Many students who are feeling relief after finishing their first year of optometry school and settling into their summer breaks would characterize the prospect of second year as an aberration—an unwelcome change. Drawing from my roles as a tutor, peer mentor, and current fourth-year student, I have witnessed and experienced this transition from multiple perspectives.
While the first year of optometry school is often associated with acclimating to a rigorous curriculum for what may be the first time, the second year shifts focus from general sciences to specialized subjects like ocular disease, contact lens, visual function, pharmacology, and binocular vision.
This shift brought me a great deal of excitement knowing these courses would be highly clinically relevant. Yet, it also brought a level of anxiety, knowing I would soon have to skillfully transition between different subjects. The reassuring news is that I, along with many others, have been through this and have tips for the incoming class of students.
In this article, we’ll explore organizational strategies, effective study techniques, and valuable resources that are beneficial to not only optometry students, but students in other types of graduate programs as well.
Time management is key for 2nd year optometry students
First, I will review what may be the most crucial skill of all—time management and organization. Effective time management is a requisite in all areas of life and all throughout optometry school; it is particularly crucial to students’ success in second year.
While exciting, second year introduces entirely new clinical techniques and learning objectives. One hour, you may be learning about ocular diseases, performing dilated fundus examinations, and inserting punctal plugs, while the next hour may involve learning how to fit a rigid gas permeable contact lens. The next day, you might be diagnosing and devising therapy programs for oculomotor and vergence disorders.
Optimizing your calendar for optometry school
I found it essential to be able to organize both my time and study materials with the help of a planner or calendar. Prior to optometry school, I was the type of student that would buy a planner and rediscover it when cleaning out my bag at the end of the year—untouched and accumulating dust.
That all changed once I realized writing down all my tasks and due dates meant freeing up valuable mental space. Whether it is a paper calendar posted in your apartment or an organizer on your mobile device, find what works best for you and keep it consistent.
Write down upcoming tasks, lab times, dates of competencies, exams and clinic schedules, and make a habit of checking them off at the end of each day. This simple practice can make a world of difference in staying organized and on top of your studies.
Useful time management and organization tips to consider:
- Make a note of 2 weeks (or the timeline that works best for you) before each exam to indicate when you need to concentrate your studying on that topic.
- Mark the day you intend to start studying, and if you know that you tend to procrastinate, also mark the very last day you need to start studying to be successful on the exam.
- Have a separate color or symbol for competencies and write down days you intend to practice with your fellow classmates in preclinic.
- Practice throughout the semester, even if a competency is not coming up. The week or two leading up to the competency, try to practice daily.
4 tips and techniques for successful studying in optometry school
1. Go to class.
While students have different learning styles, the implementation of a pre-recorded option of lecture in many schools has altered the way students absorb and retain information.
A study analyzing second-year medical students and the correlation between lecture attendance and course performance revealed that the number of correct answers on exams increased in correlation to lecture attendance in both students taking a course for the first time and those who had previously failed and were retaking the course.1
A 2020 study of medical students reported that not attending lectures was associated with a 2.34-fold risk of performing below average in courses.2 I found in-person lecture attendance held me accountable to be actively engaged in the learning process, and gave me a sense of community amongst my fellow classmates.
Remember the old adage from elementary school, which still applies here: “The only silly question is the one that isn’t asked.”
2. Engage in active learning.
Simple memorization, while sometimes effective, may not always promote long-term retention and mastery of the second-year material. This is more likely to be achieved through active learning.
Making review sheets while learning each topic as well as quizzing yourself after each lecture with questions are active, engaging processes. Other approaches to learning, such as creating lists, mnemonics, or diagrams can also help improve understanding and retention.
A study performed to assess the efficacy of active learning techniques in undergraduate healthcare programs showed that students performed better on final exams, and 74% of students who provided feedback reported the technique of quizzing after each lecture as an asset in understanding key concepts.3 This technique may promote earlier understanding of the material, as it allows you to review it right away.
3. Interact with lecture material.
You may want to handwrite some of your notes instead of typing them. It may be a good time to invest in a digital pencil and iPad or laptop with a touch screen. Drawing diagrams for certain courses and adding handwritten notes to lecture slides is a great memorization tool.
Using apps like Goodnotes or Notability can allow you to easily customize your digital notes while both typing and writing.
4. Seek out tutoring.
As a tutor for multiple first- and second-year courses, I have attended tutoring sessions held by my school as a tutee. Many schools offer free didactic and clinical tutoring for students.
It serves as a way to clarify information and simply hear it in a different way, even when you think you have an adequate understanding of the subject.
Actionable advice for core courses in optometry school
Microbiology/Pharmacology
There are multiple resources for these classes that use pictures and videos as memorization techniques. Sketchy is one of them, which proved to be extremely useful for me specifically for these two courses.
It provided videos with sketches and techniques to memorize many of the details associated with certain microbes and drugs. I also utilized flow charts to organize information in these classes.
Optics
Depending on the school, ophthalmic optics may be taught this year. In which case, making review sheets with drawings and charts were valuable tools that I referenced again when studying for boards.
Ocular disease
The Wills Eye Manual will help supplement didactic material and enhance clinical reasoning skills when learning about ocular disease.
Contact lens
Utilize lab time to actively participate and ask questions. Most of the material is clinically relevant, so visualizing the concepts in real space allows you to make connections to course concepts.
Clinical skills course
Practice! Practice! Practice! Second-year exam skills may require dilation, and on those days you may want to only dilate one eye in order to preserve your near vision for studying.
Or, you may opt to purchase a pair of over-the-counter readers so that you can study afterwards. Myopes may not be affected by this problem.
Binocular vision
Another class to use lab time to your advantage. Being an active participant in this lab can transform your understanding of often complex oculomotor anomalies and advance your clinical skills.
Collaboration is key, even if you like to study alone
Working with others is often a great source of motivation. Stress may seem to force you into a tunnel alone. Remember that all your peers are going through the same thing.
Group study is a great supplement to your learning and allows you to teach as well as comprehend topics in a new way. Teaching the material to others and being able to paraphrase and simplify the concepts signifies a level of mastery of the material.
A study of medical students underscored the importance of collaborative learning and social networks in the healthcare education setting. It found not only a statistically significant positive correlation between collaboration and students’ performance in the program, but also on the overall learning process.4
Personally, I found group studying to be very helpful during my first year. I then got overwhelmed by being on different pages of different subjects as my peers, so I sometimes would simply study near them.
Even while not in a “group study” setting, studying near your peers holds you accountable for the time you allocate to active studying. It’s important to find which topics lend themselves best to solo vs. group study.
Pitfalls to avoid in your second year of optometry school
One of the most common mistakes I’ve seen made is waiting too long to start reviewing topics. Going to class consistently and making review sheets and questions to test yourself throughout the semester will make a world of difference two weeks before the exam. At this point, it shouldn’t be only the first or second time you are seeing the material.
Another mistake I have made is not studying with my peers. When classmates would hold small group review sessions, I would sometimes sit out of them thinking I might need extra review before talking ideas out with anyone.
What I soon realized was, even if I wasn’t entirely ready or comfortable with all of the material, saying it out loud and hearing someone say it in a different way can be what sticks in your head.
How to maintain a school-life balance during optometry school
Some might find it hard to believe, but some of my favorite trips and life experiences in optometry school occurred during my second year. It is so important to place mental health first during this crucial time.
Second year students spend around 9 to 12 hours per week in labs and clinic, and approximately 20 hours per week in lectures. Finding time for hobbies and decompression should be an active, non-negotiable daily goal that needs to be scheduled.
Actionable advice to avoid burnout in optometry school:
- Take frequent, short, 15-minute study breaks. You may opt to power through hours of studying, but don’t forget to give yourself a reward afterward!
- Make time for family and friends
- Exercise. It is a great stress reliever and a great way to increase endorphins. Having options for exercise in or close to your apartment is essential.
- Stay hydrated and well-fed.
- Get consistent, quality sleep. Avoid joining the “all-nighter” crowd.
- Spend 20 minutes outside at a park with fresh air.
- Read a book for leisure (not a textbook). This can be a great alternative to staring at screens before bed.
- Find a new hobby. (Yes, it’s possible.)
- Sign up to run a race with friends (even if you despise running). It will give you a goal and something to look forward to.
- During school breaks, book a trip! Even local sights and sounds may be worth seeing.
- Stay involved in the clubs you joined during first year.
Final thoughts
My final piece of advice: take it one day at a time—one subject at a time. When things start to feel overwhelming, take it one hour at a time. Always remember, you are fully capable of not only surviving but thriving in your second year of optometry school.
Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t during your first year is crucial. Keep what was effective and adapt or get rid of what wasn’t. Organization and time management are indispensable skills that provide a stable foundation.
The second year of optometry school garners a blend of emotions—anxiety, excitement, and fulfillment. Make this adventure your own and try to ignore any negative or unsolicited opinions that others may feel.
It is a crucial time for mastery of subjects that lay the foundation for your future in optometry. With this in mind, begin your second year knowing that this year serves as another stepping stone toward a rewarding career in optometry.
