Kaynath, a final-year Optometry student discusses her journey at Aston University and Villa Vision
Kaynath is an Optometry student at Aston University in Birmingham and has just come to the end of her second year. She recently attended a Villa Vision workshop and screening session in a primary school within her local area, and has now been out with Villa Vision on two occasions and has been part of the interactive eye health workshops as well as the vision and colour vision screening sessions.
Villa Vision is an Aston Villa Foundation project, designed and delivered in collaboration with Aston University with funding from the University, Premier League, Professional Footballers Association and Essilor Lux’s charitable foundation OneSight.
The project aims to help inspire children and adults on the importance of eye health and vision as well as ways to look after their eyes in the future.
Why Optometry?
Kaynath first found Optometry when she was thinking about what she may do as a career. She said:
I knew I wanted something science-based, something clinical and I didn’t want something office-based, I wanted to talk to people and have a mix of both, so I feel optometry is a good mix”
How did you hear about Villa Vision?
Villa Vision and Aston University have come together to give students in their second and third year the opportunity to visit a school and to gain experience with communication and future development pathways.
Kaynath heard about the opportunity from her Eye Clinic director and careers tutor.
What stood out for you on your visits?
As Kaynath has visited Villa Vision on two occasions, she was asked what stood out for her on both visits. She replied “I liked how the children could experience colour vision deficiency on the board first, and then they could have a go seeing it themselves (with the VR headsets).
I learnt myself how a colour vision defect would look like in real life, and I don’t think we see that in our Uni examples (just see clinical examples) so a real-life presentation is good.”
Regarding the vision screening, Kaynath added “the screening was really quick and accurate as well. Making it fun for them with the glasses helps the children during the check.”
Leadership and Guidance
Kaynath spoke about how she is an "Auntie" to young girls, and how the interaction with the children in the classroom has shown her a new way to communicate with them. “I think I know now how to interact with them (in a better way), how it's good and fun for them when you are more interactive and engaging”.
Future Development
Kaynath was asked about her thoughts on future development. She explained how working with children in the classroom has allowed her to see how communication can be very different to adults. Kaynath is going to use this experience to “help find out what I’m really good at and enjoy”. She added “The optical world is small, and I am glad that I have helped out in the schools in my local area.”
Plans for the future
Finally, as Kaynath is stepping into the last year at university, she was asked about her future plans “I want to get more optical experience at Uni and then do my pre-reg training at the same practice that I am currently working at (as a part-time optical assistant).
I want to really know (and be confident) at what I’m doing.” After her pre-registration period, Kaynath says “I don’t think I want to be in a hospital setting” as she wants to gain experience and confidence with her peers and then see where this takes her.