Ophthalmology: A Career

By the time I enter Optometry School, I should be comfortable with the anatomy of the eyeball and its links with the human brain. In order to achieve this, I will have to succeed within biology for my undergraduate degree. Majoring in physiology will allow me to become familiar with the human body, and its functions.

What began as mere admiration for my childhood optometrist quickly evolved into a fervent aspiration when I began working as an optometric technician at Eye & Vision Care. Having been myopic since the age of 6, I have always had an interest in the inner workings of the eye and decided to apply to this job, without any concrete career plans in mind.

Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals. Your essay should be limited to 4500 characters.

What drew me to the field of optometry specifically is the fact that our eyes can be considered one of our most precious gifts. Growing up my siblings always needed some sort of corrective lenses, leaving me in the dark so to speak. When I was younger I suffered a corneal

SIGNIFICANCE: Information on this career can help broaden people’s perspectives and help them to look

The first time I was first exposed to the overwhelming benefits of Optometric medicine was when I was 17 years old. It was the summer of 2011 and I was going to be a senior in high school. I decided to shadow my Optometrist, Dr. Lobe, for a senior project. Before shadowing, I knew that the Optometrist was a person I went once a year to get my eyes checked. I loved seeing my eye doctor and getting my eyes dilated, I would go back to school bragging to all my friends and educating them about why my pupils were dilated and the benefits of seeing an Optometrist. During the 40 hours I spent shadowing, my younger sister, Madison, who was 12 at the time, was seeing Dr. Lobe for accommodation problems. She had just started middle school and was doing poorly on the standardized tests in her classes. While on a routine eye exam, Dr. Lobe discovered that she was having difficulties focusing on small print. That summer I spend shadowing, I worked both in the office and at home with Madison. I helped her train and strengthen her eye muscles with the exercises Dr. Lobe prescribed to her.

Dr. Mark Everett is the clinic coordinator and optometric physician of the Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute (PCLI) office in Spokane, Washington. A special surgical team, which includes seven surgeons, comes to the Spokane clinic to perform laser vision correction surgeries known as LASIK and other eye surgeries weekly. There are a total of 11 PCLI clinics throughout the northwestern United States that the surgical team cover. Competition from Lexington Laser Vision (LLV) in Vancouver, Canada, is charging lower rates and attracting potential customers away from PCLI. A local clinic, Eye Consultants, is heavily advertising in the local newspaper a price per eye that is significantly lower than PCLI. Dr. Everett clinic has the capacity to do more laser vision correction surgeries, and he wants to expand this service to keep current patients and attract new ones. An advertising campaign has already begun, but a clear strategic focus is needed to respond to this challenge.

Over time it became clear that I did not dread the appointments at the Oregon Health and Science University hospital which specialized in eye care. The building looked out on a tree lined street that was like a painting in the fall as kids with the same eye problems sat in the waiting room. My charismatic, kind, surgeon, Doctor Stout, answered inquiries and interpreted complex terminology patiently, pun intended, while the anesthesiologist made me laugh. In essence, I felt at home. Considering myself someone with an “elderly” issue quickly shifted and sparked a new ambition in me to explore a career the medical

When I began medical school, I wasn't sure which field of medicine I would be most interested in pursuing. Now that I have explored the range of possibilities through preceptorships, research, personal and clinical experiences, I have discovered that ophthalmology contains all of the elements of medical care that I have enjoyed during my training.

“Eyes are like a telescope; you can see images that you could never imagine with the power of eyesight all you’ll be able to see is darkness.” This is why you should become an optometrist assistant so no one would ever see the darkness. You can help others with their problem of not being able to see clearly. Optometrist assistants are given the opportunity to help people see unbelievable images. They are under the supervision of an optometrist, along with some guidance.

For this assignment, I interviewed Dr. George Joseph, a board certified Medical Doctor with specialty training in Ophthalmology. Dr. Joseph has practiced Ophthalmology for 18 years. He previously worked for UT Southwestern Medical School and the University of Houston. However, he currently works as the Medical Director for Vision Group Holdings and Eye Surgery of Texas, PA. They have offices in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Oklahoma City and St. Louis. He is also on staff at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano Texas. Dr. Joseph listed his daily responsibilities as “setting medical protocols and examining and evaluating patients with medical diseases of the eye for treatment.” Treatments for his patients typically include

During my high school career, I became fascinated with the workings and functions of our eyes while attending an internship at an ophthalmologist's office. Through my time there I was fortunate to be able to shadow and assist both the ophthalmologists and optometrists. While taking corneal topographies of patients' eyes before they were examined, my interest continued to grow and that interest blossomed into a desire to pursue this as a career when I had the opportunity to witness my first eye surgery. Though the pterygiectomy was a simple procedure, I was inspired by the fact that it could allow the patient to see better, changing their life.

This experience gave me insight about practicing as an optometrist in a small populated area, and also gave me a more hands-on experience with patients. While shadowing an optometry technician, I had the opportunity to check a patient’s eye pressure by numbing the eye with proxymetacaine and using a tonometer. In addition to checking the eye pressure, I captured pictures of patients’ eyes using the autorefractor and properly setting the phoropter for the doctor usage. Without any assistance, I was able to dilate patients and assign them to a room for the doctor follow up. This gave me the insight on how to communicate and interact with elderly and adolescent patients. I was also able to comprehend instructions in an efficient time and apply them while assisting patients. Throughout this experience, I interacted with patients with glaucoma, diabetes, cataracts, and stigmatism. I was able to see how each disease look within the eye and how doctors diagnose patients. This opportunity gave me assurance that optometry was the career path for

Optometry is the profession of examining the eyes. Optometrists are able to diagnose any present eye disorders, diseases, defects in vision, measure eyesight. If necessary, any of the following treatments will be prescribed; eye glasses or lenses, eye exercises, medicine or treatment.

My goals from a career in optometry begin with my optometry education. My plan for attacking optometry has three phases: Phase One- General optometric education at Nova Southeastern. I want an outstanding education, supplemented by practical experience, such as that offered by The Eye Care Institute. Phase Two (a.k.a. “the chicken”)- Exposure; after a general education, I seek exposure within the field through such activities as a mission trip, service opportunities, and initial employment in a diverse setting, such as public or rural health. Within these settings, one can experience vast new cultures and the subsequent pathologies that accompany people in diverse settings, living under diverse conditions. Phase Three (“the egg”)- Specialization: