As you know, optometry school is a full time job. Many of you have been living and breathing all things optometry for the past several months and are ready for a much anticipated summer break.

While you do deserve some time away from classes, studying, and clinic, OptoPrep recommends that you still remain connected to the profession as your life slows down a bit during these summer days.

Here are a few tips to keep involved in optometry news and events:

1.  Attend AOA Optometry's Meeting 

This summer, Optometry’s Meeting will be held in Boston, MA from June 29th - July 3rd. This meeting is a great way to travel and bond with your classmates in a new city, as well as meet and connect with other optometry students from all over the country. In addition to providing great education, Optometry’s meeting also has the annual Varilux Optometry Student Bowl, where each college battles to be named the loudest, most creative, and smartest optometry students! Also, don’t forget to check out all of the vendors in the exhibit hall. Come by and visit the OptoPrep booth for your chance to win some great prizes!

2.  Check out Review of Optometry Online

Review of Optometry is a great magazine that is published once per month and can easily be accessed online. There are several articles in each issue that update readers on new treatments, give clinical pearls for performing certain procedures, provide interesting case reports, review popular products, etc. Reading these articles is an excellent way to keep you learning new and exciting things while you take a break from classes! Check it out at Review of Optometry Online

3.  Observe Local Optometry Clinics

Contact local optometrists and ask if you can observe a half day in their office. You’ll be surprised at how much insight you’ll get from watching how other doctors run their clinics and businesses. Learn clinical tips and tricks from other doctors, and watch and learn how they interact and educate their patients. These extra experiences can be invaluable. 

4.  Work on Campus

Working on campus is a fantastic way to earn a little extra cash during the summer, while also getting to know your professors and school staff members better. I did work study during the summer after my 1st year in the binocular vision research department. I got to know the strabismus and amblyopia professor very well, and it was great to have that relationship and comfort level established with her when she started teaching some of our very difficult 2nd year classes. I highly recommend this! 

5.  Subscribe to OptoPrep’s Daily Dose

If you haven’t signed up for OptoPrep’s Daily Dose, do it! OptoPrep’s Daily Dose is a FREE service that gives you access to NBEO relevant questions. You’ll be emailed a question every weekday. This is another perfect was to stay connected and make sure you don’t lose all of that important information you learned during class! And, you’ll get a head start on seeing the types of questions that you might find on Boards. Sign Up Here for OptoPrep Daily Dose!

-Dr. Dexter