“It’s rewarding knowing that I’m part of something that aims to make a difference for students in the profession”

For Khan, an interest in eye care first developed through her own experiences of requiring glasses as a child. Working at a local practice saw this interest evolve into a curiosity for the optometry profession.

Now, heading into her third-year of university and with CLiP ahead, Khan is passionate about getting involved in the broader profession – including representing the views and needs of students. OT learnt more.

How did you first become aware of the profession?

I first became aware of optometry through my own eye tests as a child. I’ve worn glasses since I was young and so have my siblings, so I was regularly in and out of eye appointments, whether it be my own or observing them. At the time, I didn’t think much beyond stressing over which frames I should choose, but I remained curious about the equipment and what the optometrist saw when they looked into my eye. I also remember my older brother having one of his eyes patched when we were younger. I didn’t fully understand why at the time, but it stuck with me and made me more aware that there was a lot more to eye care than just glasses.

Juwaria Khan

Juwaria Khan, third-year optometry student on the MOptom course at the University of Plymouth

Who influenced or inspired the decision to go into optometry?

It wasn’t until my gap year that I really started to understand what optometry involved. I was working at my local opticians and found myself becoming curious about the things I was doing each day. What conditions were being presented in the fundus photos? What were those autos and pressures actually telling us? How does shining a light in someone’s eye help find their prescription? The more I saw, the more questions I had. At the same time, my best friend had just started her first year of optometry at university. We spoke every day, and hearing about what she was learning made me think more seriously about the profession. Her stories gave me a glimpse into the clinical side I hadn’t seen yet, and the more we talked, the more it started to feel like something I could see myself doing too. I also wanted to deepen my understanding so I could help the people around me more. It was frustrating not being able to offer advice or understand the full extent of what someone was going through – applying to study optometry felt like the first step to changing that.

I was working at my local opticians and found myself becoming curious about the things I was doing each day

What placements have you carried out, and what have you learned from your experience of optometry so far?

Aside from working as an optical assistant, I’ve completed two university placements and I’ve just completed a summer placement with my Clinical Learning in Practice (CLiP) employer in South Wales. One of my university placements was at an independent practice in Cornwall where I was involved in pre-screening, filing, focimetry and documenting the patient journey in general. Although it was a slower-paced setting than what I had seen in the past, I appreciated how flexible and tailored the appointment was to a patient. I also spent time at Specsavers in Plymouth during my second year of studying, which gave me an insight into how high patient volume is managed efficiently in a busy multiple. Separately, I arranged an observation day at Newmedica where I shadowed a cataract surgery clinic and the process throughout. During my summer placement in South Wales, I was brushing up on dispensing and learning how the general ophthalmic system differs here from England. My placements have given me a really good insight into how different practices provide care and support for their local patients.

What is your favourite aspect of optometry so far?

One of my favourite aspects of optometry so far has been developing clinical skills and understanding how theoretical knowledge underpins everything we do in practice. I’ve really enjoyed gradually building my knowledge over the past two years, from anatomy and pathology to communication and clinical reasoning. I’m particularly looking forward to my third year this September, where I’ll be working directly with real patients at my university’s eye clinic. It will be the first time I’m expected to bring everything together and apply it in a public practical setting, which I see as a key opportunity to grow in confidence and clinical ability.

Do you have a career path in mind? What are your professional goals?

For now, my main goal is to finish my degree and make the most of my third year. We’ll be picking our Master’s modules in advance for the year after, so I’ll be seeing what my university offers and choosing what I find most interesting, as well as what I think would be in the best interests of local patients in the area where my CLiP placement will be.

Professionally, I’m really keen to contribute to the improvement and accessibility of the profession (especially for students). At the moment, that involves actively participating in AOP Council meetings, and discussions with academic leads and fellow optometry students to ensure I represent the views and concerns of the student body effectively. I also hope to get more involved with my local optical committee so I can stay informed about regional developments and understand how local services are being shaped.

Mentors, managing the workload, and a reset

What helped you settle into university or the workplace?

Being far from home definitely took some adjusting at first, but building routines early on really helped me settle. I made an effort to keep in regular contact with family and close friends, which gave me a sense of stability and reminded me that I wasn’t doing it all alone. Having a personal tutor who has been supportive throughout has also made a huge difference. She’s someone I’ve been able to speak to about anything, whether it’s academic or personal, and that’s helped me feel much more at ease during my time at university.

Is there one thing that you wish someone had told you about optometry before you started?

I wish someone had told me how quickly things build up if you don’t stay on top of them. Optometry isn’t the kind of course where you can just leave things to catch up on later. If you don’t train yourself early on to manage your workload properly, those habits carry into your pre-reg or CLiP year, where things get more intense and being organised actually makes a big difference. It ends up stressing you out and holds you back from working efficiently when it really matters.

I made an effort to keep in regular contact with family and close friends, which gave me a sense of stability and reminded me that I wasn’t doing it all alone

How do you approach balancing studying and work, with socialising and making time for yourself?

Balancing studying and working alongside everything else can be challenging at times, especially with weekend shifts and clinical deadlines. I try to keep things realistic by adjusting the type of work I do depending on the day. On days I’m at work, I’ll usually stick to lighter tasks like making flashcards or annotating my clinic workbook rather than pushing myself to revise something heavy.

I’ve learned to be clear with my availability and always prioritise university deadlines first. My managers have been really supportive when I’ve needed time off during exams or busy periods. Working in an optical setting has also helped me stay in the right headspace – sometimes I can even practise clinical techniques like retinoscopy or manual focimetry during quieter moments at work.

When it comes to finding time for myself, I’ve realised how important it is to switch off properly. I try not to schedule too much in one day, and I use Google Calendar to block out specific time for studying, work and downtime. Even something as simple as going for a walk after a shift helps me reset and avoid burnout.