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Decoding Domiciliary with Kate O'Brien: A Look Inside Life on the Road
What really draws an optometrist to domiciliary care? And what keeps them here?
In a recent Optometry Today interview, Kate O'Brien, domiciliary optometrist at OutsideClinic in Bristol, reflects on her journey into home-visiting care - and offers a revealing look at what she's discovered along the way.
Kate talks openly about what surprised her wen she first moved away from traditional practice, the moments that stay with her long after an appointment ends, and the part of the job that genuinely transformed her work-life balance. For anyone who assumes domiciliary work is daunting or emotionally heavy, her perspective changes that perception in the best possible way.
She also hints at the clinical realities: the kind of cases you might not expect to encounter at home, the equipment she hopes to see become portable, and the tools she believes no domiciliary optometrist should be without. But she's equally clear about the human side - the conversations, the connections and the sense of being welcomed into someone's life rather than simply their living room.
And for optometrists curious about exploring domiciliary care themselves? Kate shares one piece of advice she wishes more people would act on.
Her interview offers a thoughtful, grounded picture of a profession that's often misunderstood - one shaped by independence, adaptability and a level of patient connection that many find deeply rewarding.
If you're considering domiciliary, interested in the behind-the-scenes reality or simply want to hear directly from someone doing the job every day, her full story is well worth a read.
