My optometrist colleague recently qualified as an independent prescriber, and is now involved in glaucoma follow-ups and diabetic retinopathy screening. All of this is financially viable for the practice and employer; the optometrist enjoys the variety of work and everyone seems happy. The optometrist has made one small request, though: can the contact lens optician (CLO) take on all contact lens appointments from now on.
This is not a unique story – it is happening in practices all over the country. As optometrists focus their skills elsewhere (excuse the pun), a gap is starting to appear in the workforce – and it feels like there are not enough CLOs to go round.
It is vital to get the initial contact lens fitting appointment right, because it marks the beginning of a relationship that may well go on for years. But if we don’t have the personnel to deliver a contact lens fitting service, the patient will go elsewhere, or worse still try doing it themselves with an online supplier. So if optometrists and CLOs are busy up-skilling in new areas, and performing new functions, there is potentially a large gap in the workforce that dispensing opticians (DOs) could fill.
Training to be a CLO is available to all FBDO qualified DOs. Speaking as someone who has performed this role for more than 25 years, it adds more variety, more stimulus and more credibility to the role. I also believe it brings better job security and employment prospects, such as in extended services, and usually a better salary.
Many employers are happy to support further training, and both ABDO College and Bradford College offer this. It is an opportunity you should seriously consider. So visit the websites of both colleges today to see what new prospects your future might hold, and then read this month’s Jottings in Dispensing Optics by DO Ashley Davies – who is well on his way to becoming a practising CLO.