Meet your College student reps

Our reps make sure you have a say on our activities by passing on your feedback, questions and ideas. They also keep you updated on what’s going on at the College and how we can support you at university. Look out for their blogs and social media posts. 


Any questions, ideas, feedback? Get in touch with your reps:

Your 2022 student reps

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Roshan Champaneri

What is your favourite optometry textbook?
Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye.
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
Retinoscope and OCT. 
What is your favourite topic area?
Clinical Practice and Geometrical Optics 
What is your favourite College resource?
The latest news tab on website. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
The importance of the eye in terms of physiology with different conditions and how it can influence human vision has always fascinated me.

Lizzie Shaw

What is your favourite optometry textbook?
My favourite textbook is the Moorfields Manual of Ophthalmology. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
My favourite piece of equipment is a direct ophthalmoscope- it still amazes me to see the fundus of a person who is right in front of you! 
What is your favourite topic area?
My favourite topic area is ocular disease- knowing exactly what has gone wrong and why is something that really interests me. 
What is your favourite College resource?
My favourite College resource is the clinical management guidelines- although I’m not using them yet, it’s such a relief to know there such is a wealth of knowledge at my fingertips when I do need it. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
I was inspired to become an Optometrist during work experience at a hospital Eye Unit- seeing the impact that poor vision can have on a person’s life motivated me to help make a difference.

Aaliya Shah

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Kanski’s Clinical Ophthalmology.
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
Slit Lamp as it can be used for a variety of techniques.
What is your favourite topic area?
My favourite topic area is my clinical practice module as it helps bring together your knowledge from first year and is very relevant to optometry in practice. 
What is your favourite College resource?
The articles as they keep you updated on current issues in the optometry world.
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
I attended a careers day at my local hospital and was fascinated by the presentation I saw about Optometry. I also really like how there are several career paths you can explore after graduation so there's a variety of ways in which you can help the local community.

Khushi Thakkar

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
I'd have to say Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology - being particularly interested in the hospital side of Optometry, I am so fascinated at how one (albeit huge) book can have EVERY eye condition in; even the most complex and unthinkable ones! 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
VOLK. I still haven't stopped finding it amazing how placing a lens in front of someone's eye can give you a whole, clear view of the retina. Controversial, but I think the fact everything is laterally reversed and inversed makes it even more fascinating. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
My favourite topic area at the minute is contact lenses and I'm currently studying orthokeratology. New findings and investments into Optometry are constantly exciting me and engaging me to find out more. I think although people are starting to see glasses are a fashion statement, contact lenses for high myopes/hyperopes are paving their way forward, especially coloured ones with the latest trends and social media 'hypes'. 
What is your favourite College resource?
Definitely the 'latest news' tab on the website. Life gets so busy being an optometry student and it can be hard to balance time to research all the latest news whilst also having time for lectures and deadlines. Being able to just access the College website and having all the (incredibly interesting) latest news in one place makes everything so much easier and they're so fun to read and very layman-friendly. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
The fact you can’t see the retina with the naked eye made it more interesting for me at a young age. I also took part in a fundraising for Vista - a local charity that helps those with sight loss. I met lots of patients, and this inspired me to help other. There is more to eyecare than people think - whether it simply just be the prompting to book a routine sight test, I want to be able to educate people on eyecare as I don't think it's done enough in comparison to things such as dental care.

Farah Shafait

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care by David B.Elliot - this book has info for EVERY clinical procedure you could need, so not only is it handy during uni, but it’ll also be of use for the rest of your career!
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Retinoscope. 
What is your favourite College resource?
The College of Optometrists' app. 

Taybah Ali

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
My favourite optometry textbook is Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care by David B. Elliott. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
My favourite piece of equipment is using the slit lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
My favourite topic area is contact lens. 
What is your favourite College resource?
My favourite college resources are the Clinical Management Guidelines. What inspired you to become an optometrist? The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that well over 2.2 billion people have blindness or an impairment in their vision worldwide. The WHO states for more than 1 billion of the population, a stance can be taken for the prevention of permanent sight loss. The presence of vision is of great importance as this allows a connection to our immediate surroundings and assists in keeping us safe. Therefore, I decided I would like to become an optometrist.

Noor Askheta

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
My favorite optometry textbook would be clinical procedures in primary eye care. I love how it gets straight to the point and wonderfully summarizes very complex concepts. There are also a lot of supporting diagrams which I personally greatly benefit from as visual aids really help consolidate my knowledge. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
The occluders. Really simple to use and they remind me of giant spoons. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Definitely physiology of vision. Although it is challenging I really enjoy understanding the function of the visual system and understanding that also helps me gain a better understanding of how to treat ocular diseases. 
What is your favourite College resource?
The app as you have access to key topic areas if you need any support. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
After my cousin received a diagnosis of papilledema, I realized the importance of our eyes and how much of an impact optometrists can make on people’s lives. After the optometrist noticed my cousins papilledema , it was discovered that she had a pseudo tumor cerebri. So if vision isn’t enough, our eyes can actually indicate the overall health of our body. I would love to make an impact on someone like the way my cousins optometrist had done for her.

Eve Barrett

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Clinical procedures in primary eye care by Elliott. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
OCT and retinoscope. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Binocular vision. 
What is your favourite College resource?
The App!!!! 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
I got a job at my local Specsavers for no other reason than to earn a bit of money. I was so shocked and intrigued by how young they could test people’s eyes, transforming these children’s sight without them even needing to speak. It didn’t take long for optometrists to gain my total admiration and I knew I wanted to help in the same way.

Maaria Lala

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
The good old trusty 'Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care' by Elliott - it's a great read to grasp practical skills.
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Probably a Volk lens What is your favourite topic area? Contact lenses. 
What is your favourite College resource?
Student rep blogs and the Instagram page. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
The idea of an ever-developing science combined with working with a wide variety of people and not only seeing people when they're unwell but also when they're well.

Thiviya Polenthirarajah

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Kanksi's Clinical Ophthalmology- perfect for some extra reading. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
Slit Lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Eye diseases.
What is your favourite College resource?
The college app- easily accessible on the go! 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
Seeing a fundus image for the first time captured my attention and drew my curiosity towards this profession. Looking at the image was just stunning and I just needed to know more!

Zahrah Khan

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Clinical procedures in primary eyecare. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Retinoscope. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Clinical skills.
What is your favourite College resource?
Lectures.
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
Having a large range of opportunities in both hospital and retail stores and being able to do both meaning I can diagnose and treat patients.

Current vacancy

The student rep position is currently vacant at this university. If you would like to apply please email joanna.williams@college-optometrists.org.

Olivia May Mcwilliam

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
System for ophthalmic dispensing - Brooks, Clifford W. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Focimeter. 
What is your favourite topic area?
Anatomy. 
What is your favourite College resource?
The app. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
Mainly to help others, and being able to a have a positive impact on someone's vision.

Jenna Butler

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care.
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Slit Lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Ocular Diseases or Contact Lens Studies.
What is your favourite College resource?
Ethical Scenarios. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
The global need for the development of vision sciences in order to provide people with the best possible quality of life.

Nuvneet Kaur Roopra

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care by David B. Elliott. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
Optical Coherence Tomography.
What is your favourite topic area? 
Dry eye disease. 
What is your favourite College resource?
Clinical Management Guidelines - I find these very useful, as they are very easy to understand. What inspired you to become an optometrist? I wanted to pursue a rewarding career in healthcare, that would allow me to use me knowledge to help other people. I also thought that the eyes were very interesting!

Nikita Patel

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Kanski's clinical ophthalmology. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Slit-lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Ocular pathology.
What is your favourite College resource?
Clinical Management Guidelines.
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
I did my work experience at an optician and I loved it. I enjoyed interacting with people and helping them. I went on to completing my dispensing optician course and while working as an optical assistant I really enjoyed it and became curious and wanted to explore and discover more about optometry.

Mahnoor Khan

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Optometry: Science, Techniques and Clinical Management by Rosenfield and Logan. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Slit Lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Ocular Pharmacology. 
What is your favourite College resource?
Ethical Scenarios. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist? 
I have been a myope since a young age, so spending a lot of time at the opticians in my childhood, I have always been fascinated about the science behind it. I wondered how they check my eyes and how they can tell I need glasses and what the power is. There were so many questions in my mind as a child that I knew this was something I had to pursue, mainly so I could help children like myself who get glasses at a young age.

Jay Hughes

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care by Elliott. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Retinoscope. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Binocular Vision, Refraction, Contact Lenses. 
What is your favourite College resource?
Clinical Management Guidelines - It is a great, comprehensive but easy to reference source of information. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
I joined the industry 10 years ago as an Optical Assistant and very quickly became fascinated with the role and the work that we do, I knew that it was the career path for me and I haven't looked back! I first qualified as a Dispensing Optician, soon after as a Contact Lens Optician and I'm now very excited to be taking this next step in my journey.

Chuen Shun (Alden) So

What is your favourite optometry textbook?
My favourite optometry book is Clinical anatomy and physiology of the visual system by Lee Ann Remington.
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
My favourite piece of equipment is a retinoscope.
What is your favourite topic area?
My favourite topic area is Visual NeuroPhysiology and Fundamentals of Visual Perception.
What is your favourite College resource?
My favourite College resource is the library.
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
My whole family suffer from myopia and I have suffered from a lazy eye before. I received lots of help from optometrists which inspired me to opt for this occupation.

Mariam Amin

What is your favourite optometry textbook?
Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care.
What is your favourite piece of equipment?
Slit lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area?
I enjoyed Ocular health, learning about different eye conditions and beginning to think about management was really interesting. 
What is your favourite College resource?
The College App. 
What inspired you to become an optometrist?
Completing work experience during Sixth Form allowed me to fully see the role of an Optometrist. I had been interested in the occupation before but seeing the role first hand confirmed my decision.

 

Haroon Raqib

What is your favourite optometry textbook? 
Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment? 
Volk Lens. 
What is your favourite topic area? 
Clinical practice. 
What is your favourite College resource? 
Clinical Management Guidelines - providing information on a range of eye conditions that can make clinical decisions more precise in general. What inspired you to become an optometrist? Developing myopia at an early age allowed me to witness first hand the impact optometrists can have on a patient's life, as well as going with my family to various eye examinations.

Megan Fox

What is your favourite optometry textbook?
My favourite textbook is Kansiki’s clinical ophthalmology. 
What is your favourite piece of equipment 
My favourite piece of equipment is the slit lamp. 
What is your favourite topic area?
My favourite topic area is ocular disease.