Principal Optometrist Glaucoma - North West

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Principal Optometrist Glaucoma - North West

The closing date is 06 April 2026

We are looking for highly skilled and motivated optometrists for five days a week, to support the glaucoma service across the North West division

The post will consist of delivering highly specialist clinical care to patients across the Glaucoma Service.

Applicants must have prior experience working in the hospital glaucoma service and have the relevant higher qualifications from the College of Optometrists or be working towards them (see Person Specification).

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for and personally deliver a wide range of highly specialised optometric care in an advanced extended role requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in glaucoma management across the 3 elements of the Glaucoma service delivery model:

Consultant-Led Clinic

Remote review (Virtual) Clinic

To be able to be the Clinical Lead Optometrist in the designated clinic and to have overall responsibility for the clinical care of the patients seen in the clinic.

To participate in clinical audit, teaching, research as required

To provide teaching and supervision to registered Optometrists / other clinical staff if required, supporting the Consultant in the supervision and training of junior staff as required.

About us

At Moorfields, we provide more than just an excellent career and great colleagues to work with. We also offer:

• Salary excluding High-Cost Area Supplement
• Opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
• Free 24/7 independent counselling service
• Learning and development opportunities
• Easy and quick transport links
• A range of attractive benefits and discounts
• Access to Blue Light Card and other NHS Discount Schemes
• Free Pilates classes
• Full support and training to develop your skills
• Flexible working friendly organisation

And so much more! To see the full range of benefits we offer please see our Moorfields benefits document.

Job responsibilities

To deliver highly specialist clinical patient care requiring extensive knowledge, experience and expertise in management that includes a high proportion of tertiary referrals. This activity requires regular use of a wide range of advanced clinical techniques requiring dexterity, precision and intense concentration; and the judgement, analysis and interpretation of the complex clinical findings with a range of management options.

Patient examinations will be comprehensive and commensurate with clinical experience beyond Masters Level (i.e. College of Optometrists Diploma in Glaucoma, College of Optometrists Diploma in Independent Prescribing). Skills and knowledge are commensurate with those of sub-specialty medical ophthalmology staff.

To make independent, patient-centred clinical decisions on management in the presence of uncertainty (for example where patients are unable to cooperate fully in clinical assessments or the evidence for management options is unclear).

To be autonomously responsible for medical treatment (including prescribing) and management of patients. To recognise when patient clinical findings require Consultant Ophthalmic opinions (eg regarding surgery). To refer patients with ocular comorbidity to other ophthalmological services appropriately.

As Clinic Lead in Optometrist-Led Glaucoma clinics, to supervise all patient examinations carried out by the support/resident/placement/new to clinic Optometrist unless/until such time that the support/resident/new to clinic Optometrist has attained the appropriate College of Optometrists certificate or completed their competency sign off. To review all prescribing decisions unless the prescribing optometrist has the correct qualifications together with The College of Optometrists Diploma in Independent Prescribing and their scope of practice /area of prescribing is in that service.

To organise the session by reviewing all clinical records at the start of an Optometrist-led clinic to determine necessary additional clinical tests (eg: visual fields, imaging, auto-refraction) utilising the different staff groups efficiently (admin, technical, optometric).

To provide expert opinion to optometric and non-optometric colleagues on the management of complex cases within the designated Clinics and the Optometry Department.

To undertake a comprehensive range of complex optometry services at Moorfields and out-reach clinics. These include refraction (complex, diagnostic and paediatric), low vision clinics (paediatric, complex, employment). The post holder maintains a personal clinical workload within these services.

To refer patients for appropriate appliances (contact lenses, spectacles, low vision aids) and provide appropriate advice to patients on needs, treatment and corrective aids.

Person Specification Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Optometry
• College of Optometrists Higher Certification in Glaucoma
• College of Optometrist Diploma in Glaucoma
• College of Optometrist Diploma in Independent Prescribing

Professional Registration

• General Optical Council Registration

Skills and Experience

• Advanced theoretical & practical knowledge in the clinical assessment and management of patients within Glaucoma setting
• Minimum of 5 years post registration clinical experience with at least 3 years in a hospital specialist glaucoma clinic.
• Experience working with adult patients who are visually impaired & patients with learning disabilities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of ocular therapeutics

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust