“Everything I had learned started to fall into place”

I have found the first two months of my pre-reg placement both challenging and rewarding.

Transitioning from university clinics to a fast-paced hospital environment has been a steep learning curve, but one that’s reinforced my passion for hospital eye care. Every day presents a new opportunity to build confidence in refining the clinical skills I developed during my degree.

Seeing my first patient was a mix of excitement and nerves.

Despite preparing, I still felt the weight of responsibility. Once I began the consultation, however, everything I had learned started to fall into place. It was incredibly satisfying to apply my knowledge in a real clinical context and see the positive impact.

I’m settling into the hospital setting by familiarising myself with different clinics, observing experienced optometrists, and asking lots of questions.

I’ve also taken time to understand the patient flow and the interdisciplinary approach within the hospital by working with ophthalmologists, orthoptists, and nurses. The support from my supervisor and colleagues has made adapting to this environment much smoother.

One example of interesting pathology I’ve seen is a macula-off retinal detachment in eye casualty.

It was fascinating to observe how the patient presented and then review the optical coherence tomography and fundus images, and examine on the slit lamp. Witnessing the coordination and urgency with which the multidisciplinary team acted really highlighted the importance of prompt detection, as it was a very recent macula-off detachment.

Transitioning from university clinics to a fast-paced hospital environment has been a steep learning curve, but one that’s reinforced my passion for hospital eye care

In the next few months, I’m most excited about participating in different sub-specialty clinics.

I’m particularly looking forward to spending more time in corneal and retinal (both medical and vitreo) clinics

My most memorable moment so far is seeing the effect that rigid gas permeable (RGB) lenses had on a patient.

I carried out a contact lens teach for a patient with advanced keratoconus who had previously undergone bilateral keratoplasty. Their vision was poor, but when they tried the RGP lens, the improvement in their vision was remarkable. Seeing their reaction and gratitude was a truly rewarding moment.

My most nerve-wracking moment to date was the first cycloplegic refraction I carried out, on a one-year-old patient.

Balancing the clinical procedure whilst ensuring the child was comfortable and cooperative was challenging, but it was also a valuable learning experience.

On maintaining a work-life balance, I plan to set clear boundaries between work and downtime.

I make a point of exercising regularly and spending time with friends to switch off from work life. Using a diary to stay organised has also helped me manage study time for assessments without feeling overwhelmed.