I’ll start by admitting that I’m a worrier. My parents, family, classmates, university colleagues, pre-registration supervisors, and even my current colleagues have all pointed this out. If there’s a chance something could go wrong, I’ll worry about it. Therefore it should come as no shock that my Google history had many queries involving the words “advice for student optometrists“.

Whenever I expressed concerns about my studies and clinical experiences, my seniors often said, “You’ll be fine.” I never fully believed them until about six months post-qualification when everything just clicked. I could finally relax while performing high-quality eye examinations. Those words did ease some of my worries, but I still found myself thinking, “What if I’m not fine?” So, I’ll say this to you: work hard, do your best, and approach everything with good intentions, and you really will be fine.

Reflecting on my training, I realise there were other pieces of advice for student optometrists that I didn’t initially believe but turned out to be true. If I had taken them seriously sooner, my worries might have been alleviated much earlier. Here are the key ones, which I hope you can put to use early in your career as an optometrist.

“It’ll Just Click”

You’ll hear this a lot. Back when I was a student optometrist, many supervisors offered advice for student optometrists like me, saying, “It will just click.”

I remember struggling to see the optic nerve with my ophthalmoscope in first year. No matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn’t come into focus. People told me, “Don’t worry, it will click.”

I spent ages trying to figure out if the retinoscopy reflex was moving with or against, swiping the light back and forth, feeling more confused each time. Again, I heard, “It will just click.” (By the way, if you are struggling with retinoscopy – do check out our guide on it here!)

At the time, I thought they were just trying to make me feel better about my struggles. But as time went on, something changed. Finding the optic nerve head and objectively refracting started to feel natural. One day, without even realising it, everything fell into place—it just clicked.

I used to dislike hearing that phrase, but I have to admit it’s true. Eventually, things will make sense. So my advice for student optometrists is this: keep practising, stay patient, and don’t give up. Even when it feels impossible, keep at it. One day, you’ll find that what once seemed hard now feels second nature – it’ll just “click“.

“I Do It Differently”

In your early clinics, you’ll be taught various tests and techniques. As a student optometrist, you’ll spend countless hours mastering these skills, making sure you know them inside out for when you work with real patients. The last thing you want to hear is someone (especially a supervisor) saying, “Oh, I don’t do that. I do it differently because it’s more efficient.“

This piece of advice for student optometrists needs to be taken the right way. You need to learn all the techniques and become proficient in them—after all, you might need to perform them at some point.

However, many of the methods you learn may not be fully utilised in everyday practice. If you performed every single one in each eye examination, you’d be there for hours (like doing fan and block instead of retinoscopy).

It’s important to remember that while efficiency is valuable, foundational knowledge is crucial. Understanding all the techniques gives you the flexibility to adapt to different situations. So, when someone tells you they have a more efficient way, consider it, but don’t dismiss the basics you’ve worked hard to learn.

In my experience, balancing efficiency with thoroughness is key. You might find that over time, you’ll develop your own ways to streamline your examinations without compromising quality. Take any advice for student optometrists into account when forming your routine, but also remember to trust in the skills you’ve been honing.

Embrace Change: Advice for Student Optometrists on Adapting Your Routine

“Don’t run from a script” and “You’ll need to adapt your routine”—I used to hate hearing this piece of advice for student optometrists. In my first year, I scripted my entire routine. I built on it and polished it throughout university. When someone told me I’d have to change it, I disagreed. I was set in my ways.

During my pre-reg year, everything changed. A different room layout forced me to adjust my routine. As a locum, I have to adapt in every practice I visit. Keeping that advice for student optometrists in mind, I’ve found that being open to change has helped me a lot.

You’ll also need to modify your approach when testing different patients. This is important advice for student optometrists to remember. Refraction for a two-year-old is very different from an eighty-year-old. This advice for student optometrists might be hard to accept, but it’s true.

I remember one time, early in my career, when this advice for student optometrists proved invaluable. I was working with a young child. My usual routine wasn’t working. I realised I had to change my approach on the spot. It was stressful, but I managed. This experience taught me the value of flexibility.

Being adaptable is essential. My advice for student optometrists is to embrace change. Don’t cling to a rigid script. Be ready to adjust your methods to suit the situation. It will make you a better practitioner.

Remember, every patient is different. Every practice is unique. The more you can adapt, the more confident you’ll become. This is the one piece of advice given to me that I wish I’d taken to heart earlier.

Don’t Let Optometry Consume You

Being an optometry student or a pre-reg optometrist is as intense as working a full-time job. Days are filled with clinics or lectures, and nights are spent on coursework or revision. There’s little free time to do anything other than optometry. But you need to make time.

I used to dislike the advice that said, “Don’t make optometry your life—get a hobby!” It seemed impossible. How could I find time for anything else? Eventually, post-qualification though, I decided to pursue my interest in storm chasing and blogging. Even spending a few hours a week on something unrelated helped me take my mind off the workload. It reminded me that there’s more to life than eyes and improved my overall well-being.

Being stuck in a consultation room for months with minimal social interaction outside of patients isn’t healthy. Having a hobby gives you extra topics to discuss with patients and makes you a more “human” optometrist. This advice for student optometrists might seem hard to follow, but it’s important. Finding balance is key.

In my experience, pursuing interests outside of optometry not only improved my mental health but also enhanced my interactions with patients. They appreciate hearing about your passions, and it helps build rapport. So, make time for yourself. Whether it’s sports, art, or any other activity, don’t let optometry consume your entire life. This piece of advice for student optometrists is one I hope everyone takes note of!

Master Communication: Crucial Advice for Student Optometrists

As a student optometrist, you’ll quickly realise that technical skills alone aren’t enough. A valuable piece of advice for student optometrists is to master communication. Effective communication with patients, colleagues, and other team members is essential.

When I was in training, I often focused so much on the clinical aspects that I overlooked the importance of clear and empathetic communication. This advice for student optometrists became evident during a particularly challenging case. A patient was anxious about her eye condition, and my technical explanations only added to her confusion. My mentor stepped in, simplifying the information and providing reassurance. The patient immediately felt more at ease.

Clear communication helps build trust with your patients. They need to understand their conditions and the procedures you’ll perform. This piece of advice for student optometrists is crucial to take on board. Being able to explain complex concepts in simple terms is a skill that will set you apart.

Practice active listening, maintain eye contact, and show empathy. These soft skills are just as important as your technical knowledge. Effective communication makes your patients feel valued and understood.

So, remember this advice for student optometrists: invest time in developing your communication skills. It will not only improve patient care but also enhance your professional relationships. If you would like some great content on mastering communication – take the time to follow @TheOpticsCommunicationCoach on Instagram and buy his book! I wholeheartedly recommend it for improving communication skills!

Conclusion

As a student optometrist, you’re embarking on a challenging yet rewarding journey. The advice for student optometrists shared here is drawn from real experiences and lessons learned. Remember, everything will eventually click, so stay patient and keep practising. Embrace efficiency without neglecting foundational skills, be adaptable in your routine, and most importantly, find balance by pursuing interests outside of optometry.

Mastering communication is just as crucial as technical expertise. Building rapport with your patients and effectively conveying information will enhance their trust and your practice.

Take these insights to heart as you continue your education and training. They may not make the journey easier, but they will certainly make it more manageable. With dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn, you’ll find success and fulfilment in your optometry career. Keep striving, and remember that you’re not alone—many have walked this path before and are here to guide you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and I hope it proved useful to you in your quest to be a better optometrist. Please share with friends and colleagues as all traffic helps benefit The Eye Care Advocate. Sharing buttons are below! You can also subscribe to our mailing list, to be notified of the release of our next articles.

Do you have any advice for optometry students that you wish to share? If so, comment them below!