Speaking spanish: useful in optometry?

[averagestudent8]

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Can anyone please share experiences where Spanish has been useful in optometry?

 

[csandova]

For sure, I guess depending on where you live. It would definitely help you if you were practicing in Idaho vs. Miami. I speak fluent Spanish and I live in Florida. From personal experience, I've had to translate on several occasions for optometrists I've shadowed with. They really like having me around for when someone is getting an eye exam who doesn't speak any english. Plus if you know spanish, you can make out what people are saying in other languages such as portuguese and italian. I think being able to speak another language, whether or not its spanish, is extremely useful and helpful in any profession, not just optometry.

 

[Optomchick]

Can anyone please share experiences where Spanish has been useful in optometry?

At Western in SoCal there is a very large spanish-speaking population...so during your Vision Screenings first year you may need it to speak with the young children. Also your 2-3 year during your clerkship with doctors in the area to speak with the patients, then your third year working at the eye clinic on campus...then your fourth year in rotations if you end up in a spanish speaking area. So I'd say it's highly important to have the basics down.