Eliana Silva just finished her master\u2019s in advanced optometry, from the University of Minho, and \u00d3pticaPro wanted to know what motivated her to attend this training. Among other points, the optometrist of Ad\u00e3o Oculista highlighted that “the satisfaction of getting a patient to see the world with other eyes is what drives us to continue in this search and constant learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why the decision to attend the master\u2019s in advanced optometry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I entered the Optometry and Vision Sciences degree program, it was already one of my goals to pursue a master’s degree later to deepen my knowledge. When I finished my degree, I was able to go on a professional internship, which gave me practical experience. Since the curricular units of the master’s program were distributed and organized in two days a week – during the two years it took place – it gave me the opportunity to attend it at the same time I was acquiring professional experience. I must mention that this was only possible because my employer, Ad\u00e3o Oculista, arranged my schedules in such manner that I could work and study at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What skills have you acquired with this training?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the undergraduate course everything is new and when we get to the master’s most of the learning is already familiar to us and, therefore, it becomes easier to deepen and improve our knowledge. This master’s opened my horizons and gave me the possibility in some subjects to have incredible experiences, such as being able to attend surgeries – cataract and eyelid cyst removal – which allowed me to better understand the process and help patients understand these issues more clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What might you do differently in optics?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The master’s degree has made me develop several tools, which has enabled me to develop an outstanding clinical practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it your goal to continue studying?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. For me it is very important to keep informed and to follow the evolution in the field of eye health. The rapid evolution of contactology in recent years makes me want to know more about the solutions for visual compensation that are available to us both in terms of correction and treatment. That is why it is one of the aspects of optometry that I want to explore and improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you always wanted to be an optometrist? Tell us a little about your background…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, since high school Optometry was one of my first options. I think the interest in this area came about from a very young age because I started wearing glasses at a very early age and that was something that sparked my attention and more desire to explore eye health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What message would you like to leave to all your fellow optometrists?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We work in such an important area as eye health. We should never forget; we should always update our knowledge and keep up with all the developments in this regard. The satisfaction of making a patient see the world with new eyes is what drives us to continue in this search and constant learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n