“I now feel confident seeing all types of patients”

As a pre-reg optometrist, I use technology as a tool to obtain clinical data that allows me to make informed decisions on diagnosing and managing conditions and monitoring patients.  

One of my favourite pieces of equipment in practice is the Optomap. It serves as an excellent communication tool. Patients can’t see what we see when we examine their eyes, but showing them a high-quality image of their own retina makes the experience more engaging and educational. I enjoy taking the time to explain these images, as it transforms a routine check-up into a learning opportunity for patients. 

At this stage of my pre-reg, thankfully I don’t have many challenges that I can’t cope with.  

Delivering the various enhanced services we provide at the independent practice and also rotating around different specialty clinics in the hospital eye service has allowed me to reach a point where I am confident in my own abilities and I am able to take challenges as opportunities to learn. 

One memorable moment for me was seeing a patient, accompanied by my supervisor, about two months ago for an emergency appointment.  

Upon examination we detected a retinal detachment and referred him to the hospital as an emergency referral, and he was operated on the next day.  

Eight weeks later, he came back with a new retinal detachment in the same eye which started all of a sudden that week. This occurred even though the previous gas bubble was still intact. This was the first time I had seen a superotemporal and superonasal detachment in the same eye.  

In terms of maintaining work-life balance, I currently play in my local table tennis league in Division 3.  

I really look forward to the weekly league matches. I play in a team and enjoy training with them, and we’re currently fourth in the league table. I think it’s really important to have something you enjoy doing outside of pre-reg. Working and studying is important, but to avoid burnout it is important to unwind at times. My advice is to get a hobby that you enjoy. 

I now feel confident seeing all types of patients, and always volunteer to see our emergency eye appointments.

I welcome the challenge, as it sharpens my clinical skills and allows me to expose myself to a wider range of eye pathology, ultimately making me a better optometrist. 

Patients have trust and confidence in my ability. It’s always rewarding to hear positive feedback, often expressed to our front-of-house staff following the examination.