The Ophthalmology Optom Colleagues Forum : For Hospital & Surgical Eyecare Professionals
Ever feel like you’re speaking a completely different language to your colleagues on the high street? Does your typical Tuesday involve more biometry calculations and post-op complications than it does “Which frame looks better, the blue or the tortoiseshell?”
It’s a different world, isn’t it?
Working at the sharp end of clinical optometry: whether you’re in a bustling NHS trust, a high-octane surgical centre, or a boutique private clinic alongside the UK’s top consultants: can be incredibly rewarding. But it can also be a bit lonely. When you’re dealing with complex referrals and managing surgical outcomes, you need a tribe that gets it. You need a space where "Shared Care" isn’t just a buzzword, but a daily reality.
Welcome to the Ophthalmology Optom Colleagues Forum. This isn’t your standard clinical exchange; it’s a dedicated hub for the "A-team" of optometry.
Why a Dedicated Forum?
The gap between primary and secondary care is narrowing, and hospital optometrists are right at the centre of that shift. You aren't just checking prescriptions; you are an integral part of the surgical pathway. You’re working alongside heavyweights like Gus Gazzard, Constantinos Balaskas, and Saj Hamid. You’re the eyes and ears for consultants who rely on your clinical precision to ensure their patients get the best possible results.
We realised there was a massive need for a space where these specific conversations could happen. A place where you can dive deep into the weeds of:
- Complex Case Sharing: Got a referral that’s making your head spin? Share it with peers who deal with the same level of complexity every day.
- Biometry & Surgical Planning: Discussing the nuances of IOL selection and the latest in refractive outcomes.
- Post-Op Management: Navigating the recovery phase for everything from routine cataracts to complex vitreo-retinal surgeries.
- Career Advice: How do you move from the high street into a consultant-led clinic? What does the career ladder look like in the private surgical sector?
It’s about elevating the profession. It’s about ensuring that when we say "Optometrist," the world knows we mean a highly skilled clinical professional.
No Strings, No Fees, Just Community
Let’s be real for a second. Most recruitment platforms want to gatekeep everything. They want a slice of every interaction.
Not here.
The Ophthalmology Optom Colleagues Forum is built on a foundation of genuine community. Posting, browsing, and connecting with your peers is entirely free. Whether you’re looking for advice on a tricky glaucoma case or you’re wondering which clinical course will actually help you secure that Senior Optom role, the door is open.
The Locum and Pre-Reg Revolution
Need a locum to cover a surgical clinic at short notice? Or perhaps you’re a pre-reg student looking for a hospital placement that will actually challenge you?
Connections made through this forum for locum work or pre-reg placements are 100% free. No strings. No "introductory fees." We want to see the right people in the right clinics. If you find a locum shift through a post on the forum, that’s a win for the patient and a win for you. We don’t need a cut of that.
True. It’s that simple.
Placing with Purpose: Making a Global Impact
We do things a bit differently here at NeedAnOptom.com. While we love a free community, we also believe in using our platform for good.
This is where our Place with Purpose model comes in.
If a connection made within this forum leads to a permanent placement: meaning a clinic finds their next star optometrist through a conversation here: we don’t send a massive invoice. Instead, we ask both parties (the employer and the new hire) to make a donation to Vision Action (formerly Vision Aid Overseas).
Vision Action is a phenomenal charity that works tirelessly to provide affordable eye care and spectacles in low-income countries across Africa. By choosing to hire or be hired through this community, you aren't just advancing your own career; you’re helping someone thousands of miles away see clearly for the first time.
It’s recruitment with a soul. You can read more about how this works on our Place with Purpose page. (Internal ref: <BLOG_POST:119771b8-3134-4610-a6cc-1afd061389cd>)
A Career Without Limits
We’ve seen firsthand how a shift into the ophthalmology sector can transform an optometrist's career. Take the journey of Manjeet Sagoo, for example. She moved from the retail floor of Bluewater to a Business Development Manager role at Optegra Eye Hospitals. Her story is a testament to what happens when you combine clinical excellence with a bit of ambition and the right network.
That’s what we want for you. We want you to stop feeling like you’re "just an optom" and start feeling like the clinical expert you are.
The "Tough Love" Talk
I’m going to be honest with you. If you stay in your own little bubble, you’re going to stagnate. The clinical world is moving fast. AI is coming for diagnostics, surgical techniques are evolving every six months, and the expectations from patients are higher than ever.
If you aren't talking to your peers: if you aren't challenging your own clinical assumptions: you’re falling behind.
It’s not enough to just "do the hours" anymore. You need to be part of the conversation. You need to be in the room (or the forum) where it happens. What’s the worst-case scenario? You join, you read a few posts, and you realize you already know it all? Unlikely. More likely, you’ll pick up a clinical pearl that changes the way you manage your next clinic.
What’s Inside the Forum?
When you log in, you’ll find a space that’s distinct from our general Clinical Exchange. This is a "surgical-grade" sub-community. Expect to see:
- The Biometry Bunker: Everything from axial length measurements to IOL constants.
- Shared Care Stories: How to effectively co-manage patients with top-tier consultants.
- The Surgical Suite: Discussions on new techniques and how they affect our role in the clinic.
- Career Pathways: Real talk about salaries, roles, and progression in hospital settings.
It’s professional. It’s clinical. And it’s driven by you.
Join the A-Team Today
Whether you’re a seasoned hospital optom or someone looking to make the leap into surgical eyecare, this is your home.
We’re not just filling positions; we’re building a community that cares. We care about your happiness, we care about your clinical growth, and through our partnership with Vision Action, we care about the global state of eye care.
Ready to level up?
Join the Ophthalmology Optom Colleagues Forum here.
Let’s have a look at where your career could go next. The key here is connection. Don’t do it alone.
See you on the inside!
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