A survey from the UK’s General Optical Council (GOC) indicates optometrists experiencing time or commercial pressures are more likely to report difficulties in providing patients with sufficient care.

Nearly half the optometrist respondents (48%) said they found the standard time allocated to conduct a sight test insufficient to provide safe patient care and 38% said they felt pressure to see a high number of patients each day.

Responding to questions about commercial pressure, 33% said they felt under pressure to sell certain types of glasses or contact lenses that will earn more money for the business, while 30% said they have felt under pressure to meet commercial targets at the expense of patient care. More than one fifth (22%) said they have felt under pressure to sell a product or provide a service they considered not needed by the patient.

This year’s research highlights the continuing challenges registrants face in daily clinical practice and the troubling impact this has on their wellbeing and ability to provide safe patient care, said Steve Brooker, GOC director of regulatory strategy. “We are launching a thematic review on commercial practices and patient safety to better understand how we can support registrants and protect the public.”

GOC’s 2025 Workforce and Perceptions Survey took place between March and May 2025 and received 3,798 responses – a 12% response rate.