No matter how much you prepare for the start of your four years in optometry school, there will no doubt be some things you end up learning as you go. To help you avoid learning “the hard way,” as they say, we found four students nearing the end of first year who were willing to share what they eventually realized about situating themselves for success. Here’s what these members of the class of 2021 had to say. 

“Optometrists are in demand!”

Author:  Dr. Caryn LaBuda, Assistant Professor, Midwestern University 

Company Name: Bausch + Lomb

Company Description: Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting, enhancing, and restoring people’s eyesight. Its core businesses include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. The company develops, manufactures and markets one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry with products available in more than 100 countries. 

Author: Dr. Jill Saxon is the Senior Director of Professional Strategy at Bausch + Lomb and is part of the leadership team for U.S. Vision Care. Prior to joining Bausch + Lomb, Dr. Saxon worked as an optometrist for more than five years at Randolph Eyecare Center in Randolph, N.J., where she provided both adult and pediatric eye care. Earlier in her career, Dr. Saxon served as an optometrist at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, M.D., as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy.

I’m often asked by students for advice as they begin their career. My answer is simple and consistent—never lose sight of why you chose to be an Optometrist. 

Company Name: CooperVision

Company Description: CooperVision's dedication to prescription contact lens design, materials and manufacturing excellence enhances the wearing experience of contact lens patients the world over. CooperVision concentrates on all day wearing comfort in the widest variety of lens designs, materials and wearing options.

Company Name: Diopsys Inc.

Company Description: As the world leader in modern visual electrophysiology, Diopsys, Inc. has done more than any other company to advance the use of electroretinography (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) in the eye care practice. The company’s unique, patented technology provides eye care professionals with objective, functional information about the health of the vision system to aid in the early detection of vision disorders, and post-treatment tracking for enhanced patient management.

Company Name: Volk Optical

Company Name: Rev360

Interest in a health professions career such as optometry can spring from a variety of motivations, but a desire to help people is a common inspiration. Sight is such a precious human sense, the care optometrists provide is of immense value to the patients they serve. As shown in the international Barometer of Global Eye Health survey, most people would rather lose a limb or 10 years of their life than lose their vision. The care optometrists provide can be life-changing, and the following stories are just a few examples of how. The stories highlight some of the many different areas in which optometrists can specialize, the expertise available at private practices as well as in the eyecare centers of schools and colleges of optometry, and the dedication optometrists apply to delivering the solutions their patients need.

Interest in a health professions career such as optometry can spring from a variety of motivations, but a desire to help people is a common inspiration. Sight is such a precious human sense, the care optometrists provide is of immense value to the patients they serve. As shown in the international Barometer of Global Eye Health survey, most people would rather lose a limb or 10 years of their life than lose their vision. The care optometrists provide can be life-changing, and the following stories are just a few examples of how. The stories highlight some of the many different areas in which optometrists can specialize, the expertise available at private practices as well as in the eyecare centers of schools and colleges of optometry, and the dedication optometrists apply to delivering the solutions their patients need.