Optometry with Preliminary Year (MOptom)

This 5-year programme consists of a foundation year followed by our 4-year MOptom programme, and will provide you with the required knowledge to register as an optometrist.

We combine progressive healthcare education, high quality patient care, internationally recognised research, and exceptional clinical and teaching facilities to inspire you to become a GOC registered optometrist.

Today’s optometrists are autonomous clinicians who play a direct role in improving patients’ eyesight and eye health. Optometrists practise in diverse healthcare settings including community, hospital and domiciliary environments. They work with their patients to assess, diagnose and manage problems with their eyes and visual system. Optometrists may prescribe optical appliances such as spectacles and contact lenses, or provide preventative, rehabilitative and other eye care advice to help manage eye health problems.

Eye healthcare is a rapidly evolving field, and registered optometrists can choose to train further in an expanding range of clinical sub-specialities, including with therapeutic drugs. An increasing number of today’s optometrists prescribe medicines for eye problems independently of a doctor, and play a vital role in eye healthcare teams.

Our programme will allow you to gain the knowledge and skills to register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council. You will have opportunities to attend our in-house University specialist eye clinics led by our highly qualified multi-disciplinary eyecare team. Later, during your programme, you will take on more responsibility for patient care and hone your clinical skills whilst working both during your Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placement organised by the College of Optometrists. You will learn to manage confidently and autonomously a wide range of optical and eye health problems at qualification.

Embedded in our programme are opportunities to achieve selected higher qualifications from the College of Optometrists, preparing you for expanding roles in the optometric profession. You will establish a solid foundation for further specialist postgraduate clinical career pathways, and you will be well prepared to address lifelong learning, leadership and professional development challenges, enabling you to thrive in modern UK optometric practice.

Accreditations

• General Optical Council (GOC)

Careers

Career prospects

Employability

Optometry is a dynamic profession and the role of the optometrist as part of the eye care team is changing and expanding. Therefore, the career options for optometrists are varied and plentiful, ranging from the hospital eye service to community practice, to the voluntary sector or optical industry, research or teaching in the UK and internationally, making this an exciting degree to embark upon. Registration also opens possibilities to work or train abroad, since an optometry qualification from the UK is highly regarded worldwide.

The MOptom provides the opportunity to gain invaluable clinical skills and experience. Those graduating with the MOptom will be able to register with the General Optical Council and practice in the UK as an optometrist. The focus on specialist clinical eyecare practice in Year 4 means you will be equipped to start working in specialist areas of practice from the outset should you wish, including glaucoma, medical retina, acute eye care and low vision rehabilitation. Upon Graduation, you could choose to complete the training needed to become an independent prescribing optometrist.

Students not wishing to pursue employment as an optometrist in the UK, or for students seeking to pursue a more science-based degree or further research, may choose to exit the programme at the end of year 3 with a BSc degree .

Types of jobs:

• Primary care optometrist – as a primary care optometrist you will assess, diagnose, treat and manage problems with the eyes and visual system. You may help patients by prescribing optical appliances such as spectacles and contact lenses, by managing eye health problems including with therapeutic drug, as well as providing preventative, rehabilitative and other eye care management advice to members of the public.
• Hospital Optometrist - as a hospital optometrist, you would be a key part of the eye care team, working in either the NHS or a private hospital, with a clear focus on managing eye health problems including with therapeutic drugs or laser.
• Industrial Optometrist - you’d be involved in the research, design, development, testing or marketing of new equipment or optical appliances, ensuring they are safe and of a good quality for patients.
• Academic Optometrist - if teaching, researching, practising or a combination of all three appeals to you, becoming an Academic Optometrist could be for you. You might be based in universities, research institutions or other organisations throughout the world.

Graduate careers

• Optometrist
• Primary Care Optometrist
• Hospital Optometrist
• Academic Optometrist
• Industrial Optometrist
• Researcher

Placements

There will be internal and externally provided observation and clinical placements throughout Years 1 to 3 of the MOptom.

In Year 4 students will undertake the Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) placement overseen by the College of Optometrists, at a location in the United Kingdom external to Cardiff University.