Tag: students
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Beyond the Mnemonic: LOFTSEA for the Clinically Unfamiliar
I am delighted to welcome a guest post from my respected colleague, Andy Millington. In this piece, Andy breaks down the difference between simply recalling the LOFTSEA mnemonic and using it as a sophisticated framework for clinical processing. Andy builds on some of the key aspects described in History and Symptoms: The Eye Examination, building…
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Mastering Your Static Retinoscopy Technique: A Student Guide
In the modern world, where automated eye exams are creeping in, there is one skill that remains the ultimate “lie detector” for an optometrist: static retinoscopy. Also known as “skiascopy,” this is the art of objectively measuring a patient’s refractive error using nothing but light and lenses. While auto-refractors are quick, they can be fooled…
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Why “PERRLA” is Often a Lie: How to Master Effective Pupil Assessments
Have you ever seen “PERRLA” written in a patient’s notes, only to realise they are 80 years old and have artificial lenses? Since accommodation (the “A” in PERRLA) is physically impossible for a pseudophakic patient, that clinical recording tells us the assessment was likely rushed or “auto-filled”. Pupil assessment is the bridge between the eye…
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Professionalism in Primary Care Conflict: Clinical Respect
The landscape of UK healthcare is changing, and with it, the way professionals interact. A recent viral social media video featuring a GP’s “pet peeves” about eye care recommendations has recently sparked significant debate across the clinical community. While social media offers a platform for connection, it also acts as a catalyst for primary care…
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Duty of Candour: Your Professional Guide to Honesty and Trust
As healthcare professionals, we hold one duty to be sacred. This is the duty of candour. But what does this phrase actually mean? It is not just a buzzword. It is the absolute core of our patient-practitioner relationship and is the foundation of trust. I have written this guide to explain exactly what the duty…
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Patient Confidentiality: The “Jigsaw” Risk You Need to Know About
Maintaining patient confidentiality is the most sacred, non-negotiable duty we have as healthcare professionals. It is the bedrock of the trust our patients place in us. In the digital age, however, this duty faces a new and insidious threat. We have all felt the urge: you see a fascinating, “textbook” case in your clinic and…
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Newly Qualified Optometrist? The Advice I Needed on Day One
The moment a newly qualified optometrist walks into their first solo clinic is unforgettable. I remember my moment vividly. It was a potent mix of pride, excitement, and a healthy dose of sheer terror. The safety net of your supervisor is gone. Suddenly, every clinical decision rests squarely on your shoulders. I recall being plagued…
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Optometry Revision: Spotlighting the Skill Centre Resources
It may seem a little in the acdemic year to be considering optometry revision. Concepts are just being introduced and your understanding developing each session. But when it came to starting a clinical session – or preparing for an exam – I always wished that I had revised everything I had learned from the start.…
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Optometry Clinical Skills: 10 Tips to WOW Your Supervisors
As a pratising optometrist and an educator, I have the unique privilege of seeing our profession from two distinct angles. I see the seasoned clinicians navigating the complexities of daily practice, and I see the bright, eager students taking their very first steps on that same path. I know that the university clinic can be…
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Seeing Your First Patient: A Student’s Success Guide
I still remember it. The mix of pure excitement and absolute terror. After two years of lectures, labs, and practising on long-suffering friends, the moment had finally arrived: seeing your first patient. It is, without a doubt, the most transformative rite of passage in any optometrist’s career. It’s the moment the theory becomes real, the…