Number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) 2010-2023

There were approximately 23.4 thousand optometrists in employment in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2023. Optometrists, who have a degree in optometry, are also known as ophthalmic opticians. But unlike dispensing opticians, optometrist are qualified to perform eye tests and write prescriptions. The number of optometrists has undergone some fluctuations over the time period. 

Dispensing opticians in the UK

In 2023, there were approximately 6.3 thousand dispensing opticians in employment in the United Kingdom. This is the lowest number of dispensing opticians since 2015. A dispensing optician is different from an optometrist as they do not test people’s eyesight but advise on and supply spectacles and other visual aids to those who need it. 

Comparison to European countries

The UK has quite a low number of opticians per 10,000 population when compared to other European countries. In 2020, there were just over one optician per 10,000 people in the UK, while France had 5.55 per 10,000 which was the highest in Europe. Additionally, the UK had 1.2 optician retail outlets per 10,000 population which again ranks it low in comparison to the rest of Europe. Cyprus had the highest density of outlets at 2.69 per 10,000 population.