Optometry Interview Question

Things to Avoid

"I'm a quick learner." I'm highly motivated." Instead say "My previous company didn't have an internal newsletter, so I set up a plan and created a monthly newsletter to keep my coworkers better informed." Instead of "I have a lot of experience in" give an example of an experience

What drugs can optometrists prescribe?

(C) "Therapeutic pharmaceutical agent" means a drug or dangerous drug that is used for examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease, injury, or other abnormal condition of the visual system in the practice of optometry by a licensed optometrist who holds a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certificate, and is any of the following: (1) An oral drug or dangerous drug in one of the following classifications: (a) Anti-infectives, including antibiotics, antivirals, antimicrobials, and antifungals; (b) Anti-allergy agents; (d) Analgesics, including only analgesic drugs that are available without a prescription, analgesic drugs or dangerous drugs that require a prescription but are not controlled substances, and schedule III controlled substances authorized by the state board of optometry in rules adopted under section 4725.091 of the Revised Code; (e) Anti-inflammatories, excluding all drugs or dangerous drugs classified as oral steroids other than methylpredisolone, which may be used under a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certificate only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) The drug is prescribed for use in allergy cases; (ii) The drug is prescribed for use by an individual who is eighteen years of age or older; (iii) The drug is prescribed on the basis of an individual's particular episode of illness; (iv) The drug is prescribed in an amount that does not exceed the amount packaged for a single course of therapy. (2) Epinephrine administered by injection to individuals in emergency situations to counteract anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, administration of epinephrine in this manner does not constitute performance of an invasive procedure.

How has the practice of Optometry changed in the last 25 years?

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How many different settings can an optometrist work in?

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If you want to help people, why not social work?

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What could you contribute to the student body?

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What diseases can optometrists treat?

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What made you choose Optometry as a profession out of any other health related profession such as: dentistry, ophthalmology, medicine, pharmacy?

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What current event in the world is most important to you and why?

Euro debt

Define failure.

Failure is when you regret your actions because it caused a certain outcome that does not appeal to you.

STrenghts

For strengths, pick a skill you have that applies directly the job and use it as your answer.

What surgical procedures can optometrists do?

Foreign body removal, corneal injury, eyelid & lacrimal disease, and others

What book have you read in the last month?

I am currently reading a book called One Day. It's a romance novel....

What is your philosophy towards Glaucoma medications?

I strongly feel that each person is their own individual and therefore it is difficult to provide a one-size fits all glaucoma medication. Instead, I feel the patient would benefit more if the treatments they received were tailored towards their condition.

Eye chart

In 1862, when the Dutch ophthalmologist Herman Snellen introduced his revolutionary new visual acuity chart and the concept of the Snellen fraction, spectacle correction was already ingrained in our culture. The eye chart and the Snellen fraction have become classics. Snellen's concept was to develop a simple and quick method by which to quantify the resolution of the eye. His visual acuity charts not only measured how well a patient could distinguish details of objects, but also allowed us to measure the patient's clarity or clearness of vision at a specific distance. He developed, as well, a specialized notation that in time became known as "Snellen acuity" or the Snellen fraction. The Snellen acuity number corresponds to the smallest letter or line a patient can see on the eye chart and enables the clinician to follow any changes in the patient's vision over time. The fraction consisted of a numerator, which represents the distance of the observer from the chart during the test, over a denominator, which represents the size of the smallest letter the patient can see clearly. The Snellen fraction is now as the standard for measuring vision.

Why would you consider an Optometrist as a primary care provider?

Insurance payers want their members to see optometrists first. Optometrists decide how eye care is accessed by patients because they can treat or triage ANY ocular problem

Questions to ask

One that caught our eye is to ask interviewers if there are any issues or challenges about their job or role that keep them up at night "With all the growth here, how do you feel the company has changed since you came on board?" "What do you find most exciting about working here?" What's your best advice to someone starting out at this company?

What is an ophthalmologist?

Ophthalmologists are physicians -- doctors of medicine (MDs) or doctors of osteopathy (DOs). MDs and DOs complete four or more years of college premedical education, four years of medical school, and one year of internship to get their doctorate degrees. After they become licensed physicians, they undergo a residency of three or more years. This consists of medical and surgical specialty training specifically in eye care. Ophthalmologists provide complete eye care services. These include: Vision services, including eye exams Medical eye care -- for glaucoma, iritis, chemical burns, orbital cellulites, etc. Surgical eye care -- for trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, tumors, etc. Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to other diseases, like diabetes ( diabetic retinopathy), arthritis (iritis), or brain conditions ( multiple sclerosis/optic neuritis) Eye disease and injury preventive services Plastic surgery -- some ophthalmologists offer this service for drooping eyelids or skin tumors, or for smoothing wrinkles and improving skin tone around the eyes

What is an optician?

Opticians are not eye doctors. They fit eyeglasses and sunglasses, following prescriptions written by optometrists or ophthalmologists. They can become certified and licensed to fit contact lenses. Opticians are licensed after they have earned either an associate opticianry degree or after they have apprenticed for at least two years. Certification is awarded after passing a licensing exam by the American Board of Opticianry. In some states, opticians must pass the National Contact Lens Examination to dispense contact lenses. You would need an optician for filling glasses and contact lens prescriptions.

What are you passionate about?

Optometry, but outside my career, I am passionate about biking, my family, and ...

What does it mean to be "state regulated"?

Regualted by the state. Each state is different. must pass state boards.

What do you think are the most pressing issues in optometry today?S

Stand alone refractions

Which inventor would you like to meet? Why?

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs

Define success.

Success is when you feel proud of the outcome of your actions.

Greatest weakness?

There are three factors here: the problem, what you did to overcome it, and the result. This way, you're not shirking the question completely, but you are letting the interviewer know you have the ability to overcome this weakness, so it's not a problem. Again, it's less about following the formula word for word and more about structuring your own answer in a way that solves a problem. if you catch yourself about to spin a positive into something that could appear negative just to get through the question without looking like you actually have any weaknesses, you've probably revealed your real issue then and there—a lack of clarity, honesty, and capacity for self-introspection.

Tell me about your current job.

Walmart Vision Center

Farsightedness or hyperopia

is a vision condition in which distant objects are usually seen clearly, but close ones do not come into proper focus. Farsightedness occurs if your eyeball is too short or the cornea has too little curvature, so light entering your eye is not focused correctly. Common signs of farsightedness include difficulty in concentrating and maintaining a clear focus on near objects, eyestrain, fatigue and/or headaches after close work, aching or burning eyes, irritability or nervousness after sustained concentration. Common vision screenings, often done in schools, are generally ineffective in detecting farsightedness. A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing for farsightedness. In mild cases of farsightedness, your eyes may be able to compensate without corrective lenses. In other cases, your optometrist can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to optically correct farsightedness by altering the way the light enters your eyes.

Nearsightedness or myopia

is a vision condition in which near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects do not come into proper focus. Nearsightedness occurs if your eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, so the light entering your eye is not focused correctly. Nearsightedness is a very common vision condition that affects nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population. Some evidence supports the theory that nearsightedness is hereditary. There is also growing evidence that nearsightedness may be caused by the stress of too much close vision work. It normally first occurs in school age children. Since the eye continues to grow during childhood, nearsightedness generally develops before age 20. A sign of nearsightedness is difficulty seeing distant objects like a movie or TV screen or chalkboard. A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing for nearsightedness. Your optometrist can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to optically correct nearsightedness by altering the way the light images enter your eyes. You may only need to wear them for certain activities, like watching TV or a movie or driving a car, or they may need to be worn for all activities. Refractive surgery or laser procedures are also possible treatments for nearsightedness as is orthokeratology. Orthokeratology is a non-invasive procedure that involves the wearing of a series of specially designed rigid contact lenses to progressively reshape the curvature of the cornea over time.

Lazy eye or amblyopia

is the loss or lack of development of central vision in one eye that is unrelated to any eye health problem and is not correctable with lenses. It can result from a failure to use both eyes together. Lazy eye is often associated with crossed-eyes or a large difference in the degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness between the two eyes. It usually develops before age six and it does not affect side vision. Symptoms may include noticeably favoring one eye or a tendency to bump into objects on one side. Symptoms are not always obvious. Treatment for lazy eye may include a combination of prescription lenses, prisms, vision therapy and eye patching. Vision therapy teaches the two eyes how to work together, which helps prevent lazy eye from reoccurring. Early diagnosis increases the chance for a complete recovery. This is one reason why the American Optometric Association recommends that children have a comprehensive optometric examination by the age of six months and again at age three. Lazy eye will not go away on its own. If not diagnosed until the pre-teen, teen or adult years, treatment takes longer and is often less effective. Astigmatism is a vision condition that occurs when the front surface of your eye, the cornea, is slightly irregular in shape. This irregular shape prevents light from focusing properly on the back of your eye, the retina. As a result, your vision may be blurred at all distances. People with severe astigmatism will usually have blurred or distorted vision, while those with mild astigmatism may experience headaches, eyestrain, fatigue or blurred vision at certain distances. Most people have some degree of astigmatism. A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing to diagnose astigmatism and determine the degree. Almost all levels of astigmatism can be optically corrected with properly prescribed and fitted eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. Corneal modification is also a treatment option for some patients.

Tell me about yourself

mention where you went to school, any tech related hobbies, and a brief bit about how you became interested in the skill in the first place

Crossed-eyes (strabismus)

occur when one or both of your eyes turns in, out, up or down. Poor eye muscle control usually causes crossed-eyes. This misalignment often first appears before age 21 months but may develop as late as age six. This is one reason why the American Optometric Association recommends a comprehensive optometric examination before six months and again at age three. There is a common misconception that a child will outgrow crossed-eyes. This is not true. In fact, the condition may get worse without treatment. Treatment for crossed-eyes may include single vision or bifocal eyeglasses, prisms, vision therapy, and in some cases, surgery. Vision therapy helps align your eyes and solves the underlying cause of crossed-eyes by teaching your two eyes to work together. Surgery alone may straighten your eyes, but unless your eye muscle control is improved, your eyes may not remain straight. If detected and treated early, crossed-eyes can often be corrected with excellent results.

Spots (often called floaters)

small, semi-transparent or cloudy specks or particles within the vitreous, the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eyes. They appear as specks of various shapes and sizes, threadlike strands or cobwebs. Since they are within your eyes, they move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. Spots are often caused by small flecks of protein or other matter trapped during the formation of your eyes before birth. They can also result from deterioration of the vitreous fluid, due to aging; or from certain eye diseases or injuries. Most spots are not harmful and rarely limit vision. But, spots can be indications of more serious problems, and you should see your optometrist for a comprehensive examination when you notice sudden changes or see increases in them. By looking in your eyes with special instruments, your optometrist can examine the health of your eyes and determine if what you are seeing is harmless or the symptoms of a more serious problem that requires treatment.

Presbyopia

vision condition in which the crystalline lens of your eye loses its flexibility, which makes it difficult for you to focus on close objects. Presbyopia may seem to occur suddenly, but the actual loss of flexibility takes place over a number of years. Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in the early to mid-forties. Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process of the eye. It is not a disease and it cannot be prevented. Some signs of presbyopia include the tendency to hold reading materials at arm's length, blurred vision at normal reading distance and eye fatigue along with headaches when doing close work. A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing for presbyopia. To help you compensate for presbyopia, your optometrist can prescribe reading glasses, bifocals, trifocals or contact lenses. Since presbyopia can complicate other common vision conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, your optometrist will determine the specific lenses to allow you to see clearly and comfortably. You may only need to wear your glasses for close work like reading, but you may find that wearing them all the time is more convenient and beneficial for your vision needs. Since the effects of presbyopia continue to change the ability of the crystalline lens to focus properly, periodic changes in your eyewear may be necessary to maintain clear and comfortable vision.

What are your plans if you do not get accepted (Make sure they know you will do what it takes to apply again)?

• Apply again. And again until I get in. Optometry is the career I want. There is no plan B. In the mean time, I will do what it takes to make myself a better applicant.

What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?

• Balance. That is the most important thing I have learned. Extracurricular are what I consider fun, and just like anything fun you need to balance them with school, work, and other aspects of life. I have been participating in them since I was very young and they have taught me the importance of teamwork, effective communication, and friendship.

What college subjects did you like best? (Why?)

• Biology has always been my favorite. It is such a diverse subject and it applies to so much of the world.

What is low vision (or any other specialties)?

• Contact Lenses/Cornea: Contact lenses and cornea specialists are specifically trained to diagnose and treat corneal diseases and eye trauma, as well as handle all aspects of contact lenses. • Geriatric: Geriatric optometrists concentrate their practice to elderly patients and are trained to handle the specific problems older persons may face. • Low-Vision/Partial Sight: Specialists in low vision and partial sight work with patients to prescribe visual assisting devices and teach their proper usage. • Ocular Disease: Optometrists who specialize in ocular disease treat patients with various afflictions, such as acute anterior segment conditions, glaucoma, and retinal diseases. • Pediatric: Pediatric optometrists concern themselves with the general eye care needs of infants and young children and specialize in eye problems that affect this population. • Vision Therapy: Vision therapists help patients improve visual skills through exercises that are aimed at binocular coordination, eye teaming, focusing, and depth perception.

Do you prefer the idea of basic research or of working with people?

• Definitely working with people. I thrive on human interaction. I want to be an optometrist for this reason. I don't think working in a lab would give me the same level of job satisfaction as a practicing optometrist.

How do you normally handle conflict?

• Everyone has to deal with conflict at some point. I have found that when there is conflict it helps to try and put yourself in the other person's shoes and understand their perspective. It is important to ask questions and listen to their point of view. If you know what their interpretation of the situation is, then it is easier to work out a solution.

What will be the hardest part about transitioning from undergrad to grad school?

• Grad school as a full-time job. Graduate training teaches you the information and skills that you need to be a professional. However, being a professional requires more than coursework and experiences. In graduate school you will be socialized into your profession. In other words, you will learn the norms and values of your field. Most importantly, you will learn to think like a professional in your field. Graduate school shapes the mind and leads students to think in new ways.

What will be the most rewarding experience for you as an optometrist?

• Seeing how grateful patients are when their vision is restored, especially in children. I remember how amazed I was at the change in my quality of life glasses had on me. I had not idea what I was missing out on, coupled with I stopped experiencing headaches constantly. Vision is precious to everyone and being someone who can help people in that way will be extremely rewarding.

Why did you select your college or university?

• I chose to go to Loyola because I liked the extent of diversity that was seen. College is about spreading your wings, trying new things and expanding your mind. It was a great experience to connect and work with a diverse group of people. This also helped me realize what Also, my university has a really strong school of sciences and I wanted to study in a place where I am getting the best possible undergraduate education to prepare me for optometry school. felt like the most creative atmosphere, so many things to do and try. Whole point of college: to spread your wings, try new things and expand your mind. felt a connection with the people I met, welcoming atmosphere view, also, I wanted to stay in the state, close by to home so I can visit my family, which is one the most in my life, as well as stay close another important aspect in my life dance. keep that commitment up

What steps have you taken to acquaint yourself with optometry?

• I have learned the most shadowing my current optometrist, Dr. Webster. He wanted me to be sure that optometry is a career I want to pursue by teaching me all the aspects of the business. He has had me work in every part of the office including reception, optician, crunching the numbers in the books, and watching many, many eye exams. Outside of that I have done extensive research on my own time.

What volunteer work have you done?

• I have mostly done volunteer work by participating charity 5K's, triathlons, ect. During the Christmas season I count money from the red kettles for the salvation army once a week.

What good qualities have you seen in doctors, and what bad qualities have you seen?

• I hold the traits of professionalism, integrity and proficiency to be the most important qualities a practicing optometrist can have. These are the qualities that the optometrist I shadowed throughout high school and college always portrayed to every patient. I learned early on these are the qualities are what make great optometrists

Why did you apply to this particular optometry school?

• I hold the traits of professionalism, integrity and proficiency to be the most important qualities a practicing optometrist can have. These are the qualities that the optometrist I shadowed throughout high school and college always portrayed to every patient. I learned early on these are the qualities are what make great optometrists and I was happy to see that they are the same ones that Nova Southeastern University's optometry school strive to teach their students. I will feel confortable attending a university that shares common goals and ambitions that I have prior to attending. That is important to me, but then of course there is the less important reasons like its location and size.

When in your life have you shown kindness toward strangers?

• I like volunteering and donating to charity so my favorite way of doing so is participating in charity 5K's, triathlons, and bike races. It gives me a sense of accomplishment as well as I know that I am giving back to the community.

In what part time or summer jobs have you been most interested? (Why?)

• I love working. I get a sense of pride from having a job and doing that job the best that I can. My favorite job had to be the summer I was a manager at waterpark. I was only 19 at the time and I ended up getting the position on the team of three lifeguard managers. I learned so much from that summer job.

What would you do if you caught someone cheating on an exam?

• I wouldn't want a doctor who cheated on tests in grad school. Optometry school is for serious students and just doing well on the tests is not why you're there why you're there. In the end the state boards prove what you have learned while in optometry school and whether or not you have what it takes to be an practicing optometrists.

You have a pediatric patient, and you had to put some eye-drops on him, and the kid's father is not present, and the kid starts to throw a fit, but you really need to put the drops on him, how would you deal with the kid?

• If the parent has given permission to treat the child, start by trying to calm him down. I wouldn't want to cause a fear of the eye doctor. Have kid get in a comfortable position, then put the eye drops in the corner of the eye and let them roll into the center of the eye. Let them know the entire procedure so they are not startled or scared of uncertainty.

What influenced you to get into optometry?

• In my freshman year of high school, my lifelong optometrist, Dr. David Webster, began talking to me about my plans for college. He advised me that it was important to start preparing for college and thinking about what I wanted to do at a young age. It was not until I began shadowing him at his office that I decided optometry was the career path I wanted to take.

What would you do if you won a million dollars?

• Invest and be doing the same thing. I get more satisfaction on being someone and doing things that I can be proud of. I genuinely get joy out of the people around me. That is not something that any amount of money can replace.

Who are your heroes?

• My dad. He is a first generation Italian and had to work hard for everything he has and is still the most generous person I have ever met.

What do you do in your spare time?

• My favorite thing to do is bike. I ran cross-country and was a swimmer in high school. After high school one of my friends convinced me to trying biking. Ever since then I have been addicted and have been participating in triathlons.

What do you know about the scope of Optometry? What do you see for the future of Optometry?

• Optometry is now the primary entry point in the health care delivery system. Insurance payers want their members to see optometrists first! • Third party insurance plans trust us to be the gatekeepers - optometrists decide how eye care is accessed by patients because they can treat or triage ANY ocular problem • Aging population—Baby Boomers will need eye care! • Pre and post-op care for Laser Vision Correction is done by optometrists—ophthalmology relies on us for this service!

What college subjects did you like least? (Why?)

• Organic Chemistry. I went to every lecture, and spent hours reading the book, but there is something about it that I had a hard time grasping. I think it had mostly to do with the

Why wouldn't you want to be an optometrist?

• Possibly having to deliver some bad new, being inside all day (dark room most of the time), not really any travel.

Define Professionalism. What about you help define professionalism?

• The ability to separate out the personal. When a patient needs help, clarification, changes, alterations, accepting this as a natural part of the process and the ability to shift gears, redo work and not take criticisms as some kind of personal attack is professionalism.

Continuing education after finishing optometry school

• They are different from state to state. There are continual upgrades in technology, new discoveries in medicine, and improvements in practice settings and optometrists can keep up with. Optometrists can use continuing education to increase their scope in other sections like Lasik, cataracts, diagnosing glaucoma sooner. Optometrists should not just look at CE courses as a requirement to meet licensing standards, but as useful tools to become better in their careers.

Where do you see optometry in 5 or 10 years?

• To continue to evolve at a rapid rate. I fully expect that the time will come where people will put on a pair of contact lenses and sleep in them for months or even a year at a time. The advances in diagnostic and treatment modalities for ocular disease are also incredible. New instrumentation has allowed ocular pathologies, particularly glaucoma and macular degeneration to be diagnosed and treated at much earlier stages in the past.

What is wrong with the current health care system in the United States?

• We spend the most money on health care and health care professionals are, for the most part, not paid on quality of care.

Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement? (Why or why not?)

• Yes, but only to a certain extent. To say that I worked to pay for my school and be a student is just an excuse in my opinion because all students struggle with the same issues. I definitely do think I could have done better if I could have focused on school my last 3 years, but...