Pre-reg focus

“I feel much more equipped to deal with visually impaired patients”

Pre-registration optometrist at Boots Sunderland High Street, Eliza Jane McCall, on homing her patient communication as she prepares for visit three

4 min read

A woman with long brown hair stands in an eye examination room beside a slit lamp machine. She is smiling softly and wearing a white top with a dark cardigan. An eye chart is visible on the wall behind her, along with other optometry equipment, a computer workstation, and a bottle of hand sanitizer on the table

Gavin Forster

Eliza Jane McCall

04 February 2026

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At the time of writing, I am preparing to do my third visit of Stage one, which will take place in January 2026. By the time you are reading this, hopefully I will have completed this stage of my pre-reg placement.

So far, I have learned that it is hard but not impossible to balance studying and working. I must try to make use of any free time I have to try and study little and often, as there are so many competencies to cover that cramming before a visit will not work.

I have also started to learn how to manage patients’ expectations, especially those with macular degeneration, and find ways to explain to them that tasks such as reading will be harder and may require new visual aids such as magnifiers or e-readers.

Upon leaving university I thought that some days may have been repetitive, however my pre-reg so far has been far from that.

We care for patients of absolutely all ages and with all abilities, so each test is different, and you never know what the next test will bring.

As I have progressed, I have also started to carry out a wider range of appointments, including post-operative cataract appointments and contact lenses – each bringing a new scope of their own.

My supervisor and all of the other team members I work alongside are invaluable.

I have no doubt that, with any query or trouble I face, they will be able to help me – whether this is double checking a scan or pathology, or guiding me on my advice or next steps for a patient. I know that my supervisor only ever wants to help, and their experience and guidance is essential every day.

Looking back, I immediately can see the obvious progression since the start of my pre-reg, including that I am testing more quickly.

There has also been progression in the number of patients I’ve seen and the different pathologies I’ve encountered. If I use my logbook or look back on previous records, I feel that my confidence has grown.

The first time I saw a patient with visual impairment, it was daunting. I asked my supervisor for advice prior to, during, and after the appointment. Now, I feel much more equipped to deal with visually impaired patients using the advice and small amounts of experience I have gained over the past few months, whilst still always remembering to ask my supervisor anytime I feel I should. I only hope that this confidence continues to grow.

As I have progressed, I have also started to carry out a wider range of appointments, including post-operative cataract appointments and contact lenses

So far, the real stand out moment for me was how hard my first in-person visit was.

The depth of questions one after the other was a shock to me. The questions were so in-depth that we were short on time, which only added to the pressure that I was feeling from the visit.

Since then, I have spoken to colleagues and friends who I graduated with to gain more insight and learn how to better prepare for the next in-person visit. The Boots Opticians learning and development courses and the Johnson & Johnson Success Through Education Programme (STEP) have been extremely valuable resources, and I would urge any pre reg with access to utilise them.

I would advise my pre-reg peers to prepare for visits in as much depth as possible, and start as early as possible.

I would urge other pre-regs to access the resources that are there to help us if they can, such as Johnson & Johnson STEP, The College of Optometrists website, and specific resources that their practice provides. These resources are made by people who have already completed their pre-registration training – so they have insight that we don’t have yet.

Over the next few months, I hope to progress to stage two and see enough patients to achieve the competencies that I have remaining. I also hope to keep learning and enjoying the experience.

The most important thing I have learnt in the past 60 days is...

That preparation is key. Every patient is different from another. Assessors know this, and will want you to be prepared for any situation that may walk through the door. Knowing the most common or surface knowledge of the competencies is not sufficient, as not every patient will fit into that box.