Course Description
This course provides learning opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills acquired from related theory and laboratory courses to the contact lens dispensary. Students will be placed in the campus vision centre or pre-approved practicum locations where they will simulate a contact lens practice. They will complete their contact lens dispensing skills under direct supervision of the course instructor or program-approved licensed eyecare professional. Students will perform all duties pertaining to efficient operation of a contact lens practice including patient booking, contact lens fitting and analysis, the steps involved in an automated sight test including over-refraction, and patient education on lens care and handling. Contraindications to the automated sight testing will be acquired through studying the Professional Standards of Practice. A one-week on-campus (laboratory and clinical) instruction component will take place near the end of the semester to complete the course.
Course Content
- Introduction
- Clinical Objectives
- Professionalism in the Clinical Dispensary
- Clinical and Personal Hygiene
- Traditional and Computerized Diagnostic Technologies
Slit Lamp Biomicroscope Keratometry Lensometer
Profile Analyzer Hand Loop Diameter Gauge
Vertex Conversion Chart Dioptric Conversion Chart Radiuscope
Snellen Chart Acuity Trial Lens Set Phoropter
Autorefractor Corneal Topography Ophthalmoscope
- Prefit Evaluation / Soft Contact Lenses
- Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology
Cornea structure Conjunctiva Lid structure
Tear film Lashes Crystalline lens
Iris Pupil Sclera
- Lifestyle Considerations For Contact Lens Wear
Athletics Work Environment
Climate Cosmetic
Social Age
- Refractive Error, Refraction and Automated Refraction Systems
Equipment Description
Equipment Function
Refraction process
Over-refraction process
- Lens Parameter Determination
- Soft Lens Design
Aspheric Front Toric Back Toric
Bi-Toric Prism Ballast Keratoconus
Presbyopic Design Aphakic Design Cosmetic Design
Lenticular Myoflange Lenticular Hyperflange
- Lens Material Characteristics and Relationship to Pre-Fit Evaluation
- Solution Compatibility
- Chemical Disinfection Systems
- Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfection
- Surfactant Cleaners
- Enzyme Cleaners
- Rewetting Agents
- Fitting Procedures
- Patient Instruction and Delivery Procedure
- Patient Instruction
- Hygiene and Lens Care
- Patient Follow-Up Care and Evaluation
- Instrumentation
i) Keratometry / Over-keratometry
Fit Evaluation
Corneal Health Maintenance
ii) Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy
Ocular Anatomy and Physiology
Fit Evaluation
Corneal Health Maintenance
iii) Over-refraction
- Troubleshooting Complications
- Follow-up Protocol
Means of Assessment
The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College evaluation policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
- Obtain a general history from the patient through discussion
- Use instrumentation and other provisional methods to determine appropriate soft contact lens type and design
- Describe the types and functions of equipment necessary in the process of refraction in the determination of refractive error
- Describe the types and functions of equipment necessary to determine intraocular pressure
- Interpret patient refractive error and keratometry readings
- Discuss soft contact lens options with the patient as related to the ocular status and prescription
- Conduct a diagnostic soft lens evaluation
- Order appropriate contact lens parameters for a patient
- Educate the patient in soft lens insertion / removal procedures, lens care and hygiene
- Determine the patient’s subjective responses to soft contact lens wear
- Make necessary modifications to improve lens fit
- Reinforce to the patient the necessity of follow-up examination
- Apply concepts of boutique dispensing to contact lens and eyeglass dispensing
Textbook Materials
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
A list of required and optional textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.