Bermuda’s first certified ophthalmic assistant has returned to work at an Island eye clinic.

Sherelle Simons qualified for the role — which provides a variety of clinical functions to help ophthalmologists reach a diagnosis and treatment plan — after working for several years in Paget’s Bermuda International Eye Institute.

The 24-year-old Devonshire woman said: “It feels great — it’s a feeling of achievement and I’m just going to work my way up. I’m aiming for the highest qualification available.”

Ms Simons — who started at the practice as a summer student five years ago — completed the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) course after ophthalmologist Dr Leonard Teye-Botchway bought her the books and encouraged her to take the tough distance learning programme.

She said: “At first, the idea of self-study was nerve-racking when I realised I wouldn’t attend full-time lectures or have a full-time teacher.”

But she said with support from Dr Teye-Botchway and colleagues Dr Catherine Prendiville and orthoptist/ophthalmic technician Vikki Vaughan-Jones she completed her studies.

Ms Simons added: “The three of them were a huge help in getting me ready for my exam.”

She said she had attended a preparation course in New York in February and sat her final exams in Boston in May.

And she added: “It makes the patients feel confident knowing that I am managing their eye care.”

Ms Simons said, however, that the job was about more than training and technology and that it also needed the human touch.

She explained: “Being a COA can be challenging at times. Sometimes patients need someone to talk to and they would talk to me.

“I have seen many laughs and tears. We are all human — sometimes we need a listening ear. There have been many times I’ve gone home with a patient on my mind. You really connect with many of them.”

But Ms Simons, who is also a surgical assistant in the institute’s minor operating facility, insisted she had her own eyes on even higher qualifications — involving a further three stages and three more sets of exams.

And she has just attended her first overseas ophthalmology conference, held in Chicago earlier this month to earn credits to retain her certification.

She said: “It is a great field, very interesting and constantly growing. You see and learn new things every day.”

And Ms Simmons added she planned to use her skills to help those in the developing world as part of the crew of an eye hospital on board a ship.

Ms Simons said: “In the near future, I see myself using my knowledge and skills to volunteer in third world countries.

“It travels all around Africa helping those with sight problems. I would be glad to assist. I’ve always had a strong desire to volunteer. Giving back is very important.”

And she advised others looking for a career: “Never give up. Just because one door may close, there will always be another door that opens.”