information on issues that may prove a potential barrier to GOC registration, or contact them directly if you remain unsure.

Optometrists require an eye for detail. Probably their most critical role is in discriminating the subtle signs of early eye disease from normal variations in the appearance of the eye. Manual dexterity is important for many clinical techniques, some of which involve the precise positioning of a diagnostic instrument on to the surface of the eye.

Good organisational and administrative skills are useful but above all, you must enjoy working with and helping people.