Home • Alumni • Stay Informed Stay Informed with Illinois College of Optometry Get Involved Stay Informed Don’t miss out on the latest news from your alma mater. There are plenty of ways to stay in the loop. Whether through ICO Matters or attending a CE event, we look forward to staying in contact with you and connecting with you in person. Check out the latest issue of ICO Matters online. All issues from 2012 onward are available online! ICO Matters We hold quarterly CE events all of which count towards the compliance hours needed to keep practicing. Continuing Education Interested in sharing some big news in ICO Matters? Fill out the form below and we'll add it to our next issue! Class Notes Updates? Memory Lane We have collected thousands of pictures over our many years. Go relive some of your favorite ICO moments. Explore More Happenings at ICO

Home • In Chicago In Chicago Day in the Life Student Blog Housing Clubs & Organizations Health & Safety There are many reasons to love Chicago — its food, its neighborhoods, but mostly we love it here because of the people you’ll meet. Few optometry schools in the nation will provide you with such a diverse array of patients. We are on the South Side for one fundamental reason: our commitment to the Bronzeville community and our surrounding neighborhoods. KEEP EXPLORING EyePod Residential Complex Library Gym Dr. Newton K. Wesley Research Center Discover a day in the life. Chicago is a big city, and no two students will experience it in quite the same way. All the same, in four years you will make it your own. Here are just a few views of what a day in the life at ICO might look like. A Day in the Life 'Twas the night before exams Read Blog Entry Acing the boards and lessons learned from softball. Bri Buckley, OD '20 Six lessons learned during my first five weeks Read Blog Entry How to take breaks and how to study. Rachel Shackelford, OD '23 Developing Clinical Skills: 1 or 2 Read Blog Entry Lessons learned from a beginner refractionist. Alek Karthikeyan, OD '23 A glimpse into externship selections Read Blog Entry Choosing the right externships for you. Kashifa Ansari, OD '23 Want to see some more? Read Student Blog Student Housing Students either choose to live in the RC or to live in their own rented apartment. Either way, most students choose to stay near ICO. Student Housing We're excited to have you join us! It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to become an optometrist. It also takes a strong support network. We want to make sure that you do well not only in school, but also that you live well throughout your four years here. Find your group. Volunteer, network, travel, or serve the local community. There are so many opportunities to get involved at ICO. Clubs and Organizations Recreation & Fitness From lifting in the gym to one-on-one trainings with fit coaches, there are many opportunities to take care yourself physically. Recreation and Fitness Health & Safety You can only succeed in optometry school if you also take care of your health and remain safe. We work hard to build a safe and healthy environment so that you feel supported throughout your time at ICO. Health and Safety

Nate Bonilla-Warford, OD, '04 My Dream Practice Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD ’04, came into optometry school unsure where the profession would take him. He had shadowed doctors and knew that optometry offered work-life balance and many ways to practice. It wasn’t until his third year at ICO that he realized exactly what he wanted: a fun, comfortable practice for kids. Within one year of graduating from ICO, he was able to dedicate 100% of his time to Bright Eyes Family Vision Care. Now, he has opened his “dream practice,” Bright Eyes Kids. “I’m proud of what we’ve developed. Not only is it the place that I like working, but it is extremely rewarding,” says Dr. Nate. “I get to spend every day doing the things I love.” His colorful office is filled with LEGO bricks, a hobby he shares with patients and his own children. The playful environment means that Dr. Nate’s days are low-stress. “I have time to communicate both to parents and the children themselves.” This relationship building results in calmer patients, more accurate eye care, and of course, some LEGO building and trading at the end of each visit. It’s no surprise that Dr. Nate loves children. His large family is the main reason he moved from Chicago to Florida. “My life is like My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” he jokes. His location keeps Dr. Nate close to family, with his number one priority being his children. “They are six and eight years old. This is the time when I want to be with them.” Dr. Nate is able to have two successful practices AND eat breakfast and dinner every day with his family, and that’s not all. “We get to go to the beach. We get to go to theme parks. There are a lot of opportunities to be outside and do things as a family all year round, and it’s wonderful.” ICO prepared me not only to see the patients confidently in the exam room, but how to interact with other medical professionals so you can be part of a medical team. Dr. Nate credits ICO with helping him get to this place in his life. “ICO prepared me not only to see the patients confidently in the exam room, but how to interact with other medical professionals so you can be part of a medical team.” He admires ICO’s esteemed faculty for their ability to “understand academia, but be in the trenches in the real world.” Dr. Nate credits ICO with helping him get to this place in his life. “ICO prepared me not only to see the patients confidently in the exam room, but how to interact with other medical professionals so you can be part of a medical team.” He admires ICO’s esteemed faculty for their ability to “understand academia, but be in the trenches in the real world.” As for ICO students, Dr. Nate loved his colleagues’ “independent and entrepreneurial spirit.” He enjoyed taking field trips with the private practice club and hearing doctors come on-campus to talk business. “When you’re a student, it’s so easy to be focused on the very next test or the very next practical or all of the patients you will see,” says Dr. Nate. “I think ICO did a great job reminding us that there are lots of opportunities… We knew that we were going to be able to do what we wanted to do in the end.” This appreciation for the bigger picture has allowed Dr. Nate to keep Bright Eyes Kids on the cutting edge. Most recently, he obtained an “incredibly engaging and exciting” Oculus Rift virtual reality headset to aid in therapy. When it was time to hire a second doctor for Bright Eyes Vision Care, Dr. Nate chose an ICO grad- almost by accident. “It wasn’t like I was looking for a doctor specifically from ICO,” he explains. When he discovered Beth Knighton, OD ’11, though, he knew there would be “a lot of shared experiences and a common language.” Their bond, created by ICO, has resulted in smooth and efficient patient care. Dr. Knighton isn’t the only ICO optometrist Dr. Nate is connected to. A group of his classmates and colleagues communicates via text message almost every day. They discuss everything from the profession to their kids. Dr. Nate knows this network can’t be found just anywhere. “No matter where you go, no matter where you practice, you know there is going to be a group of ICO graduates that you can get together with.” To prospective students, Dr. Nate recommends visiting ICO and talking to students and faculty. “Think about where you’re going to develop the best and most rich long lasting relationships.” He believes in making a well-informed decision, but already knows what his would be. “The diversity of experiences that I had at ICO prepared me well for practice in the real world. If I was going back to school, I would definitely go back to ICO.” …and he wouldn’t change that decision for all the LEGO bricks in the world. Listen to the Podcast to Learn More

Home Consumer Information Functional Guidelines for Didactic and Clinical Optometric Education Approved by the ASCO Board of Directors on March 20, 1998 Revised: March 31, 2009 To provide guidance to those considering optometry as a profession, the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has established functional guidelines for optometric education. The ability to meet these guidelines, along with other criteria established by individual optometric institutions, is necessary for graduation from an optometric professional degree program. One of the missions of each school and college of optometry is to produce graduates fully qualified to provide quality comprehensive eye care services to the public. To fulfill this mission, each institution must ensure that students demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and skill in the provision of optometric care. Admission committees, therefore, consider a candidate’s capacity to function effectively in the academic and clinical environments, as well as a candidate’s academic qualifications and personal attributes. The functional guidelines in optometric education require that the candidate/student possess appropriate abilities in the following areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) sensory and motor coordination; 4) intellectual –conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities; and 5) behavioral and social attributes. Each of these areas is described in this document. In any case where a student’s abilities in one of these areas are compromised, he or she must demonstrate alternative means and/ or abilities to meet the functional requirements. It is expected that seeking and using such alternative means and/or abilities shall be the responsibility of the student. Upon receipt of the appropriate documentation, the school or college will be expected to provide reasonable assistance and accommodation to the student. Observation Abilities The student must be able to acquire a defined level of required knowledge as presented through lectures, laboratories, demonstrations, patient interaction and self-study. Acquiring this body of information necessitates the functional use of visual, auditory and somatic sensation enhanced by the functional use of other sensory modalities. Examples of these observational skills in which accurate information needs to be extracted in an efficient manner include: Visual Abilities: (as they relate to such things as visual acuity, color vision and binocularity): • Visualizing and reading information from papers, films, slides, video and computer displays • Observing optical, anatomic, physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations and experiments • Discriminating microscopic images of tissue and microorganisms • Observing a patient and noting non-verbal signs • Discriminating numbers, images, and patterns associated with diagnostic tests and instruments • Visualizing specific ocular tissues in order to discern three-dimensional relationships, depth and color changes Auditory Abilities: • Understanding verbal presentations in lecture, laboratory and patient settings • Recognizing and interpreting various sounds associated with laboratory experiments as well as diagnostic and therapeutic procedures Tactile Abilities: • Palpating the eye and related areas to determine the integrity of the underlying structures • Palpating and feeling certain cardiovascular pulses Communication Abilities The student must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and sensitively with patients and their families, peers, staff, instructors and other members of the health care team. The student must be able to demonstrate established communication skills using traditional and alternative means. Examples of required communications skills include: • Relating effectively and sensitively to patients, conveying compassion and empathy • Perceiving verbal and non-verbal communication such as sadness, worry, agitation and lack of comprehension from patients • Eliciting information from patients and observing changes in mood and activity • Communicating quickly, effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with patients and other members of the health care team • Reading and legibly recording observations, test results and management plans accurately • Completing assignments, patient records and correspondence accurately and in a timely manner Sensory and Motor Coordination Abilities Students must possess the sensory and motor skills necessary to perform an eye examination, including emergency care. In general, this requires sufficient exteroception sense (touch, pain, temperature), proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) and fine motor function (significant coordination and manual dexterity using arms, wrists, hands and fingers). Examples of skill required include but are not limited to: • Instillation of ocular pharmaceutical agents • Insertion, removal and manipulation of contact lenses • Assessment of blood pressure and pulse • Removal of foreign objects from the cornea • Simultaneous manipulation of lenses, instruments and therapeutic agents and devices • Reasonable facility of movement • Injections into the eye, lids or limbs Intellectual Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities Problem solving, a most critical skill, is essential for optometric students and must be performed quickly, especially in emergency situations. In order to be an effective problem solver, the student must be able to accurately and efficiently utilize such abilities as measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, judgment, investigation, memory, numerical recognition and synthesis. Examples of these abilities include being able to: • Determine appropriate questions to be asked and clinical tests to be performed • Identify and analyze significant findings from history, examination, and other test data • Demonstrate good judgment and provide a reasonable assessment, diagnosis and management of patients • Retain, recall and obtain information in an efficient manner • Identify and communicate the limits of one’s knowledge and skill Behavioral and Social Attributes The student must possess the necessary behavioral and social attributes for the study and practice of optometry. Examples of such attributes include: • Satisfactory emotional health required for full utilization of one’s intellectual ability • High ethical standards and integrity • An empathy with patients and concern for their welfare • Commitment to the optometric profession and its standards • Effective interpersonal relationships with patients, peers and instructors • Professional demeanor • Effective functioning under varying degrees of stress and workload • Adaptability to changing environments and uncertainties • Positive acceptance of suggestions and constructive criticism Applicants with questions or concerns about how their own conditions or disabilities might affect their ability to meet these functional guidelines are encouraged to meet with an optometry school counselor prior to submitting an application. Current ICO students with questions should meet with the Senior Director of Student Development.

Home • Admissions • Visiting ICO • Webinars Webinars Get to know us! How to Visit Webinars Recruitment Events Focus on Your Future Our live webinars cover a wide range of topics- admission to ICO, student life, financial aid, life after graduation, and more. Sessions are FREE and usually last about 30 minutes. We want you to get the most out of each presentation, so be sure to ask questions and engage with our experts. ICO webinars are open to the public but are highly recommended for prospective students. Register for an upcoming session below! Feel free to send topic suggestions to communications@ico.edu. UPCOMING WEBINARS There are no webinars currently scheduled. In the meantime, check out some of our past webinars below. ICO's Live Webinars Sign Up for Webinars Research and Program Overview Wednesday, Nov 16, 2022 Canadian Alum Panel Wednesday, Dec 14, 2022 Current Student Panel Wednesday, Jan 18, 2022 Alum Panel Thursday, February 15, 2022 Clinical Program Overview Wednesday, March 15, 2022

Millie Knight, OD, '87 My Passion Some children know exactly who they are going to be from a young age. Millicent Knight, OD ’87, was one of those kids. When she was eight years old, her teacher thought she might need an eye exam. Months later, on the way home from a vision therapy session at the Illinois Eye Institute , Millie declared to her father, “I’m going to be an eye doctor.” Dr. Knight looks back on that memory with fondness. “Here was a team of people really committed to trying to help me.” Years later, a student personally walked Dr. Knight from her eye exam in the IEI to ICO’s Admissions department . She applied, and never looked back. “My primary goal was to get a really good clinical education,” Dr. Knight explains. “ICO has one of the best clinical programs in the country. We really have fantastic professors and a great patient base… Unfortunately, there are a lot of challenges with health care in that community. That presented a great opportunity to learn firsthand how to manage these patients, and just how to be prepared for whatever might walk through your door.” Dr. Knight leveraged her ICO education into business prowess. She opened multiple practices, guiding major corporate sales and mergers along the way. Her consulting corporation, Knight Vision, coaches and cultivates growing practices. She is an advocate for underrepresented populations within optometry, based on needs she saw in the profession while at ICO. Today, Dr. Knight is Vice President of Professional Affairs, North America, at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care. It is a high-impact role creating innovative products for optometrists. The responsibilities are diverse. On any one day, Dr. Knight may collaborate with multiple teams teams- leadership, marketing, research, development, even doctors and teachers. She feels she is in “a position to help facilitate a fantastic conversation between the profession and the industry.” It’s very common to run into individuals who graduated from ICO… to just hear their experiences and some of the challenges they’ve had, and how they’ve parleyed those into great opportunities. They really give me encouragement and courage. Some of Dr. Knight’s favorite conversations happen with ICO alumni. “It’s very common to run into individuals who graduated from ICO… to just hear their experiences and some of the challenges they’ve had, and how they’ve parleyed those into great opportunities. They really give me encouragement and courage.” Another source of motivation for Dr. Knight is her family. “My mother, in particular, has always been a strong mentor for me. She retired as CEO of a mental health agency at 75.” Business sense is apparently in Dr. Knight’s genes, but her support network is wide. “My husband is a physician,” she explains. “In this profession, you need a partner. He understands private practice, commitment to patients… and he’s a great father.” Their son, a “natural athlete,” is the center of their lives. “I can’t wait to see just what he decides to do.” Dr. Knight has given back to optometry in many ways. “I really see myself as just someone who is contributing to something that has given a lot to me,” she says. Most recently, Dr. Knight contributed once again by giving ICO’s Commencement Address . She delivered a message of advocacy, gratitude, and open-mindedness to the Class of 2016. Dr. Knight offers this advice to prospective ICO students. “You need to know yourself and to think about what makes you happy.” She highly recommends shadowing a practicing optometrist. “Most optometrists love what they do, and so they’re happy to show you around.” In her own life, Dr. Knight has found mentors “in all kinds of shapes and colors and genders.” She encourages aspiring ODs to stay open, as you never know where help might come from. Listen to the Podcast to Learn More

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