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Eyegirl2k7

Bridget Jones here
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I am officially a Keeler girl!
I'm buying their direct and retinoscope.
I love the slim, elegant design and teh comfort of the handles.
Their optics are beautiful too.

What's your preference, other first years?

Luv,
Eyegirl
 
Hey Eyegirl2k7,

I read a lot of your comments on the forum, they're all very informative. I'm the new kid on the block here. You got any suggestions for me on my interview coming up in ICO? The day is less than a month and i'm getting nervous already. Please help.

-Faith
 
Just after posting the last thread, i went back and read most of the threads that dated back to this time last year and it seems that ICO is the most optometry school around. I think i'm getting to know the school better as well as how the interviews went for most people. I'm hoping to get into ICO as well, but better yet if I I get accepted in SCO since I'm from Memphis. My fate is yet to be determined. How goes the first year for all the ICO peeps? By the way, Eyegirly2k, rpames, and r_salis, ya'all rock! :clap: Great forums, i learned so much from you guys! Good luck with school!

-Faith😀
 
Originally posted by Eyegirl2k7
I am officially a Keeler girl!
I'm buying their direct and retinoscope.
I love the slim, elegant design and teh comfort of the handles.
Their optics are beautiful too.

What's your preference, other first years?

Luv,
Eyegirl
Click to expand...
Me, too! 😀
 
i'm a Heine girl myself... but I'm a third year so I don't count. 😛
 
Originally posted by hema1013
I feel so old school with my welch allyn equipment, handhelds and BIO.
Click to expand...

I'm putting the pilates tape in my bag for you right now, girl. 😉
 
I love my Keeler stuff too!!! It is so odd that all three of us are getting Keeler, everyone at ICO seems to be getting the WA.

I'm still deciding on my trial lens kit...my father has 3, so I might steal one of them. All of them are way older than I am so I would have to get a new case for it and a new trail frame. With all the work it would be to building a new case for it, buying a new frame, and getting the lenses that are missing, I think I may just have to get a new one. I don't know yet.

At ICO you buy the BIO your second year.
 
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At PCO we have to buy the BIO lenses second year.

My ret and direct are Welch Allyn, and I love the panoptic!

This semester we're learning tonomety, gonio, slit lamp and BIO and taking practicals on it! 😱

If all goes well I'll be seeing my own patients January '04. So, I'll be very scarce on here.
😱
 
Originally posted by christie
If all goes well I'll be seeing my own patients January '04. So, I'll be very scarce on here.
😱
Click to expand...
Christie--you've been very scarce around here lately -- we miss you! 🙁

We're ordering our o-scope/ret at the end of the month. I'm definitely going Keeler. Our first practicals are next week on ophthalmoscopy. 😱 We have to draw the optic nerve and veins/arteries out to 3 disc diameters.
 
r_salis,

I heard about your direct practical and that some professors are very picky on the drawings..Good Luck!

We have our first practical this semester on direct, but we don't have to draw it. They'll be a few fundus pictures of students in our class and we have to pick the right one.
 
Originally posted by christie
We have our first practical this semester on direct, but we don't have to draw it. They'll be a few fundus pictures of students in our class and we have to pick the right one.
Click to expand...
That's such a great way to test on it! I was wondering how the other schools do it.

I feel like I've gotten pretty good at "getting around" with the o-scope so that I know what I'm looking at, know how to find the optic nerve, calculate c/d ratio, find the macula, etc. -- but it takes crazy coordination and visual memory to be able to sketch structures on paper and then look back to where you left off on the retina. I'm going to have a gigantic headache on Friday afternoon. 🙄 I think choosing the right fundus picture is a much better way to do it!
 
I bought my handhelds in the middle of first semester, and the BIO at the end of the first semester. I think all the companies have some price reduction on their BIO (around $100, some give you a free shirt also) if you buy from the same company as your handhelds.

Thanks for bringing the DVDs cpw!

Hema
 
Originally posted by r_salis
Should I go for the extra handle?
Click to expand...

I would. We had too many students who's single handle died during a practical and they had to eat time running around looking for someone who had one they could borrow. I always like to have a reserve charging in case mine dies suddenly.

Many people I know who only bought one handle have since called the rep and bought a second.
 
wow r-salis. Consider yourself an optometric retinal specialist when you graduate now that you have mastered the retina. lololololol
ENJOY!
 
Originally posted by Reality check
wow r-salis. Consider yourself an optometric retinal specialist when you graduate now that you have mastered the retina. lololololol
ENJOY!
Click to expand...

Please refrain from personal attacks against the other users. It's totally uncalled for. This is your first warning on this.... please don't make me do it again. I hate doing my job.
 
I bought the silver Optimark Trial lens set. Bad Eyegirl. Too expensive.

Luv,
Eyegirl..

Ps: Oh 🙄 reality check. Get over it.
 
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yes, if it's not too late, go for the extra handle. Not only as a back up, but sometimes you'll need to use both at the same time. One example is when checking for consensual pupil constriction on a dark iris.
 
I've "seen the light" (ow, bad pun) about the extra handle, so I'm definitely ordering one. I'm even springing for the extra charger, since we have outlets in our lockers at school so I can keep one there and at home.

Eyegirl -- we didn't have a choice about which trial lens set to order (unless we bought our own). I don't even know who the vendor was for our sets. They're nice, though... Nice and HEAVY. :laugh:
 
r_salis said:
I've "seen the light" (ow, bad pun) about the extra handle, so I'm definitely ordering one. I'm even springing for the extra charger, since we have outlets in our lockers at school so I can keep one there and at home.

Eyegirl -- we didn't have a choice about which trial lens set to order (unless we bought our own). I don't even know who the vendor was for our sets. They're nice, though... Nice and HEAVY. :laugh:
Click to expand...


this is a great thread to bring back for the 1st years starting optometry school in the new year...

i've seen a few posts about equipment and purchasing... this sort of gives a few opinions on such things..

i personally love the welch allen handles (they're nice and light) with a long lasting charge
 
I bought the Welch Allyn diagnostic set plus Heine (Sigma 180 - I think) BIO. I like WA because my fingers are too short to comfortably use the Keelers! 🙁 As for the lenses I chose the 4 mirror gonio (minus handle), digital widefield fundus lens (instead of the 78D/90D - not sure if that's what you use in America) and a 20D lens for my BIO.

The only annoying thing about the WA Li-ion handle is that only when it runs out of battery, the service light comes on. So basically you don't really get a warning.

I only have 1 handle for now, I just have to charge it frequently (esp. because it still takes me quite a while to do ret). However, I think when I start practicing I'll take my charging pod everywhere I go, and just pop the handle back to charge when I'm finished with it.
 
silverleaf said:
I bought the Welch Allyn diagnostic set plus Heine (Sigma 180 - I think) BIO. I like WA because my fingers are too short to comfortably use the Keelers! 🙁 As for the lenses I chose the 4 mirror gonio (minus handle), digital widefield fundus lens (instead of the 78D/90D - not sure if that's what you use in America) and a 20D lens for my BIO.

The only annoying thing about the WA Li-ion handle is that only when it runs out of battery, the service light comes on. So basically you don't really get a warning.

I only have 1 handle for now, I just have to charge it frequently (esp. because it still takes me quite a while to do ret). However, I think when I start practicing I'll take my charging pod everywhere I go, and just pop the handle back to charge when I'm finished with it.
Click to expand...

with the WA handles, you can keep yourself safe by bringing along that adapter (for regular outlits)... it can fit in your pocket, and charges that WA handle at a pretty fast speed (if mine ever runs out, i just throw it on the wall to charge, and it'll be good to use in 5 mins flat)... also, the silver WA handles (non lithium) have the wall-charger built in - so that's an added bonus
 
drbizzaro said:
the silver WA handles (non lithium) have the wall-charger built in - so that's an added bonus
Click to expand...

Ah, so that's why I found them so heavy when I was decided which handle to buy?! 🙂
 
silverleaf said:
Ah, so that's why I found them so heavy when I was decided which handle to buy?! 🙂
Click to expand...

yep 😎

i find many doctors out in practice just plug those things into the wall whenever the handles get low on charge... i actually had a chance to observe a oculoplastics MD, and all he had in his office was 1 transilluminator (no slit lamp)... whenever the transilluminator got low, he just plugged it straight into the wall
 
r_salis said:
I've "seen the light" (ow, bad pun) about the extra handle, so I'm definitely ordering one. I'm even springing for the extra charger, since we have outlets in our lockers at school so I can keep one there and at home.

Eyegirl -- we didn't have a choice about which trial lens set to order (unless we bought our own). I don't even know who the vendor was for our sets. They're nice, though... Nice and HEAVY. :laugh:
Click to expand...

So you guys order parts separately rather than a diagnostic kit? I ordered a kit that had a ret, O-scope, trans, pan optic, 2 lithium, 1 NiCad, 2 butt chargers, a well charger, and other little accessories. THe only thing I ordered separately was an otoscope. Probably the best deal we will ever get on equiment. I wish the cordless BIO was out when I got mine, but I got an Omega 180.
 
file014 said:
So you guys order parts separately rather than a diagnostic kit? I ordered a kit that had a ret, O-scope, trans, pan optic, 2 lithium, 1 NiCad, 2 butt chargers, a well charger, and other little accessories. THe only thing I ordered separately was an otoscope. Probably the best deal we will ever get on equiment. I wish the cordless BIO was out when I got mine, but I got an Omega 180.
Click to expand...
Wow, vintage post! 😱 I bought a diagnostic kit as a full kit, not in parts. As I remember, we had a small menu of kits to choose from which came with slightly different options (extra handle, small or large handle, etc.).
 
drbizzaro said:
yep 😎

i find many doctors out in practice just plug those things into the wall whenever the handles get low on charge... i actually had a chance to observe a oculoplastics MD, and all he had in his office was 1 transilluminator (no slit lamp)... whenever the transilluminator got low, he just plugged it straight into the wall
Click to expand...

Yikes, I'm guessing the slit lamp was in another room? Surely the transilluminator can't substitute for the slit lamp (especially the magnification)?! I don't even have a transilluminator, not sure I really need one to practice here in Australia - I'm going to invest in a brighter pen torch than what I have now, I only need it to test pupils anyway.

file014 said:
So you guys order parts separately rather than a diagnostic kit? I ordered a kit that had a ret, O-scope, trans, pan optic, 2 lithium, 1 NiCad, 2 butt chargers, a well charger, and other little accessories. THe only thing I ordered separately was an otoscope. Probably the best deal we will ever get on equiment. I wish the cordless BIO was out when I got mine, but I got an Omega 180.
Click to expand...

I don't think the cordless BIOs are that great. I tried the cordless BIOs (2.5 years ago now - gee time flies!) and I didn't like them then - they felt sooo heavy on my head. My friends who have them now find they actually slip forwards a fair bit too, due to the sheer weight. Maybe they've made lighter ones now, not sure.
 
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silverleaf said:
Yikes, I'm guessing the slit lamp was in another room? Surely the transilluminator can't substitute for the slit lamp (especially the magnification)?! I don't even have a transilluminator, not sure I really need one to practice here in Australia - I'm going to invest in a brighter pen torch than what I have now, I only need it to test pupils anyway.

I don't think the cordless BIOs are that great. I tried the cordless BIOs (2.5 years ago now - gee time flies!) and I didn't like them then - they felt sooo heavy on my head. My friends who have them now find they actually slip forwards a fair bit too, due to the sheer weight. Maybe they've made lighter ones now, not sure.
Click to expand...

which pen torch are you using? some of my classmates have some pretty nice ones that are super bright LEDS... but they are almost 12 inches long!
 
drbizzaro I'm using one I bought from Designs for Vision, an optical supplier here in Oz - it was only $10, but I am now thinking of upgrading to a better one (especially since I have only 1 more year left of being able to buy things at student prices!). A couple of my classmates have the silver Heine pen torches that look pretty bright (AUD40ish). Sounds like your classmates are using a maglite? 🙂

Btw, I thought you had already graduated (from your nickname), do you have a PhD already then? 🙂
 
silverleaf said:
drbizzaro I'm using one I bought from Designs for Vision, an optical supplier here in Oz - it was only $10, but I am now thinking of upgrading to a better one (especially since I have only 1 more year left of being able to buy things at student prices!). A couple of my classmates have the silver Heine pen torches that look pretty bright (AUD40ish). Sounds like your classmates are using a maglite? 🙂

Btw, I thought you had already graduated (from your nickname), do you have a PhD already then? 🙂
Click to expand...


nope.. just a 4th year... but i looked at designs for vision, and that one looks pretty good... i might get one myself
 
drbizzaro said:
nope.. just a 4th year... but i looked at designs for vision, and that one looks pretty good... i might get one myself
Click to expand...

Today, I asked around my friends, I think I'll just get one from my uni bookshop - they sell battery operated ones for only $8 and apparently they're just as good. Problem solved. Hope the Designs for Vision one works OK for you!

I'm in 4th year too but it's a 5 year undergraduate degree over here, with 1st year (pre-optom) covering all the basic sciences + statistics.
 
silverleaf said:
Today, I asked around my friends, I think I'll just get one from my uni bookshop - they sell battery operated ones for only $8 and apparently they're just as good. Problem solved. Hope the Designs for Vision one works OK for you!

I'm in 4th year too but it's a 5 year undergraduate degree over here, with 1st year (pre-optom) covering all the basic sciences + statistics.
Click to expand...

what do you think of this one?

it has 15,000 candle power http://www.patriotsurplus.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/SFV/31182/vpid/1988246/vpcsid/0/rid/123662
 
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