Consolidating what we know...

The past few weeks have flown by quicker than I could ever have imagined and it just reflects on how busy we students have been. New clinical techniques are being taught on almost a daily basis, lectures are becoming more in-depth and coursework is filling up our free time (whenever we get it!). But despite how busy we are, everyone seems to be really enjoying the semester.

Last week saw my professional awareness assessment. This involved being filmed whilst making conversation with a stranger as so we can take note on how we approach patients that enter our clinic.  It was quite scary as we knew other students will watch our assessments as groups and make comments on what we did well and what we could improve on. Even though it was nerve-wracking, the chance to watch how we act when trying to strike up conversation will provide a great aid in improving our patient interaction.
As the second semester is reaching the half-way point for us here in Cardiff, our clinics are all coming to the climax of being able to conduct the entire routine competently and in a narrow(ish) time period.  Our basic refraction routine is being honed and we are getting closer to finishing within the 35 minutes we’ve been set.  Additionally, we are gaining valuable experience in our contact lens and binocular vision clinics.  It is a great feeling to know that we know most of the content and now to have the period to consolidate what we know is working wonders with our confidence.

I have also taken the personal decision to experience life as a contact lens wearer.  In the past, my optometrist told me my eyes were “too strangely shaped” for contact lenses and I was better off just wearing my glasses.  Now I am aware that he meant that I had astigmatism (to be fair to him, the astigmatism is in the region of 4.00DC) and there are relatively few contact lens options open to me.  Last week I made the decision to be fitted with RGP lenses and will hopefully be collecting my lenses next Wednesday.  Watch this space to see how well I get on with them!

My afternoon now will consist of catching up with one or two pieces of coursework, before enjoying an evening of relaxation (something we’ve all been missing recently!)
 
Jason