Hi, I'm Eugene, and I built OptoConnections.
Eugene H., O.D.
Doctor of Optometry, Class of 2026
Nova Southeastern College of Optometry · Gold Key Honor Society
The story
Why I built this
OptoConnections started while I was deep in my own board prep at Nova Southeastern College of Optometry. The legacy tools I relied on felt overdue for a refresh, not just in how they looked, but in the information they actually gave you.
Studying felt like a chore, and the genuinely useful options were expensive. So I started building the thing I wished existed: an affordable, modern way to spend a few useful minutes with optometry every day — then go deeper when an exam or patient demanded it.
What began as a project for me and my classmates now reaches students well beyond my own school. To date, 300+ students have created accounts and played 1,000+ daily games, and I'm just getting started.
— Eugene
The audience
Who I'm building for
Optometry students building day-to-day study habits
Residents keeping clinical reasoning sharp between busy days
Practicing ODs staying current between busy clinic days
Principles
How I think about building
01
Built for learners first
I design around real optometry study pain points: limited time, information overload, and high-stakes exams.
02
Practical over theoretical
Every tool is built around useful daily practice, not passive reading. My focus is on retention and clinical thinking.
03
Accessible by default
Core tools stay free so students can start immediately, and Plus stays affordable. No legacy-tool price tags.
Support
Why Plus exists
The daily clinical game is free, and that will never change. But running a high-traffic simulator and maintaining thousands of board-level questions takes real infrastructure. Every Plus subscription covers hosting costs, funds new NBEO-style content, and keeps this platform 100% ad-free.
When you upgrade, you're not padding a corporate bottom line. You're supporting a fellow student and helping keep this platform alive for everyone who comes after you.
OptoConnections also supports carbon removal through Stripe Climate.
The roadmap
What's coming
Here's what I'm actively building and planning as OptoConnections grows.
Tool updates & new clinic tools
Continuous improvements to existing tools and new resources focused on making clinical workflows faster and smarter.
Discord community server
A dedicated space for optometry students, residents, and ODs to connect, share resources, and study together.
Recruiting
Growing our team with contributors who are passionate about optometry education and building great software.
Region switching for international optometrists
Region-based switching for UK and Australia optometrists so learning paths, terminology, and resources can better match local practice.
Mobile app
A native app to bring daily puzzles, clinical tools, and streak tracking to your phone for study on the go.
Optometry job placement
A dedicated space to connect graduating students and early-career ODs with practice opportunities and job listings.
A habit that grows with your career
Whether you're a first-year student or a practicing OD, OptoConnections gives you a useful reason to come back each day — from classroom concepts to boards and clinic.