Telford optician's assistant becomes top-performing optometrist
Jack Hearne's career began with a weekend job at 16 before he went on to qualify with the highest overall grade in his master's course
A former teenage weekend worker at an opticians in Telford is celebrating after qualifying as an optometrist and achieving the highest overall grade in his Master of Optometry course.
Jack Hearne's career journey began when he was 16 and took a part-time job as an optical assistant at Specsavers in Telford Shopping Centre.
After completing his A-levels, Jack had an offer to study chemistry at the University of Birmingham but was encouraged by the store's directors to consider a career in optics instead.
They offered to sponsor his training, prompting him to defer his university place and pursue the opportunity.
Jack went on to complete a first-class honours degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing at Canterbury Christ Church University while working full-time, qualifying as a dispensing optician.
In 2023, he began a Master of Optometry conversion course with the University of Lancashire, completing his training and qualifying as an optometrist in September 2026.
He was recognised by the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) for achieving the highest overall grade.
Jack said: "I'm proud of how far I've come since I was 16 and really pleased I chose the optics route. It's been hard work, but extremely rewarding, and I've had a huge amount of support along the way.
"I can't thank my store directors, Riz and Vinay, enough for the belief they showed in me and for sponsoring me through my studies."
Jack has also completed a Professional Certificate in Glaucoma and recently joined his Local Optical Committee to support the development of other optometrists and services in the region.
He hopes to become an independent prescriber in the future but is currently enjoying his new career and family life with his three-month-old daughter.