The aim of our bachelor’s thesis was to study and describe the motives of adults concerning profession changing and the decision to study optometry. We examined the process of changing professions and how adult students experience studying in the Degree Programme in Optometry. The topic is significant because it has become more common for working adults to change their professions due to financial and economical reasons. The study was qualitative. We used theme interviews to gather the material. We interviewed six optometry students who had previous occupation and work experience. The data was analyzed using the method of content analysis. The theoretical part of this study discusses the theory of motivation, lifelong learning, change in working life, curriculum 2008-2009 of Degree Programme in Optometry and professional expertise. The results of this study show that the most popular motives to change profession were self development and variation. Unemployment and the threat of unemployment were also motives for profession changing. In conclusion, adult students adapt excellently to studying in the Degree Programme in Optometry with younger students. Studying was seen as difficult and challenging in the beginning and first year. Our results indicate that adult students of optometry learned to cope with new challenges because the average adult student is self-directed and resilient in his/her studies.