From classroom to consultation room
This week, we were thrilled to be joined by Jack, a student from Uckfield College, for his work experience at Barracloughs in Uckfield.
- Development
- Career readiness
- Practical experience
- Employability skills
- Hands-on experience
- Mentorship
- Shadowing
Jack was born with congenital cataracts in both eyes, a condition where the lenses are cloudy from birth, preventing light from reaching the retina. Congenital cataracts only affects around 3-4 in every 10,000 babies. It can stem from various causes, including infections during pregnancy, metabolic disorders and other medical conditions, but in many cases such as Jack’s, it’s not possible to determine the cause. Jack's cataracts were surgically treated at six months old.
This involved a lensectomy, where the cloudy lens was removed through a small incision in the cornea while he was under general anaesthetic. This procedure takes around 1 or 2 hours and was performed on both eyes on separate days. Jack wore spectacles until he was 12 when he had intraocular lens (IOL) implants. Now he only really uses glasses for classwork and reading. During his time with us he had a sight exam with Lucie, our resident optometrist in Uckfield. We're optimistic we can provide glasses that will give Jack the legal vision he needs to drive – he's incredibly eager to learn!
When asked how Jack has found living with his condition, he answered:
“It was difficult at first. My glasses were very thick so I had no peripheral vision and struggled with things like ball games. I also had to wear a patch which I hated, and sometimes people made nasty comments. The lens implants have been life changing!”
During Jack's work experience week, we wanted to ensure he gained a comprehensive understanding of our entire operation! His week was incredibly productive, covering a broad spectrum of the services we offer and the intricacies of managing an optician practice.
Jack began by learning about a variety of eye conditions, of which he found a lot of interest in the effects of macular degeneration. He learned about the distinctions between NHS and private optical services, gaining insight into our NHS contract obligations and the importance of adherence. We explored our various screening services, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and visual field tests. We discussed specialised services available at other Barracloughs locations, such as Optomap wide-field retinal imaging, KUDOS bespoke lenses and advanced field of vision tests, with those last two being measured via VR headsets.
Beyond core services, we delved into numerous other areas. Jack learned about contact lenses, dispensing theory (covering frames, focimetry, and lens types), spectacle collections, and the processes for repairs and adjustments. He also gained an understanding of stock control and was introduced to key aspects of our CRM software.
A significant part of his experience involved shadowing our optometrists during comprehensive eye examinations. Jack was particularly interested in our audiology services (as he wasn’t aware that we provided hearing care), demonstrating a keen desire to learn about ear-related conditions and our hearing care offerings.
Towards the end of the week, we shifted focus to the less clinical but equally vital aspects of our business. We discussed our methods for gathering and analysing customer feedback and emphasised the critical role of consistently delivering high-level customer service. Furthermore, we introduced him to the various KPIs we monitor weekly to ensure optimal business performance across all departments.
We discussed marketing ideas and the various methods which work for different areas of the business. We even had a little brainstorming session in which Jack really got creative and suggested some brilliant Gen-Z ideas!
During Jack's work experience week, we wanted to ensure he gained a comprehensive understanding of our entire operation! His week was incredibly productive, covering a broad spectrum of the services we offer and the intricacies of managing an optician practice.
Jack began by learning about a variety of eye conditions, of which he found a lot of interest in the effects of macular degeneration. He learned about the distinctions between NHS and private optical services, gaining insight into our NHS contract obligations and the importance of adherence. We explored our various screening services, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and visual field tests. We discussed specialised services available at other Barracloughs locations, such as Optomap wide-field retinal imaging, KUDOS bespoke lenses and advanced field of vision tests, with those last two being measured via VR headsets.
Beyond core services, we delved into numerous other areas. Jack learned about contact lenses, dispensing theory (covering frames, focimetry, and lens types), spectacle collections, and the processes for repairs and adjustments. He also gained an understanding of stock control and was introduced to key aspects of our CRM software.
A significant part of his experience involved shadowing our optometrists during comprehensive eye examinations. Jack was particularly interested in our audiology services (as he wasn’t aware that we provided hearing care), demonstrating a keen desire to learn about ear-related conditions and our hearing care offerings.
Towards the end of the week, we shifted focus to the less clinical but equally vital aspects of our business. We discussed our methods for gathering and analysing customer feedback and emphasised the critical role of consistently delivering high-level customer service. Furthermore, we introduced him to the various KPIs we monitor weekly to ensure optimal business performance across all departments.
We discussed marketing ideas and the various methods which work for different areas of the business. We even had a little brainstorming session in which Jack really got creative and suggested some brilliant Gen-Z ideas!
A rewardingworthwhilefulfillingbeneficialvaluableproductive
experience
A rewarding experience
Jack was exceptionally engaged throughout his time with us, absorbing a significant amount of information. He demonstrated his understanding by asking insightful questions and raising excellent points on a variety of topics. He also brought in a delicious selection of biscuits and snacks on his final day which was such a lovely gesture – he’d clearly learned quickly what we love!
We’d like to extend our thanks to Jack’s parents for their permission for this article, and to Uckfield College for their seamless and streamlined approach to helping make work experience placements take place. These opportunities are vital for students to bridge the gap between education and employment, helping them develop essential workplace skills, going beyond academic theory to equip them with the practical competencies employers need.
