What does the student of optometry learn to do in his or her years of clinical experience?
At NEWENCO, when clinical training begins at the start of the second year, students are scheduled for one-half day a week in patient care. They participate in routine eye examinations, vision screenings, and the eyeglass dispensary. Each student in also scheduled for a two week, full-time rotation during the summer quarter between the second and third year. At NEWENCO, when clinical training begins at the start of the second year, students are scheduled for one-half day a week in patient care. They participate in routine eye examinations, vision screenings, and the eyeglass dispensary. Each student in also scheduled for a two week, full-time rotation during the summer quarter between the second and third year.

The clinical program intensifies during the third year. Students are scheduled one day per week for regular patient care, vision screening and dispensary. Specialty clinics (visual field, ophthalmology, contact lens and ocular photography) and binocular vision cases comprise the remainder of the third year's clinical curriculum.

As a graduation requirement, fourth year students must pass three 12-week rotations. The students are placed in three different clinical settings, each with its own unique patient populations. Within these settings, the students provide comprehensive, primary eye care which includes preventive diagnostic techniques, treatment of eye diseases, management of acute and chronic visual and systemic conditions, and evaluation of socio-economic factors and psychological issues.

Most importantly, in this role, the students promote patient education as a mechanism to enhance compliance and follow-up care. Also, through this process they are exposed to patients with a range of conditions, a sizeable portion of whom have significant eye diseases.

What kinds of clinical experience are available?
At NEWENCO and the other 15 accredited optometric colleges in the U.S. a variety of clinical experiences are offered to the optometric student.

Emphasis has been placed on diversity to allow the greatest number of experiences in terms of patient type, professional contact and facilities. NEWENCO offers nearly 50 different clinical sites. These affiliated hospitals clinics include Veterans' Administration hospitals, Public Health Service hospitals, military bases, neighborhood health centers and NEWENCO's own inner city teaching clinic, The Boston Optometric Center (BOC).

BOC is a state-of-the-art eye care facility that examines ambulatory patients from all walks of life and with a wide variety of eye and general health problems. It is staffed by optometrists and consulting ophthalmologists of the faculty and students of NEWENCO. The expertise affiliates encompass all levels of optometric practice.

Are all kinds of clinics similar?
No. The clinics which students attend are of three types: primary care, or at an ambulatory center; secondary care, or at a consultation center; and tertiary care, at a rehabilitative center. No. The clinics which students attend are of three types: primary care, or at an ambulatory center; secondary care, or at a consultation center; and tertiary care, at a rehabilitative center.

At the primary or the ambulatory center patients usually make their own appointments for routine care. The clinics are generally a primary point of entry into the health care system, such as neighborhood health centers. At the second, consultation centers, patients often have a diagnosed problem where consultation, medical or surgical treatment, or more advanced management is required. they are usually located at interdisciplinary centers. The third, rehabilitative centers, treats patients with chronic and debilitating diseases and/or complex visual, perceptual or behavioral problems. Veterans' hospitals, the William Beetham Eye Unit at the Joslin Diabetes Clinic and other rehabilitative centers are included in this group.

NEWENCO students are required to intern at clinics offering the first wo types of care, and depending on a student's individual interest, he/she may opt for the third clinic type as an elective.