Self Assessment

      The Magellan Project has given me the opportunity to explore the world of optometry on the beautiful island of Oahu. While conducting my research, I became very enlightened about how not only heredity but the Hawaiian lifestyle can also put a patient at risk of developing glaucoma. During my three week stay on Oahu, I had the wonderful opportunity to shadow Dr. Olkowski, an ophthalmologist, who showed me the ins and outs of glaucoma which effects the larger portion of his patients. Throughout my time on the island, I was able to gain knowledge from Dr. O and experiences from the island itself, both of which have undeniably impacted my growth as a student and an individual.

      During my stay on Oahu, not only did I get to experience what it was like to be a tourist, but I also had the chance to work in a professional environment. Surprisingly, the office setting is where I experienced the most culture shock. Typically, on the mainland, the dress attire for a professional office setting is business casual. For women, this usually includes dress pants/skirts, nice blouses, blazer, and dress flats or heals. However, in Hawaii, "business casual" leans more towards the casual side. For instance, sundresses, sandals, nice tank tops, and jeans were appropriate for me to wear. This more laid-back lifestyle was something I got used to really quick!

      While studying under Dr. Olkowski, I encountered a wide variety of eye disorders and diseases; however, upon reflection of my time in the office, all cases were unique and enlightening in their own ways, but one really stood out to me. I was mainly focusing on the topic of glaucoma, so my favorite glaucoma case involved a young patient in their early thirties who decided to take a trip to India. While in this foreign country, he/she decided to get two blue iris transplants. Dr. Olkowski informed me that this surgery is not done in the United States because it can cause major issues. This particular patient had tried to get the transplant irises removed and between both surgeries, he/she suffered from severe trauma to the retina and cornea. This type of ocular trauma left the patient with extreme glaucoma which will not get better and consequently has lost most of their peripheral vision. Because patients who suffer from iris transplant trauma are so few and far between, I took this opportunity to ask questions, record notes, and take mental pictures knowing very well I may never see a case like this during my career again. This patient had the biggest impact on me because I saw firsthand just how far some people will go to fit in with the "famous" crowd of Oahu in order to make some money. Unfortunately, this particular person went too far and was left partially blind. 

      Moreover, my weeks did not only consist of clinical work in the office but also surgeries and procedures at the surgery center. This was something I did not expect. When I arrived on my first day at EyeSight Hawaii, Dr. Olkowski informed me that Thursdays were his surgery days and he invited me to observe him in the operating room! Watching Dr. O perform surgeries was truly spectacular. I not only had a chance to learn about surgical procedures, but I also witnessed just how far technology has made its way into the field of ophthalmology. It was amazing watching firsthand how a corneal transplant, which usually takes about two hours, can be shortened into a half hour long process with the new technology Dr. Olkowski uses. Moreover, Dr. O introduced me to a machine which is used for SLT surgeries. I had been so focused on the disease of glaucoma, so he introduced me to multiple patients with very high-pressure levels in their eyes resulting in extreme glaucoma. The SLT procedure is a minimally invasive laser surgery that targets the drainage system in the back of the eye. This helps reduce the pressure of the eye and does not cure glaucoma, but reduces the pressure enough to relieve the patient of one or two medications that they take daily. This was a new piece of technology that I had never heard of before, and it really gave me insight into the world of optometry and how it is moving towards a technology and laser based field. The experiences I had in the surgical room gave me hope for the future of optometry and ophthalmology as a whole.

      Overall, at the end of my trip, I had seen 203 patients with Dr. Olkowski and watched a total of 15 surgeries! The topic of my research project is glaucoma and out of those 203 patients that I saw, over half had mild to extreme glaucoma. Also, some of the patients who did not have glaucoma were unfortunately at risk. Part of my project was to focus on the disease of Narrow Angle Glaucoma specifically because it is prominent in Asian culture. Unfortunately, I did not get to see as many NAG patients as I would have liked; however, the few that I did encounter were Hawaiian Natives! My Magellan project gave me the opportunity to study glaucoma more in depth than I would during any other shadowing opportunity. I was able to see glaucoma patients on a wide scale and I was even able to watch laser procedures that helps treat the disease. Furthermore, I set out on my adventure hoping to gain an insightful background on the topic of glaucoma; however, I had no idea that I would leave feeling like I could write a book about much more than just glaucoma! For example, I had no idea that Dry Eye Syndrome was even a disorder, but after ONE day with Dr. O I had seen about ten patients with this eye problem. I came to Hawaii having never heard of this syndrome, and I left Hawaii knowing symptoms, causes, treatments, and the science behind the disorder. After my time with Dr. O, I now feel very confident about going into the field of optometry and I hope one day I can work with him.

      Besides spending time in the office and surgical buildings learning under Dr. Olkowski, I also had plenty of time to explore the island. Being alone in a place that I had never been before, I was presented with many challenges but nothing that I could not overcome. The first obstacle I faced was figuring out the bus system. The Oahu bus system is incredible because it can take a person anywhere on the island; therefore, this was my main mode of transportation. After taking the wrong bus multiple times and getting off at the wrong stops too many times to count, I finally mastered the Oahu bus system. Although English is a primary language spoken on the island, I encountered many natives who taught me common Hawaiian phrases that I will carry with me throughout my life. My favorite phrase that I learned is "Malama Pono" which means "take care of yourself." This really hit home for me because throughout my college experience I have already been faced with many challenges and I know I have many more ahead of me. However, I believe it is very important to always take care of myself despite the hard times. Overall, I think my Magellan project is one way I took care of myself because it gave me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and travel to a place 4,581 miles away from home by myself. I was able to try new foods, hike breathtaking trails, and emerge myself in a culture that is truly amazing. The Magellan project gave me an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life as I finish up my years at Washington and Jefferson College and enter the workforce. I feel more confident and self-aware than I ever have before.