Number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) 2010-2024

There were approximately 20 thousand optometrists in employment in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2024. Optometrists, who hold 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 UKIn 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 countriesThe 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.

截至2024年，英国（UK）的就业眼科医生数量约为二十万名。眼科医生，持有验光学位者，亦被称为眼科验光师。然而，与配镜验光师不同，眼科医生具有进行眼科检查和开具处方的能力。眼科医生的数量在一段时间内经历了某些波动。在英国，2023年约有6.3千名配镜验光师就业，这一数字自2015年以来达到最低。配镜验光师与眼科医生的区别在于，他们不进行视力测试，而是为需要的人提供眼镜和其他视力辅助器具的建议和供应。与欧洲其他国家相比，英国每10,000人口中的眼科医生数量相对较低。2020年，英国每10,000人口中仅有略超过一名眼科医生，而法国的数字为每10,000人口5.55名，为欧洲之最。此外，英国每10,000人口中拥有1.2家眼科零售店铺，这一数字在欧洲其他国家中排名靠后。塞浦路斯拥有最高的店铺密度，每10,000人口中拥有2.69家店铺。