If you’re reading this, you’ve likely just had your A-Level results and have your place confirmed. First of all, a huge congratulations! The journey of starting optometry school and becoming an optometrist is about to begin!

I can still remember that mix of feelings – the excitement, the relief, and definitely a fair bit of nervousness about what was ahead. Starting optometry is a massive step. This isn’t just another course; it’s the very beginning of your professional career. It can feel like a lot to take in.

So, I wanted to put together a friendly, practical guide to help you navigate this transition. Let’s talk about what to expect and how to make the most of it.

Starting Optometry for the Right Reasons

Before we go any further, let’s have an honest chat. The most common mistake I’ve seen people make when starting optometry is not really knowing what the course is all about.

I can’t stress this enough: if you’re starting optometry and don’t realise it’s a full-on healthcare degree about eyes, vision, and disease, your path is going to be incredibly tough. I’ve seen students guided by their families to do it – but not actually take the time to know what optometry is. This course requires real dedication, strong ethics, and a genuine passion for helping people with their sight.

It’s also not a subject where you can just absorb facts and spit them out in an exam. Optometry requires you to learn, to truly understand the knowledge, and then use that understanding to interpret findings and solve problems. If you’re only good at memorising things but not at applying them, you will struggle. It won’t be impossible, but you will need to be willing to adapt to a new way of learning.

Make sure you’re starting optometry because you have a real desire to work in the profession and make a difference.

The First Few Weeks: Finding Your Feet

The first few weeks of starting optometry can be scary and overwhelming. There’s the excitement for the course you’ve worked so hard to get on, but there’s also the reality of moving away from home, sorting accommodation, and a completely new way of working.

Suddenly, you have full responsibility for your own learning. There are no parents or teachers reminding you about deadlines. You have to be prepared to grow up fast. I remember that feeling of responsibility being the biggest shift for me. I had to consciously balance everything, do things on my own volition, and be an adult about my learning, all while living with new people.

My advice is to embrace it. Everyone is in the same boat, feeling the same mix of emotions. A brilliant first step is to find and join your university’s Optometry Society (OpSoc). It’s an instant community of people who know exactly what you’re going through. These people will become your support network for years to come.

The Professional Essentials Required for Starting Optometry

When you’re starting optometry, you’re not just a university student; you’re entering a regulated healthcare profession. This means there are a few essential administrative steps you need to take right from the get-go. Don’t worry, your university will guide you through all of this, but it’s good to know what’s coming.

Firstly, you must register with the General Optical Council (GOC). This is a legal requirement. It’s this registration that allows you to see patients as part of your training.

You’ll also need to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is standard for any course where you’ll be working with the public, including children and vulnerable adults. Often, this is sorted by your university, so please be guided by them.

Additional support and advice for your studies can be found by being a member of the College of Optometrists. You can apply for free student membership here.

Finally, there’s insurance. Every optometrist needs professional indemnity insurance, and that includes you as a student. This protects both you and the public. Usually, this is arranged for you through your university, and is available free of charge by being a student member of the Association of Optometrists (AOP).

These are all just standard procedures for starting optometry, but they are absolutely essential.

Your First Optometry Kit: What Do You Actually Need?

One of the big questions for anyone starting optometry is about equipment. It’s easy to get carried away thinking you need to buy everything at once. My advice is simple: wait. Hold off on buying expensive kit until you have official guidance from your university. Often, they have specific requirements or even deals with suppliers that can save you a lot of money. You will, eventually, need things like a trial frame, a retinoscope, and an ophthalmoscope, but don’t rush. These things are expensive.

During your course, you’ll get to try different brands and types of equipment. You’ll soon figure out what you like and what you really need to own for yourself. When you’re just starting optometry, your finances are better spent on making sure you can eat and have a roof over your head. Be sensible with your money and don’t leave yourself short by buying equipment prematurely. That said, I do have a post on low cost equipment that you can purchase on a budget.

The same goes for buying textbooks. Your university will provide a reading list – and many of these books will be available in the university library. Some books may be more useful to own than to borrow; but you will learn which ones during the course.

Looking After Yourself (and Your GOC Number)

If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice when I was starting optometry, it would be this: don’t make your entire life about optometry. It’s so easy to do. I made the mistake of only socialising with coursemates, living with other optometry students, and just being in a complete “optometry bubble.” It meant there was never a real escape or a mental break from it all. Make friends with your flatmates and people on other courses. Join university societies that have nothing to do with eye care. Of course, enjoy your time with coursemates, but have a balance.

This is especially important in your first year. You need to learn the foundations of the subject, but you also have to look after yourself mentally and socially. Make time for friends, but don’t take it too far. Remember, from the moment you start starting optometry, you are registered with the GOC as a student. You are bound by their standards of professional conduct. Keep this in mind when you’re out socialising. Look after yourself, and look after your registration!

Starting Optometry: Welcome to an Amazing Profession

Starting optometry is the first step on an incredible path. It will be challenging, but it will also be hugely rewarding. The key things to remember are to be prepared, get involved with university life beyond your course, work steadily from the beginning, and most importantly, be kind to yourself.

You’ve earned your place, and you belong here. This is your chance to build the foundations of a career where you can genuinely help people every single day. Welcome to the profession.

What are you most excited or nervous about when it comes to starting optometry? Let me know in the comments below!

If you have enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our mailing list, where we will email you with our latest posts. Please share this article with your friends or on forums for prospective optometry students.

Please also consider joining our free membership – where articles looking at key skills and techniques you will use in day to day optometry are covered.