The Primary Eye Guys Podcast: Recent Episodes
Primary Eye Guys
Two third year optometry student share their views on optometry, college and all the rest of it in weekly episodes.
This week we talked to our neighbours across the sea - Optometry Wales (OW) and the Welsh Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (WOPEC) We are joined by Sharon Beatty from WOPEC and Tim Morgan from OW who tell us about the exciting future of eye care in Wales. We learn about courses beyond an undergraduate optometric education, scope of practice in Wales and much more! Even though optometry in English speaking European countries is seen as having similar scopes of practice, Optometry Wales provide us with the nuances of how things can differ within the devolved Government of Wales. Check them out at: @OptometryWales on FB Instagram and Twitter, find “WOPEC at Cardiff University on Facebook and @EyeOnWOPEC on Twitter.
https://www.optometrywales.org.uk/
https://wopec.co.uk/
This week we chat with soon to be optometry student, Mariam Elias. Mariam walks us through the process of applying to optometry school in the United States. From applications to interviews, here is everything you need to know about applying to OD school! Follow Mariam at https://www.instagram.com/eyelias_/ on instagram - and follow her in her amazing optometric journey! She has some great tips for interviews, OAT study and much more!
This week we talk study habits, tricks and timelines with Millie: the creator of @wannabeoptom. Millie is a long time friend of the show and prominent on the eye-care social media scene. We also find time to talk about her time studying in Cardiff this far and what kind of optometrist she aspires to be.
This week the Primary Eye Guys are reunited in Dublin to talk about their hospital externship prior to the beginning of four year. Tune in to find out what was most enjoyable and the experience and what specialties within ophthalmology proved be most helpful to see first hand.
For the first time as Gagan and I don't get to get record right beside each other! Tune in as we connect from opposite sides of Canada to review our summers in optometry and otherwise. We also talk plans for fourth year in Dublin - and hypothesize what our lives are going to be like in our final year of optometry school. Topics include possible research, modules we are looking forward too, and the two of us just catching up after a summer apart!
Gagan and I aren't the only Canadians studying optometry in Dublin. We sit down and chat with our fellow Canuck and roommate - Lindsay Burke! We don't so much talk about what it's like living abroad in Ireland, but rather we hypothesize what our future careers will look like. Find out how I hate dealing with Dry Eye Disease and how I can't imagine owning my own practice - or how the other two already have clear picture of what kind of optometrist they would someday like to be.
Side note (We recorded this ~ 6 months ago, I have since become a better practitioner!)
Thanks to Lindsay for joining us! Check out her instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/1eyeatatime/
Hopefully she'll be joining us again someday to find out how many of our plans have come to fruition!
*** Photo from our EyeBall 2019 - Fake props folks.
PEG talk to Doctor Eye Health! If you haven't already seen his youtube channel - check him out:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSs2CvlyOKLYY4SbfehnKNQ
Dr. Joseph Allen has some great videos such as product reviews, patient information tools and even some great tips for practitioners out there. Patient or Optom - binge them all! They are simply fantastic.
It is summer vacation for PEG and they are separated by many miles! That didn't stop them chatting with Defocus Media for a quick run down on our podcast, lives, and our optometric education in Europe. Defocus Media a podcast and optometric educational hub for ODs and optoms around the world and are brought to you by Dr. Jennifer Lyerly and Dr. Darryl Glover. The two of them have invited us to join their podcasting team - check em' out at https://defocusmedia.com/ and us at https://www.primaryeyeguys.com/podcast or your favourite podcasting app!
The Primary Eye Guys talk with Dr. Verdi, an optometrist who studied in the United Kingdom. Dr. Verdi gives us the run down on licensing, board exams, administrative procedures, and all the other stuff we need to know to work in Canada. She gives us some great advise and also has some nice words about optometry in Ireland.
In episode 23, The Primary Eye Guys talk with Dmitriy Richter of Ocular Media. Ocular Media are creators of the app OpTranslate, a communication and educational tool for optometrists around the world. Dmitriy gives us the low down on app design, tips on communicating with patients, and so much more.
After a small hiatus for exams, the Primary Eye Guys recap their third year of optometry school. Tune in for their overall thoughts on the year and musings for the future!
In episode 21 the Primary Eye Guys Skype across the world with Dr. Harbir Sian from Vancouver. Dr. Sian is an optometrist who currently runs two practices in the greater Vancouver area. He has a great educational Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/HarbirSianOD
- a wonderful Instagram as well:
https://www.instagram.com/harbirsian.od/
It's that time of year again!!! Tune in for the best (sort of) last minute study tips! Disclaimer: We might not have the best advise.
It’s Easter break!! No better time to revise🙄. Here’s a quick five minutes on macular OCT evaluation. Very basic ways to differentiate between the “big” macular OCT pathologies.
This week the Primary Eye Guys talk about the importance of vision screening at younger ages with Dr. Veronica O'Dwyer. Veronica is a professor at TU Dublin and lectures in clinical optometry, binocular vision, as well supervising the student primary eye care clinics.
I have a pharma exam coming up and I was having some trouble organizing all the drops! Here is a brief overview into how I did it. I am just a student..... so take it for what it is!
Tune in this week for a brief overview of "how to conference". We basically talk about our first time going to an optometry conference. We spent last weekend in Birmingham at Optrafair.
In episode 16, the Primary Eye Guys talk to Michael Moore. Michael is a lecturer at TU Dublin in Diseases of the Eye, Professional studies, and a clinic supervisor. He is also currently doing his PhD part time on myopia progression rates. Topics include optometric law, education, and future plans for the three of us.
We spent the weekend at the Optoversity Challenge in beautiful Cambridge! Listen in to hear why we think all optometry students should follow suit in the following years! Big thanks to Out of the Box Optics for putting on the show, and Vision Care for Homeless People - an amazing organization! Check them out below:
https://www.visioncarecharity.org/
https://www.facebook.com/OutOfTheBoxOptics/
The Primary Eye Guys talk to lecturer and optics whizz Matt Sheehan! Matt is a lecturer at TU Dublin, with a particular interest in how all of an optometrists tools are actually working. Listen to us chat about Australian optometry, Matt's PhD, His advise for new optoms, and even some chat about our favourite music!
How did Shinobu Ishihara's test become so famous? Listen to a brief history of Shinobu Ishihara + his fantastic invention!
Who should be responsible for covering the cost of an eye exam? The Primary Eye Guys reflect on their own personal thoughts over the past few years. They also discuss whether or not public perception influences the involvement of insurance companies and government funding.
The Primary Eye guys are on the phone with optometrist Jagdeep Gill. Jagdeep is currently completing the IP course at City University. Tune in to find the inside scoop of everything IP!
What are the dos and don'ts of purchasing glasses and contact lenses online? The Primary Eye Guys outline their views on the subject, along with some pros and cons of the industry.
What is life like after graduating from optometry school? The Primary eye guys talk to Dr. Catriona Barrett about research, teaching, and other options our there for recent grads, or those looking for a shift in their day to day practice. Dr. Barrett is a researcher and lecturer for the department of optometry at TU Dublin.
With semester one exam results on there way, The Primary Eye Guys chat about what life is like when things don't go the way you imagine them. Discussion includes personal experiences, advise, and how to change things for the better.
The Primary Eye guys talk hospital optometry with their first guest speaker, Zachary Cairns. Zach is an optometrist working at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Topics include a day in the life of a hospital optometrist, Zach's future plans, and what he feels optometry will look like in the coming years. Zach joins us over skype.... so apologies regarding the quality!
Moving into a broader subject, the Primary Eye Guys focus on an issue commonplace in health care fields. They express their personal experiences, and even a few tips on dealing with professional/student burnout.
Arriving back from Christmas holidays, The Primary Eye guys deliberate on the must-haves of equipment needed for optometry school. Some things they are glad they bought, others not so much.....
Moving away from college discussion, the Primary Eye Guys thrash out the differences in optometry around the english speaking world. Topics including misconceptions, public perception, and education arise along with a whole slew of rants about their personal feelings.
The primary Eye guys look ahead to what fourth year optometry will bring to their education. They also outline their thoughts on research projects, greater responsibilities and working in private practice. Kick off dry January with a sobering preview on the final stretch of Optometry School!
Episode 3 the Primary Eye Guys reflect on their first interactions with the public and the difficulties of 3rd year optometry. They also delve into their hopes and dreams for the rest of their optometric education. Go plug in your headphones, add some rum to your holiday eggnog and ignore your awful relatives while gettin' your optometry on!
In Episode 2 the Primary Eye Guys detail their love/hate relationship with second year optometry. Go fetch your tequila, and settle in for happy hour wherever you are.
Episode 1 the Primary Eye Guys recount their journey to optometry and 1st year. Grab a fresh glass of vino and listen in!
The inaugural episode of two 3rd year Canadian optometry students, Daniel and Gagan. Listen to them sift through their journey in optometry. Grab your wine, grab your ret, and enjoy our introductory episode!