Laser Eye Surgery Trainee Volunteer

To enter the profession of laser eye surgery it is best if you attain experience working with an agency, such as a laser eye surgery clinic. This will enable you to gain an insight into the profession, but will also help you to ascertain whether this is an occupation suited to you. Even acquiring a voluntary placement can be a difficult task, which is why you need to do your best to set yourself apart from the thousands upon thousands that apply for medicine each and every year. Gaining work experience is best done sooner rather than later, as it can play a major part in the direction you take when undertaking your studies.

Duties include

The typical duties that you would be expected to undertake as a laser eye surgeon include:

• Working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and ages.
• Dealing with and understanding any referral material sent to you by eye departments, neurology departments and GPs.
• Ensuring that you are up-to-date with any advances in laser eye surgery.
• Dealing with cases to do with congenital eye problems and trauma.
• Ensuring after-care is available for patients.
• Making sure any diagnosis that has been made is correct, as is the recommended treatment.
• Explaining the components of eye surgery to the patient.
• Working alongside other doctors and nurses, and possibly aiding students through placements later in your career.
• Ensuring you maintain a high level of skills and competence when dealing with such an important medical matter.
• Making sure your manual skills remain at a very good level.

Skills and education required

You will need to hold or be working toward a degree in medicine, and possibly already be branching off into eye surgery. This will enable you to get an insight into the workings of the profession. You will need to have an excellent standard of GCSEs and A Levels, or other relative educational qualifications in order to enter a medicine degree. During this time, the most important asset that can help set you apart from other students is work experience. This can be acquired through voluntary work, but it can be hard work merely tracking down placements.

Make use of any contacts you make to get your foot in the door. There will most likely be a practical element to your degree course, which can give you an insight into different forms of medicine, and also give you the chance to demonstrate your preference for eye surgery. But unless you make the effort to check with local eye surgery agencies and recruitment companies, then you may get caught up in the crowd. Sites of use include that of the Health Professionals Council, NHS Careers and NHS Jobs.