I can't see how there is a logical answer to (1). the solution needed is one word, composed of ten letters and as far as I can see, there's no such word as optologist. Most of the anagram solver programs on the net come up with optologist, but none of them knows the meaning. It's always possible that The Times has made a mistake - perish the thought!
"Optometrist" is one letter too many, doesn't fit with 43dn "order" and isn't an anagram of "spotlit goo".