Student Focus on Kaylee Oberlies

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

LATE.

I'm certainly not a student who has nurtured a lifelong dream of becoming an optometrist. In fact, the unpleasant experience I had at my first eye exam shaped an early distaste for visiting the eye doctor's office altogether. However, after transferring to the University of Denver halfway through my undergraduate career, I was suddenly plagued by excruciating dry eye symptoms, courtesy of the arid Colorado climate. I soon found myself back in the optometrist's chair, but this time, my experience was remarkably different. As I sat across from Dr. Trisha Rogers describing my symptoms, she was warm and attentive, interjecting with questions about my dance background and collegiate studies. She thoughtfully reviewed my diagnostic imaging, taking the time to educate me on different types of retinal pathologies and eye diseases. Her cheerful demeanor, sympathetic bedside manner, and irrefutable passion for optometry reignited in me an intrigue with eye care that had been quenched so many years before. Nevertheless, my steadfast determination to pursue a career in education prevailed over my fascination with eye care and upon graduating from DU, I embarked on a career as a middle school science teacher.

For six years, I spent my days consumed in pre-teen energy, dressing up in costumes, making rap videos about science concepts, and answering to “Miss O.” However, I continued to keep my passion for eye care alive as the coordinator of the Low Vision Clinic at the Anchor Center for Blind Children, a non-profit organization that provides intervention and education to children with visual deficits. Through my volunteer work, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Kara Hanson and observing the incredible relationships she forged with her pint-sized pediatric patients. As she conducted her low vision assessments, she provided each patient’s family and teachers with a unique set of strategies to maximize the child’s visual function both at home and in the classroom. Witnessing Dr. Hanson’s care and expertise transform the lives of visually impaired children helped me realize a career in optometry had the potential to blend my deep-seated passions for education and eye care. After careful thought and deliberation, I made the difficult decision to resign from my post as “Miss O” in June 2023 to pursue a new adventure as an optometrist.

Why did you choose Ohio State Optometry?

While I was initially drawn to Ohio State's program because of its small class size, high NBEO pass rate, and in-state tuition benefit for all students following completion of their first year, my decision to choose OSU came down to a statement made by Dr. Earley in a presentation he gave on my interview day. He said, "When you choose Ohio State, you're not only paying for a world-class optometric education - you're also paying for the reputation and networking advantages that come with being an Ohio State-trained optometrist." The idea of joining an organization that would support my professional growth and development long after my training was complete was something that really appealed to me. OSU was the only school that seemingly wanted me to choose them as much as I wanted them to choose me.

Did you attend an admissions visit day with us? If so, why would you recommend that others attend? While I did not attend an admissions visit day prior to becoming a student, I had the privilege of participating in one this fall as a student volunteer and was thoroughly impressed by the experience. Visit days provide prospective students with a valuable inside look at what life as an OSU optometry student really looks like. They give hopeful Buck"eye" doctors the opportunity to inquire about the program features that matter most to them, as well as the chance to connect with current students and professors who can offer honest, real-time feedback about OSU's program. I would highly recommend attending a visit day to any student considering OSU for their optometric education!

What was your first impression of Ohio State Optometry?

My first impression of Ohio State Optometry was pure wonder and amazement at how much kindness, support, and personalized attention could be poured into such a small student population. Professors learned my name within the first week of classes and made a deliberate effort to get to know me as an individual, and not just as a student. I was impressed by their refreshing humility and down-to-earth nature, despite being widely revered experts in the eye care field. I was also blown away by how every aspect of the curricular programming was carefully curated to build compassionate leaders in the healthcare field, from financial counseling and introductory business classes to leadership development and opportunities to collaborate with other Ohio State professional health students. Simply put, Ohio State is the Disneyland of optometry schools, and I still pinch myself thinking about what a privilege it is to be a student in this program.

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

I find it totally bizarre that people out here call soda "pop" and the DMV the "BMV." I also get surprised every time someone yells "O-H" at me when I board a Columbus-bound flight wearing Ohio State gear. However, what has surprised me most about Columbus is how quickly I've fallen in love with its small-town feel and Midwestern charm. There's something so special about going to school in a town where everyone treats you like family.

Which clubs/organizations have you joined at Ohio State?

I am currently the president-elect of Optometry Ambassadors, an organization dedicated to helping prospective students discover all of the amazing benefits of the Buckeye Optometry program. This club played a huge role in my decision to attend OSU because it allowed me to meet current students on my interview day who enthusiastically answered all of my questions about life as an optometry student. I am also the vice president of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Club and the Optometric Visual Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA). When time allows, I also love getting back into the classroom and delivering RealEyes presentations to local middle schools to educate children on the importance of eye health!

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

My classmates and my teachers have by far had the most positive impact on my time as an optometry student. I was worried about starting professional school as an older, non-traditional student because I feared my classmates would be reluctant in getting to know me (due to my status as an emerging pre-presbyope). Thankfully, my classmates have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel so impossibly loved, appreciated, and valued. I'm also fortunate to have several classmates who have similarly traversed non-traditional paths on their journeys to becoming optometrists, and I'm unbelievably grateful for their ongoing friendship and support. And I can't speak highly enough of the OSUCO faculty. Each and every one of my teachers has been so incredibly supportive and encouraging of me, embracing my loud personality and providing me with advice and guidance at every turn.

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

My favorite part of optometry school so far has been learning how to perform the parts of an eye exam on my classmates. I'm having so much fun learning how to refract and examine my peers' ocular structures. I've also really enjoyed performing pediatric study visits for my research project. I'm looking forward to performing my first "real" eye exams on my family members in the spring and eventually learning how to fit contact lenses! I'm also excited to have the opportunity to present my research findings on objective measurements of accommodative amplitude at a future Academy meeting!!

What advice do you have for future optometry students?

Four years goes by in the blink of an eye, and the time you have with your classmates and professors is so limited. Don't waste it. Seize every opportunity to learn something new, ask a question, practice an unfamiliar skill, seek feedback from upperclassmen, and make new friends. Never be afraid of asking for help and always offer help to others when you can. Make ALL the mistakes. You have all the resources and support you could ever need right at your fingertips - use them while you have the chance! And finally, be kind to yourself. Optometry school is hard, but the journey is so worth it.