Role: Optometrist
Company: Stephen Rea Opticians, Belfast
Track Record: A calm and relaxed manner plus the ability to listen and think logically are crucial requirements for Stephen Rea’s role as an optometrist
HOW I BECAME AN OPTOMETRIST
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
After graduating from university in Cardiff, I completed pre-registration training by working under supervision in Ringwood (Hampshire) for Melson Wingate Opticians. I had a great optometrist supervisor who stressed the need for a very methodical approach.
Following qualification and full registration as an Optometrist in 2001, I continued to work for Melson Wingate in their Lymington branch where I was the sole practitioner. I returned to Northern Ireland in August 2002 and worked at the Cregagh Road Branch of Harris Rundle for 14 years. I was given the opportunity to purchase the Cregagh Road practice and became the owner last December.
I now have the exciting challenge of running my own business and being the main decision maker.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Believe it or not, Maths was my favourite subject at school, closely followed by Physics.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I spent three very enjoyable years at Cardiff University studying for a BSc in Optometry
How did you get into your area of work?
I was always unsure what exactly I wanted to do, though I was keen on some sort of healthcare career. I wanted a definite career path from any degree I studied so I decided on Optometry.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Having grown up on a farm I had originally thought of becoming a vet but in the end decided against this. I also considered accountancy having enjoyed Maths at school.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Following completion of my optometry degree I had to spend a further pre-registration year working under supervision.
I then completed the professional exams of the College of Optometrists which led to full registration with the General Optical Council.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
If you are a qualified dispensing optician, the University of Bradford offers a career progression course enabling you to graduate with a degree in optometry in approximately 12 months. Apart from this, it’s really quite a specific route to qualification is by completing an Optometry degree.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
You need to be able to listen to the patient to understand why they are coming to see you. There’s also an element of problem solving and logical thinking for those unusual or problematic cases. A calm and relaxed manner to make the patient feel at ease is also vitally important.
What does a typical day entail?
Every day is quite varied and most of it is spent with my customers. I will complete eye testing, help customers choose frames, and also carry out contact lens health checks.
There’s a vast age range from young children through to the more mature and each requires a different approach. I will also talk with the other staff members to ensure that everything within the practice is running smoothly. Generally the end of the day is used to go through any correspondence received and to write any referral letters that are required for those that attended throughout the day.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best aspect of the job is when you know that you have made a real difference to someone you have seen, whether it be detecting a general health problem or a potentially sight threatening issue. It’s really gratifying when they call to express their thanks for what you have done for them.
The most challenging aspect is when you have to deliver bad news – perhaps to advise an older person that they maybe have to give up driving due to their eye condition, from perhaps advanced macular degeneration.
This can have a really detrimental effect on them as it can lead to them losing their independence.
Why is what you do important?
An eye examination is much more than just an eye ‘test’ of what a person can see. It’s an eye health check that can pick up early signs of eye disease before you’re aware of any symptoms and also potentially detect some general health issues. There is also the opportunity to advise on how you can improve your ocular health by giving up smoking, wearing sunglasses to protect the eye from UV damage, and other risk factors.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
To explore the full range of optometry posts – be it hospital, independent practice or working for one of the multiples. I personally feel independent practice provides for a more varied working day.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
I went straight into work after university. I would probably take time out and go traveling. Having been to India last year for my brother’s wedding and seen the Taj Mahal, I would like to explore further afield around the world if I got the chance.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
To keep calm and give every patient the same care and attention that you would want to receive yourself if the situation was reversed.
Describe your ideal day off.
A round of golf with my regular four-ball from Ballyclare. There’s always a competitive edge and more than a little banter. It’s much more enjoyable when you play well. Having had surgery on my ankle last year though, I am using that as my excuse if it doesn’t go so well.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
I think the key to any successful job search would be to do your research into the company you are seeking to join. Use all available platforms – print and online and also any contacts you may have in the industry within which you want to work.