A day in the life of a first-year Optometry student

ARU student Jessica blogs about a typical day studying BOptom (Hons) Optometry.

A typical day including lectures involves me waking up early, doing a small workout routine and to get ready for the day. I ensure that I am always a bit early to give myself some breathing space. Classes are usually half a day, and they have both practical elements and content-based learning.

Getting hands-on

The practical elements take place in the labs, and we learn about how to conduct tests to check the eyes and also how to dispense glasses.

Sometimes, if I am struggling to learn these techniques or if I just need more practice, there are extra sessions available which help majorly when you have to take the OSCEs (a practical exam) at the end of the academic year.

Gaining crucial knowledge

The content-based lectures consist of some pre-learning videos and activities which we do throughout the week for each module and then we go through this in tutorials that are in person.

The online approach has been relaxed a lot more since Trimester 1, where everything apart from labs were online due to the pandemic. I found the Trimester 2 approach a lot more beneficial, and it was nice seeing my lecturers and fellow classmates in person and actually having the opportunity to interact with them.

The actual content includes the study of human and ocular anatomy, theory behind clinical optometry and dispensing ophthalmic lenses, optical professionalism and also the optics of the eye. After lectures I review the materials in the library to help consolidate my knowledge.

A healthy balance

After, I walk back to my accommodation and cook to make sure I have a balanced diet. I also tidy my room to make sure my room is clean. I also have a part-time job which I balance well with my studies, and it is nice to do something that is an escape from university.

It is also important to hang out with friends and take breaks during the day, and sometimes I do go out for meals with my friends to treat myself. I think its important to mix it up and make each day different from the last whilst following a loose structure. I also like to guarantee at least eight hours of sleep to be ready for the next day!

Jessica Chandrakumar

Jessica is studying Optometry at ARU in Cambridge. To find out more about our degree courses and student life at ARU, book your place at an Open Day.