“Pre-reg is a unique opportunity to grow”

As I approach the end of Stage 1, I’m excited to have just a few competencies left to complete before moving on to Stage 2.

My hybrid setup has made it easier to compile a wide variety of patient records for my visits, boosting my confidence and clinical decision-making skills. Overall, the journey has been enriching and fulfilling, and I feel well prepared to take on the challenges of Stage 2.

My pre-reg has reinforced my conviction that every patient is unique, and understanding their individual needs is at the heart of providing excellent care.

Each day can present new challenges, and sometimes seeing conditions you haven’t come across before can be daunting. However, learning to adapt quickly and having the confidence to handle unexpected situations within a supervised environment allows me to refine my approach and develop my skills to a high level.

My day-to-day routine has been far more varied and full of surprises than I had initially expected.

I never imagined that during my pre-reg I would be removing a foreign body from a patient’s eye or assessing the anterior angle using a gonioscope lens. This felt like something I’d only observe, not perform so early on. These experiences have shown me just how hands-on and varied my role can be. Whether it’s dealing with unexpected emergency cases, attempting advanced techniques like gonioscopy, or handling patients with unique conditions, my pre-reg has kept me on my toes and constantly learning. Each day brings something new, and with it, opportunities to further my knowledge and experience.

I never imagined that during my pre-reg I’d actually be removing a foreign body from a patient’s eye or assessing the anterior angle using a Gonioscope lens

My supervisor has provided me with guidance when I needed it and has pushed me to excel in my role as a pre-reg optometrist.

In addition to my primary supervisor, James Bontoft, at the independent practice, I’m fortunate to have multiple mentors at the hospital due to my hybrid pre-reg setup. This has allowed me to gain valuable perspectives in secondary care from a multidisciplinary team, including specialist optometrists, consultants, orthoptists, nurses, and more; ultimately enhancing the level of care I can provide to my patients.

Looking back, the progress I’ve made since my first day as a pre-reg has been nothing short of incredible.

I’ve grown in confidence, from performing routine sight tests and contact lens appointments to managing more complex cases and playing a significant role in the delivery of our enhanced services. Beyond clinical skills, I’ve developed stronger communication and decision-making abilities, learning to put patients at ease and engender trust in my abilities. It’s exciting to see how much more independent and capable I’ve become, and I look forward to continuing this growth.

One stand-out moment during my pre-reg was successfully removing a foreign body from a patient who was in severe pain.

Despite their distress, I remained calm and focused, reassuring the patient while having my supervisor close by to guide me and ensure the technique was performed correctly. Having shadowed this procedure several times, I was well-prepared to handle the situation.

Following the removal, the patient was overwhelmed with gratitude. They expressed their relief and happiness, even leaving us a glowing 5-star review. This experience has stuck with me because it showed the immediate impact we can have on a patient’s quality of life and how much trust patients place in us. I didn’t expect this level of gratitude, and it reinforced just how rewarding this profession can be.

Pre-reg is tough – there’s no denying that.

It’s a rollercoaster journey where balancing full-time work with continuous assessments can feel overwhelming at times, but my advice is to try your best to enjoy it.

Pre-reg is a unique opportunity to grow, learn, and develop into a proficient optometrist. Embrace the challenges as opportunities to improve, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or lean on your supervisors and peers for support.

Most importantly, make the most of every experience. Every patient, every case, and every day will teach you something new.

Over the next few months, I plan to start preparing for Stage 2 of my pre-reg journey.

This will involve tackling 100+ case scenarios on the College of Optometrists’ website and further refining my routine eye exam and contact lens techniques in preparation for the assessment.

I’ll also begin running my own contact lens clinic at the hospital under supervision, and I am looking forward to broadening my experience of fitting complex contact lenses.