In 2023, there were over 6.3 thousand dispensing opticians in employment in the United Kingdom. This is major decrease from 2022, where there were more than double the amount, some 12.5 thousand dispensing opticians. 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.
Eye care in the UK
There were approximately 23.4 thousand ophthalmic opticians in employment in the UK in 2023. In contrast to the large drop in number of dispensing opticians; the number of ophthalmic opticians has increased from 2022 to 2023.
Comparison to European countries
The UK has quite a low number of opticians per 10,000 population when compared to other European countries. In 2017, 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 1.12 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.
Annual number of dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Office for National Statistics (UK). (August 15, 2023). Annual number of dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/318941/number-of-dispensing-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Annual number of dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023." Chart. August 15, 2023. Statista. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/318941/number-of-dispensing-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2023). Annual number of dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/318941/number-of-dispensing-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Annual Number of Dispensing Opticians in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2010 to 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Aug 2023, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/318941/number-of-dispensing-opticians-in-the-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Annual number of dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023 Statista, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/318941/number-of-dispensing-opticians-in-the-uk/ (last visited September 20, 2024)
Annual number of dispensing opticians in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023 [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), August 15, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/318941/number-of-dispensing-opticians-in-the-uk/