As of March each year. *Previous reports referred to "2213 Ophthalmic opticians". Source created new occupation classifications in 2021, therefore from 2022 onwards "2252 Optometrists" was used. According to "" An optometrist, trained in optometry, is also known as an ophthalmic optician, which is not the same as a dispensing optician.
There were over ** thousand optometrists employed in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2025. Optometrists, who hold an optometry degree, are also known as ophthalmic opticians. But unlike dispensing opticians, optometrists are qualified to perform eye tests and write prescriptions.Â
Dispensing opticians in the UK
In 2025, there were approximately ****Ìý³Ù³ó´Ç³Ü²õ²¹²Ô»å 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 them. 
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 **** per 10,000, which was the highest in Europe. Additionally, the UK had ***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 **** per 10,000 population. 
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (May 28, 2026). Annual number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from /statistics/318879/numbers-of-ophthalmic-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Annual number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000)." Chart. May 28, 2026. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 31, 2026. /statistics/318879/numbers-of-ophthalmic-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2026). Annual number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 31, 2026. /statistics/318879/numbers-of-ophthalmic-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Annual Number of Optometrists/Ophthalmic Opticians in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 28 May 2026, /statistics/318879/numbers-of-ophthalmic-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Annual number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/318879/numbers-of-ophthalmic-opticians-in-the-uk/ (last visited July 31, 2026)
Annual number of optometrists/ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2025 (in 1,000) [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), May 28, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/318879/numbers-of-ophthalmic-opticians-in-the-uk/
