First Year Optometry Equipment, Please Help

[DrSpontaneouz83]

Hey guys,
I will be a first year student at ICO this fall. I was wondering if you guys can help me determine what equipment I will need for the first year. I saved enough money to buy things I need before buying them at school full priced. Where do first years normally buy their equipment? Are there bargain websites to go to? Does anyone have a list of things we need? Do you buy different equipment every year?

Thanx for your help. 😉

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[cunikki]

hey. as for first year. most schools you need basic pretesting equipment... near point card and near point rod, penlight, occluder, eye patch... etc. then also a diagnostic kit and also trial lens kit are the two big purchases. im not sure how your school works but at my school they offer a pretty big discount to students as well as all instruments being under warranty while you are in school. its a much better warranty than you will get not as a student because it includes breaking anything.. as one rep said.. if you run over your retinoscope just pick up the pieces off the street and bring them to me and i will get you a brand new one. i feel like most schools encourage you to get the equipment they offer because it is the best quality as well as being the most up to date. soem schools even require that you buy stuff through them so i would check it out first. in terms of cost i think the first year equipment was somewhere between 1200-1500 dollars which really is inexpensive considering you can probably use this equipment for life so i would strongly urge you to wait till you get to school and buy equipment there so you will have the warranties and also be able to make an informed decision on what type of equipment you want to buy

 

[EyeBaller]

Ditto the last post. Buy it through your school it will be much cheaper and you can't beat the warranty.

 

[DrSpontaneouz83]

Thanks a lot people! In that case I will hold back and save my pennies.