Nicola Wood graduated from City University in 2002 with a first-class honours degree and went on to win the president's prize for the highest aggregate mark in the College of Optometrists professional qualifying exams. She has over 20 years' experience of hospital optometry and has worked alongside a large number of consultant ophthalmologists specialising in diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and AMD. She completed her independent prescribing diploma at Glasgow Caledonian University and currently works in private practice as well as a refractive surgery setting. She has been involved in several research projects and regularly speaks at training events for optometrists and GPs.