Student Focus on Ian Binns

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Name: Ian Binns
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: The Hilltop, Columbus, Ohio
High School: Bishop Ready High School
Undergraduate Institution: The Ohio State University
Undergraduate Degree: BS in Molecular Genetics
Anticipated #OSUopt Graduation Year: 2025

Q&A

How old were you when you received your first eye exam? What was the experience like for you?

I received my first eye exam at five years old after failing a school screening. I don’t remember much, but I did end up being prescribed my first pair of glasses at this visit. I was excited about getting glasses mainly because my first frames had the Batman logo on them, making me the coolest kindergartener at school. Looking back on the experience, I am now most excited about how recognizing and correcting my significant refractive error at a young age allowed me to thrive in school and ultimately pursue the opportunity to make this same difference in the lives of children in the future.

When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in optometry?

I decided on pursuing optometry my sophomore year of undergrad. I was in an organic chemistry lecture when a classmate and I were talking about career plans and he mentioned optometry, at that time it hadn’t been on my radar. I decided to research the profession and kept it in the back of my mind. After discussing with my parents, my dad told me about his strabismus surgery when he was young, and it sparked my interest. The following day instead of studying for my genetics midterm, I spent the better part of the night reading about strabismus and extraocular muscles and realized that I could see myself learning and caring for patients’ eyes for the length of my career.

Why did you choose Ohio State Optometry?

Being from Columbus and going to Ohio State for undergrad made the decision to further my education with Ohio State Optometry a no-brainer. I am very fortunate that the best optometry school in the country happened to be right in my back yard. Despite board passage rates and esteemed faculty, the main influences I had that pushed me to Ohio State Optometry were the interactions with their alumni and students. I worked at a private practice owned and operated by an Ohio State alum. During my time there I was able to cooperate with several doctors who graduated from Ohio State, as well as several optometry students and externs. The level of patient care from those doctors and students assured me that The Ohio State University College of Optometry was the place I wanted to grow into a future optometrist.

What was your first impression of Ohio State Optometry?

Scary! In researching the school and viewing their statistics in undergrad I was certain I stood no chance of being admitted. As I furthered myself along the application process and interactions with faculty and staff I found that the people at the college were much more approachable than I had pictured in my mind. Everyone was willing to do what they could to make the process as smooth as possible.

What surprised you most about Ohio State and/or Columbus?

I was most surprised at the class size at the college. Being from Columbus and attending Ohio State for undergrad I was used to the massive scale of the undergraduate classes at the university. The small class size in the college was such a breath of fresh air, I no longer felt like a number in a chair at a 700-person lecture. I was able to interact with professors and ask questions during class. The small class sizes also allow genuine interactions between students and faculty, which is conducive to learning.

Which clubs/organizations have you joined at Ohio State?

I am an OD/MS student, the vice president and secretary of the Student Chapter of the American Academy of Optometry (SAAO), I am also involved in College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Optometry Ambassadors, Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK), and Epsilon Psi Epsilon.

Who has most positively affected you during your time as an optometry student so far?

I would be nowhere without the support of my fiancée. Whether it be a meal when I get home from a long day or endless words of encouragement, it can’t be put into words how much Dani has done for me. My fellow classmates have also had a massive impact during optometry school. Without the collaboration and group effort of trudging through our studies together, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Many late nights spent at the library with friends make the seemingly endless studying bearable, and sometimes even enjoyable.

What was your favorite part of optometry school so far and what are you looking forward to in future years of the program?

The most rewarding part of school was during second-year clinic. The first official eye exam I gave as a student was also my mom’s first-ever eye exam. It was a truly rewarding experience being able to share that moment with my biggest supporter.

What advice do you have for future optometry students?

Strap in. The four years of optometry school are transformative. You will go from not knowing what myopia is to being entrusted with the eye care of our future patients. It is a grueling process, but because of that, it is also extremely rewarding. You made the right choice!