01 August 2025
Over the past 12 months, pre-reg optometrists Habeeb Rahman, Hannah Silcock, and Zahrah Khan have shared a glimpse into their pre-reg journeys as they head towards to qualification.
While Rahman is completing his placement within an independent practice, James Bontoft Optometrist, and at East Lancashire Hospitals, Silcock is navigating her placement with Specsavers Stirling, and Khan is based at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Here, the three tell OT about their hopes, fears and aspirations as they await the results of their Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).
Our Pre-reg focus authors
Habeeb Rahman, pre-registration optometrist at James Bontoft Optometrist and East Lancashire Hospitals
What was the standout moment of your pre-reg placement?
Zahrah Khan (ZK): There have been several moments throughout my pre-reg that have really stayed with me, but the ones that stand out most have been the interactions with my patients, especially during refraction or low vision appointments. I’ve had patients express sincere gratitude for the time, patience, and care I’ve given them, which has been incredibly rewarding. Knowing that I’ve made a real difference to someone’s quality of life, whether through improving their vision or providing something as simple yet impactful as a magnifier, has been both humbling and motivating. It’s always reassuring to receive positive feedback, and it means a lot to know that patients have not only been satisfied with the service but also remember me for the support I provided.
Hannah Silcock (HS): There have been a few standout moments, but spending time in the eye clinic in the local hospital was a hugely valuable experience. I was able to see a wide range of conditions that I may never see in community practice and hear how the optometrists and consultants explained certain eye conditions or treatments to the patients.
Habeeb Rahman (HR): One standout moment that still resonates is detecting and managing my first double retinal detachment case. After referring the patient for a detachment that was operated on the next day, he returned eight weeks later with a second detachment in the same eye, despite the new gas bubble still being intact. It was the first time I’d seen both a superotemporal and superonasal detachment in the same eye. It was a rare presentation and a powerful reminder of how far I’ve come in recognising and managing complex pathology.
“Each interaction felt genuinely rewarding, and paediatrics quickly became one of my favourite parts of my hospital rotation”
What has been the scariest or most intimidating moment during your placement?
HR: Probably my first paediatric clinic since I had limited experience testing children at university. Kids often dislike drops because they sting and can lose trust in the optometrist after instillation, so I adjusted my testing approach to be more creative and playful. Each interaction felt genuinely rewarding, and paediatrics quickly became one of my favourite parts of my hospital rotation.
HS: When I had to tell a patient that they had raised discs and that I needed to refer them to the hospital. This was a scary moment as it was the first time I had to do an emergency referral, and I was unsure of how the patient would react. In terms of assessment, I felt that Stage 2 was more intimidating than Stage 1. Not knowing who your patient was or who you were going to be assessed by made it feel more difficult to prepare for.
ZK: One of the most intimidating moments for me was at the very beginning of my pre-reg year, especially starting in a hospital setting. The transition from university to real clinical practice was a significant leap, and it felt even more daunting due to the complexity of the patients we see in a hospital environment. Many of the cases were far beyond what I had encountered during training, which was initially overwhelming.
However, being exposed to those more complex scenarios early on has actually helped build my confidence. It's made routine cases feel more manageable and has definitely broadened my knowledge beyond the core pre-reg requirements.
How prepared do you feel for the OCSEs?
HS: My OSCE preparation is well under way. I am reviewing my Stage 1 revision notes and making sure I am confident on each competency. I am also reviewing the clinical management guidelines and practising explaining various conditions in layman’s terms to family members to ensure I can explain these clearly and succinctly.
ZK: After completing Visit 1 and 2, I feel that a lot of the core content has become second nature. It’s more about refining and refreshing that knowledge now.
When it comes to the OSCEs, the main challenge is the fear of the unknown. However, I’ve booked some mock OSCEs to help me get used to the format and pacing, which I believe will provide valuable exposure and help boost my confidence.
Reflecting back to our third-year OSCEs at university, I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the five-minute stations. I found that I handled the pressure well, particularly the skill of moving on from one station without dwelling on the last. I’m hopeful that this mindset and approach will carry through into the final OSCEs, and I’m doing my best to prepare thoroughly so I can approach them with confidence.
HR: Now, having passed both Stage 1 and Stage 2, I’m deep into OSCE prep. I feel well prepared, thanks to the volume and variety of clinical exposure across my hybrid placement.
How do you expect your day-to-day work to change once your pre-reg placement is completed?
ZK: Once my pre-reg is over, I expect the biggest change will be the level of independence. The responsibility for clinical decisions will fall entirely on me, which is both a bit daunting and empowering. Without a supervisor to check over everything, I'll need to be more decisive and confident in my clinical judgment. At the same time, I think this independence will push me to take full ownership of my patient care and continue developing professionally. It's a natural next step in building trust in my own abilities and continuing to grow as a clinician.
HS: I don’t expect my days testing to change hugely as I am already seeing a wide range of patients. However, I will no longer have days on the shop floor helping with dispensing or collections. There will also be less time spent with my supervisor, but I will continue to work in the same practice so will still be able to ask for support if needed.
I think this independence will push me to take full ownership of my patient care and continue developing professionally
What are your plans after qualification?
HS: Once I qualify, I plan to enjoy a well-earned break from studying for a while. I will continue working at Specsavers Stirling, which will allow me to get used to practising without a supervisor but still with the support of my colleagues with whom I have formed good relationships. In the near future, I aim to start studying the independent prescribing (IP) qualification to allow me to treat and manage more complex conditions in the community.
ZK: I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. Hospital optometry has been incredibly rewarding, I really enjoy the complexity and variety of cases, and I feel there’s still so much more for me to learn, especially in areas like specialist contact lenses, which I’m keen to pursue further.
At the same time, I recognise that the skill set required in High Street practice is quite different, and I’d like to gain more experience in that environment too. My aim is to be confident and competent in both settings, so I can keep my career options broad and continue developing as a well-rounded clinician.
Outside of clinical work, I also run an optometry Instagram page, @littlemissoptom, which has grown steadily since I started it in my final year at university. It has become a great space to share educational content and connect with others in the profession, and I’d love to keep building that platform into something even more impactful.
HR: Once qualified, I plan to continue developing my skills in medical retina, glaucoma and specialist contact lenses, with a long-term view of pursuing IP. At this stage of my early career, I feel it’s important to build my experience and continue to keep learning.
It is hard to know exactly what the future will hold, but I hope to still be enjoying optometry as much as I do now. My immediate priority is to have gained my IP qualification
Did you have any misconceptions about optometry before you started your pre-reg placement, which have now been rectified?
ZK: Before starting my pre-reg, I often heard people say it would be the hardest year of my life, full of challenges and even tears. I remember thinking, that won’t be me, I’ll be fine. But it definitely was. Pre-reg has been a real rollercoaster, with both high points and tough weeks. What I didn’t fully appreciate at the start was just how emotionally and mentally demanding the year can be, especially with the constant learning and assessments. However, looking back, the progress I’ve made from day one to now is incredibly noticeable. It’s a steep learning curve, but pushing through it has been one of the most rewarding experiences, and it’s made me much more resilient and confident in my abilities.
HR: Before pre-reg I thought optometry was mostly routine, especially after working in multiples during my undergraduate years. I now realise how dynamic the profession actually is, particularly in practices offering multiple enhanced services and in the hospital eye service, where you regularly see and manage complex pathology. No two days are the same.
HS: I didn’t appreciate how big a part of the community you become. You get the impression that you may be the only person that someone speaks to that day, so it is always important to smile and be kind. I also didn’t realise how often I would be in contact with patients’ GP practices for various reasons.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
HR: In five years, I hope to have completed my IP qualification, along with a few additional professional certificates. I enjoy the portfolio career I currently have, and I see myself continuing to grow in this environment, building on both clinical and educational experience. Supporting the next generation of optometrists is something I’m passionate about, and once I’ve built up more experience, I’d love to be involved in university clinical supervision.
HS: It is hard to know exactly what the future will hold, but I hope to still be enjoying optometry as much as I do now. My immediate priority is to have gained my IP qualification.
ZK: In five years, I see myself having expanded my clinical skill set through further qualifications, potentially in areas like specialist contact lenses or glaucoma. I’d also love to continue developing my Instagram platform into a more established educational resource for students and early-career optometrists.
Teaching and presenting are something I’ve really enjoyed in the past, especially when I feel confident in a topic, so I’d be interested in exploring roles that allow me to support learning, whether through mentoring, creating content, or getting involved in training or academia.
Any regrets, or things you might have done differently on reflection?
ZK: I don’t think I have any major regrets. I was fortunate to have really good support, both at work and at home, which made a huge difference throughout the year. If there’s one thing I might have wished for, it would be having more capacity to balance hobbies and a social life alongside pre-reg.
That said, I recognise that the nature of pre-reg often makes that difficult and sometimes sacrifices have to be made in the short term. In the end, I feel everything played out the way it was meant to, and I’m proud of how I managed the year overall.
HS: Looking back, I probably didn’t need to feel so daunted by pre-reg. I am happy with how pre-reg has gone and I have been well supported throughout. Everything I have experienced or been challenged by has all been part of the learning experience and hopefully made me a better clinician.
As of 8 August 2025, Hannah Silcock and Zahrah Khan have now qualified as optometrists.
The AOP offers a newly-qualified grade for optometrists during their year of qualification and for the calendar year following qualification. To upgrade your membership when you qualify to continue to access the benefits that come with being an AOP member, contact the AOP’s membership team on 020 7549 2010.
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