A look behind the lens

When Bruce Mellick (above) first entered the field of optometry nearly 45 years ago, things were quite different.

WHEN Bruce Mellick first entered the field of optometry nearly 45 years ago, things were quite different.

While the march of technology has an impact on every profession, particularly in the health care industry, a changing job landscape has affected not only the equipment optometrists use, but where and how they use it.

“When I graduated QUT in 1974, things like diagnostic eye drops to dilate the pupils weren’t in use,” he said.

“Now, not only can we do that, but in most cases we don’t have to because current equipment can take clear pictures of the back of the eye without needing to dilate the pupil.”

For young people looking to get into optometry, Mr Mellick said it was a unique career path catering to many different interests.

“While science, medicine and mathematics are a big part of it, it is also a retail profession and you need to be able to work with people,” he said.

“Especially in a smaller town like Cairns, you get to know and become friends with your patients.”

Upon completion of an optometry course at university, most optometrists have the option of starting up a private practice.

They can also take a job at one of the major optometry companies such as Specsavers or OPSM.

“What path they take depends on their personality,” Mr Mellick said.

“If they have a sense of business acumen or some close friends they’d like to go into business with, then they can open up a private practice, as I did.

“Otherwise, they could join one of the franchise companies.

“With an ageing population and changing technology, there’s more use than ever for optometry.”