Hi everyone,
I’m Emma and I’m a second year Optometry student at The University of Manchester. Optometry teaching at UoM is split between practical sessions and lectures. Right from my very first week at university, we were in the clinics and labs learning the different components of an eye examination. Practical sessions range from refraction clinics to dispensing labs and visual psycophysics labs.
From first year, we were given the opportunity to test patients (these patients are paid volunteers of the university who come in on a weekly basis to let the students test their eyes). Testing a stranger’s eyes for the first time is quite a daunting experience and definitely something you’re not going to forget. Thankfully, all the patients are really friendly and helpful – some have been volunteering with the university for over 30 years and know the ins and outs of an eye examination routine better than we do!
That’s me, carrying out an eye examination!
Working with the volunteer patients has undoubtedly been my favourite part of my course to date. We’re given an hour and a half with each patient to determine an appropriate distance and near prescription and to check their ocular health. At the start of each eye test we record the patient’s history and symptoms. This is a great way to find a bit more out about your patient and really helps build a rapport with them. Manchester is the only university that gives its students the opportunity to test patients from their first year and it’s truly an invaluable experience that has definitely helped improve my confidence. No two patients will ever be the same and they’ll always keep you entertained with anecdotes and tales throughout each session.
Clinical experience is not only restricted to university practicals, the staff are forever advertising different paid and voluntary clinical posts available in Manchester. At the start of my second year I started volunteering with a charity called Vision Care for the Homeless (an organisation which offers free eye examinations and spectacles to homeless people). Every fortnight I was able to shadow an optometrist and gain an insight into the range of patients I could one day be testing. Walking into the homeless shelter for the first time was such a nerve racking and daunting experience, however, everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I was given the opportunity to check the optometrist’s refraction results as well as carry out a few minor parts of the eye examination. It’s definitely an opportunity worth getting involved in!
Practical sessions are undoubtedly the most interesting and engaging part of my course. I’ve been able to chat and make friends with other students in my year who I may never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. I’ve also found out that I have a whole range of ocular conditions that I never even knew existed!
Happy science week and best of luck with upcoming exams!
Emma
If you are interested in studying Optometry at The University of Manchester, watch our course video from the Manchester Life Scientists YouTube!
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