Hello everyone. My name is Rebecca and I’m one of SeeAbility’s Eye Care Champions in the North West. 

My job is to raise awareness about the importance of looking after your eyes. I also help make eye care more accessible for people with learning disabilities. 

Recently I had the chance to do two weeks of work experience at my local optician, Vision Express. I wanted to share what it was like and what I learned. 

I decided to do the placement because I’m thinking about working as an optical assistant in the future. The best way to learn is to try something for yourself.

I’ve been visiting this optician for a few years as part of my Eye Care Champion role. During this time, I’ve spoken to them about Easy Eye Care – a specialist eye test service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The service is provided by accredited opticians across the North West where I work. 

So the setting felt familiar, but it was also exciting to see what happens behind the scenes. 

During my time at Vision Express, I did lots of different tasks. One of my favourite things was checking patients in and carrying out the pre-screening. This included measuring eye pressure and using the machines to collect information for the optician. I also organised deliveries of glasses by matching patient names and order numbers and putting everything into the right envelopes and wallets. I really enjoyed getting everything organised. It felt good knowing it was all in the right place.

I also learned how to adjust glasses so they fit properly. I found that really interesting because it shows how important comfort is for the person wearing them. 

I watched three real eye tests as well. That helped me understand how opticians ask questions about eye health, family history and any problems with sight. I noticed how busy the store can be. People move quickly and there are lots of appointments. 

Seeing this made me realise even more how important Easy Eye Care is. When someone has a learning disability, it’s important to tell the optician when booking the appointment. That means they can allow extra time and explain things clearly. Small changes like slowing down or checking someone understands can make a big difference. 

I also learned about prescriptions for children under 16. These must be checked by a dispensing optician, and that is part of the law. It made me think about how important it is to have the right checks in place to make sure everyone gets glasses that are safe, comfortable and right for them. 

At SeeAbility, we believe people with learning disabilities should have that same level of care and attention. We believe dispensing opticians should fit glasses for people with learning disabilities, so they can be sure their glasses fit well and work properly for them.  

I feel proud that my local Vision Express signed up to provide Easy Eye Care after I encouraged them. That shows how raising awareness can lead to real change in the community. 

This experience gave me a lot of confidence. I learned about the pace of the job, the different roles in the store and how important communication is. It has helped me think about my future career, while also strengthening the work I do now as an Eye Care Champion.