Aan Chu
Our Bachelor of Optometry enabled Aan Chu to not only gain invaluable skills and experience, but it also allowed her to make her mark on the future of optometry treatments.
"When studying the Bachelor of Optometry I particularly enjoyed gaining real world experience by seeing patients in the University Optometry Clinic. The kind, dedicated, and knowledgeable supervisors created a safe space which was conducive for consolidating clinical skills and also learning how to develop a holistic and tailored approach to managing the individual under our care.
"Students learn how to use state of the art equipment and are taught about the latest developments and research in the field. As an optometry student, I obtained valuable experience and a broad skill set which prepared me to practise confidently as an optometrist in the wider community.
Being an optometrist entails much more than prescribing vision correction such as spectacles or contact lenses. The role of an optometrist as a healthcare professional is vast, and involves comprehensive eye health checks, monitoring for the presence or progression of disease, and managing conditions which may require prescribing medication.
After graduating and practicing as an optometrist, I realised how much I
missed and enjoyed the continuous development of being a student. This spurred me to return as a doctoral student in Optometry.
My area of research is myopia (short-sightedness). More than just the inconvenience of needing corrective lenses, myopia is a condition that has potentially sight threatening consequences. It appears to be on the rise, with 50% of the global population projected to have some degree of myopia by 2050.”