Anyone who watched American television in the 1970s or 1980s will remember an advertising campaign for peanut butter cups. The series of ads featured a variety of clumsy collisions that resulted in one person’s chocolate bar landing in another person’s jar of peanut butter. 

The mishaps resulted in the undeniably exquisite combination of chocolate and peanut butter, “Two great tastes that taste great together!” It is a Generation X tagline that has withstood the test of time. The alliance between Illinois College of Optometry’s ODs and the University of Chicago’s MDs is a lot like that, only much less sticky. 

I am an alumni ambassador because I want to give back. Most ambassadors loved their time at ICO, and we want to connect with current students. We’re a gentle reminder of the good things that lie at the end of all that hard work.

On Saturday, May 20, ICO’s 180th Commencement took place at Chicago Symphony Center. Degrees were conferred upon 118 new Doctors of Optometry. 

Take aways from a recent myopia study led by Dr. Yi Pang and fourth year student Rachel Breliant.

Every student at the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) learns the importance of treating the patient in front of them. Practice and experience, though, teach ICO students that those patients in front of them are the ultimate variable. No two patients are alike, yet it is only looking at the patterns and similarities between patients that conclusions can be drawn and advancements in the field of optometry can be made through research.

At ICO, we have the great fortune of having a complex patient base that helps us strive to do more each day. Many of our patients come from socio-economically vulnerable populations and have lacked access to adequate health care throughout their lives.