Is Optometry worth it?

 

When I tell people I am studying optometry, the next thing they ask me is “was it your first choice?”. Of course, it wasn’t my first choice, Medicine and Surgery was the initial plan and I wanted to specialize in ophthalmology but due to my low JAMB score of 206, it would have been impossible to have studied that in Nigeria, so I went for Optometry. In my first year, it wasn’t looking like Optometry was something serious because of courses I was offering Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. In my second year it seemed like the heat was turned on a little when I encountered Biochemistry and Microbiology. I don’t think I would forget the nights of trying study the 20 Amino acids and their chemical structures, it was such a hassle.

 I finally fell in love with Optometry in my third year, I enjoyed reading because it felt I was making new discoveries. Ocular Anatomy, Ocular Pharmacology, General Pathology, Human Physiology, General Anatomy, Geometrical Optics, Physiological Optics, Histology and Embryology were all amazing. Anytime I read something new it felt like I was figuring out my body system bit by bit. It was when it finally felt like I was studying optometry. It’s a popular saying in ABSU that 300 level Optometry is equivalent to 100 level because it feels like you just began your study. My fourth year was also incredible but not compared to my third year where everything was new and enticing, the COVID-19 lockdown and the strike also made it really short. There were also a lot of new things, like learning how to use a Retinoscope, Ophthalmoscope, Keratometer, and even a Penlight yes it may be underrated but it is a strong diagnostic tool.

I am still in love with Optometry and am currently in sixth year, the peak of everything where I am to practice all I have been taught. Indirectly working as a Doctor of Optometry. I am excited about this stage I’m currently in because of the clinical experience I would obtain, conditions I would encounter and means I would take to solve them. Now the question is ‘is Optometry worth it?’ and I would answer ‘Yes Optometry is worth it’. Optometry is worth 6 years of my life because in summary I Love Optometry.