Community/High street optometrist

Working in a small independent optometrists or for a large national organisation, you'll be carrying out eye examinations, giving advice on visual problems and prescribing glasses, contact lenses and low vision aids. You'll also be trained to detect eye disease and underlying health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

You will be working with all sorts of people from the local community - from the very young to the very elderly - and with varying conditions and requirements. So you'll need a full range of clinical, professional and personal skills to ensure that you deliver the very best in patient care.

A community independent practice is owner-managed.

An optometrist in a multiple practice is part of a chain or franchise.