Optometrist

Briefly explain what you do for a living.

I work as an optometrist at an optician’s. My work mainly consists of eyesight tests and contact lens examinations, but I also do some sales and customer service. I manage lens orders, assemble glasses by installing adjusted lenses to frames and do small repairs for glasses. I am also responsible for ordering the contact lenses we have on sale and our stock of try-on contact lenses.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice?

After upper secondary school, I was thinking about what to study next, and my father suggested becoming an optician. I went to a local optician’s for an eye exam and asked the staff about their work. I ended up applying for the Oulu University of Applied Sciences degree programme in optometry.

Describe your typical working day or week.

My typical day at work mainly involves working with customers. During the day, I usually have about 5 to 9 customers who come for an eye exam or contact lens exam. The number of customers varies depending on whether I am working alone or with a colleague.

I start the day by reviewing why each customer is coming for an exam and the details of their previous appointments. After that, I perform eye exams and contact lens exams for customers who have appointments.

In addition to doing exams, I help the other staff members with matters such as questions about lenses and eyeglass strength. I also handle customer complaints by checking their prescription and whether the lenses are correct and the glasses fit well.

I also do customer service and sales.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you have?

I work at a shop located in a large shopping centre. My shifts are determined by the opening hours. The store is open on weekdays from 10 am to 7 pm, on Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 12 noon to 4 pm. My typical working day usually lasts about 7.5 hours.

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession?

The profession requires good interaction skills and being ready to encounter different people on a daily basis. You also have to be genuinely interested in customers’ needs and have the ability to listen and be present. A good optometrist is empathetic because customers who come for an appointment might be nervous, frustrated or disappointment with past experiences. In addition, the work requires patience and flexibility because customers are of all ages and have varying needs.

What is the best thing about your profession?

I like how versatile the work is and how much my tasks vary. Encountering people and getting their feedback also make the work rewarding.

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging?

I can’t think of any drawbacks in my work. If you’d like to work a regular eight to four on weekdays, one option is to apply for work as a hospital optician.

What would you tell a person considering the profession of an optometrist?

Being extroverted is an advantage in this profession. In addition, you should prepare for the fact that many shops are located in shopping centres, so your work hours will often be determined according to their opening hours.

How do you see the future of your profession?

The future of the sector looks bright since the employment situation is good and there are relatively few optometrists being trained. The ageing of the population increases the need for services, which is particularly reflected as a higher number of older customers. This also makes eye health a bigger part of the work, so the importance of competence in that area is expected to grow in the future.