Job Description

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.



Please see below for detailed job description of the role.



We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Specialist Optometrist to join our dynamic team at the Southampton Eye Unit. Southampton Eye Unit is the largest eye department on the south coast and sees over 130k patients per year and is a tertiary referral centre for many sub-specialities, including paediatric cataract, AMD and cornea. We have a team of nearly 70 Ophthalmologists, including 34 Consultants, as well as Optometrists, Orthoptists, imaging technicians and nursing staff.



The successful candidate will be joining a team of 8 Optometrists, a Dispensing Optician and 3 admin staff, to help support and grow our service and will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality, patient-centred care across a range of specialist clinics.



The role will involve working within core Optometry clinics, including medical contact lenses and paediatrics but also a highly specialised role in the paediatric cataract and contact lens service. Depending on service needs, support may be required in other sub-speciality clinics, including eye casualty, post op cataract and glaucoma clinics.



Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.



We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.



At UHS we're committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.



At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We're committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.



Our Optometrists are involved in the corneal, glaucoma and vitreoretinal clinics, as well as working in eye casualty, Anti-VegF injecting and YAG laser, so there is scope for personal development within many fields.

Previous hospital Optometry experience would be preferred for this role and training will be provided for working in these extended roles.



The Eye Unit is a busy and exciting place to work, so lots of energy is essential. This is a great opportunity to work in an eye unit that values the clinical skill Optometrists possess and enable you to expand your professional expertise.

Duties will or have the opportunity to, include:

Some core Optometry work, including refractions and contact lens work, as well as paediatric contact lens clinics

Working with paediatric, corneal, vitreoretinal, eye casualty and glaucoma consultants assessing patients and making decisions about treatment pathways.

Assessing images and information gained from virtual imaging clinics

Following suitable training, carrying out intravitreal injections in AMD and DMO patients

YAG laser clinics



The successful candidate will preferable have experience in Ophthalmology and hospital Optometry and full training will be provided for extended roles.



You will need to be patient, empathetic and a good communicator as you will be dealing with older and younger patients with visual impairment and sometimes difficulties with communication. The successful applicant will be working independently with minimal supervision, where appropriate but also as part of a busy multi-disciplinary team.