By Nicos Antoniades | The Optical Gallery | TEF Magazine
What happens when someone rooted in the clinical side of optics steps back and reflects on everything they’ve learned, not just from textbooks, but from actually living this profession in all its forms? That’s what Episode 2 of Beedie On Eyewear gives us. This time, Beedie is joined by Akchlass Bazza, a qualified optometrist of over ten years, who brings calm honesty, a tonne of insight, and a career timeline that speaks volumes about the real journey optometrists can go on.
Right from the jump, Akchlass acknowledges how much the landscape has changed, even since she first qualified. From the structure of the degree itself to the experience of the pre-reg year, it’s clear the industry is evolving. But what’s most striking is how Akchlass has continued to evolve with it. Never boxed in, never standing still. Her story is about keeping it moving, trying new things, and letting your career be something that expands with you.
After qualifying, she spent time in high street practice, before stepping into locum work, a phase she describes as both freeing and sometimes lonely. It gave her the chance to explore, to build resilience, and to get used to working across different environments and learn skills that would later prove invaluable. From there, she moved into hospital optometry, working with glaucoma patients and in paediatrics. Two roles she speaks about with real passion. The cases were complex, the learning curve steep, and while the pay didn’t always reflect the level of responsibility, the gratitude and knowledge she gained made it worthwhile. That’s a reflection many in optics, and beyond can relate to.
She also spent time teaching pre-regs and students, something that clearly brought her joy. It’s one of those routes in optometry that often goes under the radar, and Akchlass speaks to it as another meaningful way to stay connected to the profession, especially when you’ve built up real-world experience to pass on.
Then came a bold move! Relocating to Dubai. Akchlass talks through the process of registration, what it’s like to practise in a different country, and how that experience helped her see the UK system with fresh eyes. That appreciation, she says, only came with distance, a reminder that even our imperfect NHS, with all its pressures, is still something to value. It’s not perfect, but it’s far more progressive than many give it credit for.
Her decision to become an Independent Prescriber came after returning to the UK, adding another dimension to her clinical work. That qualification unlocked new levels of responsibility, particularly in prescribing and managing patient care without relying solely on referrals.
Now, Akchlass works in a remote clinical role, assessing diagnostic scans and offering decisions based on imaging. Tele-optometry. What even is that? Yep, I learnt something new too. It’s a model that’s growing, and it’s clearly moving us toward a different kind of future in optics. On one hand, it opens up possibilities. Flexibility, reduced burnout, new workflows. But it also challenges the very nature of what we know as face-to-face care. And on a side note… we’re now entering the age of AI. Who knows where our optical professions may lead in the next 10 years? Scary or exciting? That’s a whole different topic, one I’d love to explore. But in the meantime, leave me your thoughts on that in the comments below.
What I loved most was her closing advice. A reminder that fulfilment doesn’t always come from the best-paid job. Sometimes it comes from doing the work that grows you, the work that serves others. Whether that’s in a hospital clinic, a classroom, or behind a screen reviewing scans, the common thread is purpose.
And if I may add my two cents, in my 20 years in this industry, I’ve met many optometrists who are brilliant at what they do on the high street. But truthfully, only a handful have struck me as doing it purely out of passion. For a lot of locums, the draw is flexibility and good money, and I understand that. But to me, that’s not passion. Passion is learning. It’s staying curious. It’s being a student of life, because none of us know it all. Passion is wanting to help, to make connections, to grow beyond the job title. That’s what Akchlass embodies. She’s someone I could learn from, not just in optics, but in life experience. And honestly, you’d be a fool not to spend 30 minutes listening to this episode and letting yourself be inspired.
I’ll be back with my reflections on every episode as Beedie continues to hold up a mirror to the many faces of our industry.
