Our Year 9 & 10 students heard from Faith Kerekes, UHP NHS Trust who spoke about Orthoptics which the students found incredibly fascinating. 

Faith explained that Orthoptists are experts in how the eyes work, eye movement and visual development. Orthoptists are the experts in diagnosing and treating defects in eye movement and problems with how the eyes work together. They see patients of all ages and help improve the quality of people's lives by treating eye disorders and spotting serious neurological conditions. 

Orthoptists work either in hospitals, schools or community healthcare and have to undergo a 3-year undergraduate degree course at university.

This was followed by another brilliant talk on Optometry from Alshana Rahmetulla from the University of Plymouth, who talked to our Year 12 students and some students from Years 9 & 10 with an interest in Optometry.

She spoke about how Optometrists are the front line of eye care and deal with all problems relating to the eyes. Alshana told the students that they are able to diagnose health issues from what they see in our eyes, such as Diabetes, high cholesterol and even tumours as well as conditions that occur within our eyes such as cataracts or glaucoma. 

The Optometry degree at the University of Plymouth is a 4-year master’s degree with placements within industry and in the fourth year students can choose optional modules in subjects such as Glaucoma, Medical retina, Cataracts and Acute Emergency Eye Care.

Alshana mentioned that there is a current shortage of Optometrists in the South West which means that current graduates can look to earn upwards of £50K.

Thank you to both Alshana and Faith for coming in and giving the students an amazing insight into a potential career route they could take.