Pragna Raghwani

How long have you been a Dispensing Optician?

I have been a DO since 1992 which is 27 years.

What made you decide to be a Dispensing Optician?

Since I was three years of age when I had my first visit to my optician, I was fascinated by the whole process and ever since then I have been passionate about eyes. Ever since then I always wanted a career in optics and I worked through my dream and achieved it.

What's the best part of being a Dispensing Optician?

Being a dispensing Optician gives me great pleasure to serve the community and provide the best eye care in the Town. I am passionate about paediatric and complex dispensing challenges that come my way. I carry out various roles being a DO. I thrive on giving my feedback to the students and enhancing their experience being a distant learning Tutor and a ABDO examiner. I also facilitate at the PAC conferences.

Tell us about being a Contact Lens Optician.

I practice three days a week as a contact lens optician. I embrace complex fittings and am confident in any challenges which may come across. The satisfaction I get improving someone’s life style by fitting them with contact lenses especially children and multifocal wearer is very rewarding.

You are also the chairman of Hertfordshire Region for a multiple company tell us more.

My role as a chairman includes looking after partners and manager’s development needs. I represent the region at board level and implement the company strategy back to partners and stores. I support the stores who are struggling with certain aspects of the business and support colleagues to ensure all business needs are kept up to high standards as required.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about training to be a dispensing optician?

My advice to someone looking into becoming a DO is, it’s a very varied profession and it opens a lots of career opportunities in different fields. It’s very rewarding and satisfying. It enhances ones’ personal character and balances a happy lifestyle as its very flexible. The role as a DO is very diverse and sky is the limit as to where you want to be. It’s very inspiring and enjoyable profession. Recommend it highly.