Bill Harvey: Isle of everywhere

Much as I enjoyed my time as a student, I can honestly say that most of what I know about eye care and optometry, however much or little that may be, I picked up from the workplace. Lecture halls and libraries have some use in building the base for understanding, but dealing with real life patients and making decisions are what really moves understanding forward.

Many examples spring to mind. Becoming proficient at Goldmann the day the NCT broke down. Learning to treat young children as sentient beings. No longer fearing binocular vision anomalies. Fitting my first bi-toric RGP lens, after a panicky phone call to the ever-wonderful Rosemary Bailey who simply said: ‘Just go for it.’ Being told, by the equally excellent Judith Morris, to ‘stop pussy-footing around’ when struggling to apply a silicone contact lens to an aphakic baby. Being told off for referring an adenovirus keratopathy to a hospital. Being reminded by a severe sight-impaired elderly patient to stop patronising him. All memorable, all learned from.