Course Description
This course provides theory and interpretation of contact lens fitting procedures at an advanced level. It provides the skills to complete the procedure of fitting contact lenses by implementing patient pre-fit evaluation, instrumentation, measurements, trial lens fitting, and post-fit evaluation. It provides students the abilities needed to interpret and apply fitting techniques of specialty contact lenses for difficult visual and / or corneal abnormalities and to identify current refractive surgical alternatives available. The course provides basic skills necessary for managing a contact lens practice, for effective patient record keeping, relationships, and recall systems. The course provides continuing instruction in advanced concepts and applications to refractive error determination and automated sight testing. It promotes a comprehensive knowledge of professional standards of practice.
Course Content
1. Introduction
- Course Content and Requirements
- Working relationships with Ophthalmology and Optometry
- Regulatory Body Website and Reference Tools
2. Anatomy & Physiology
- Automated Corneal Topography
- Physiological Defects of the Eye
- Ocutouch anatomy, physiology, and pathology software
- Ocular tonometry
- Ocular Neurology
- Ocular Circulatory System
- Refraction and Automated Sight-testing
3. Refractive Surgery
- Corneal Refractive Surgery
- Intraocular Refractive Surgery
- Risks, complications and contraindications of refractive surgery
- Equipment, instrumentation, and procedural analysis of refractive surgery procedures
4. Pharmacology
- Ophthalmic Diagnostic Agents and their usage
- Ophthalmic Therapeutic Agents and their usage
- Contraindications to Contact Lens Wear
- Use of online journals and databases for ocular medication information
5. Contact Lens Business Management
- Contact Lens Instruments
- Office Computerization
- Office Organization and Staffing
- Inventory Management Software
- Billing and fee structures
- Office booking systems
- Ophthalmologic office equipment and usage
- Optometric office equipment and usage
- Boutique Dispensing Concepts
6. Soft and Gas Permeable Contact Lens Fitting
- Pre-fit Ocular Evaluation
- Material Selection
- Parameter Determination
- Lens Insertion and Removal
- Patient Compliance
- Solutions and Accessories
- Follow-up Procedures
- Complications and Contraindications
7. Specialty and Therapeutic Contact Lens Applications
- Healthy Eye Applications
- Injured / Diseased Eye Applications
- Refractive Surgery Applications
Learning Activities
- Lectures
- Independent study of courseware
- Independent completion of online self-assessment quizzes
- Completion of field assignments
- Participation in online Discussion Forums
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:
- Review and describe the corneal topography of a healthy eye
- Review and describe the pathology of the visual system
- Describe the effects of ophthalmic ocular medications
- Describe the aspects of a successful contact lens practice
- Describe main concepts in refractive ocular surgery
- Describe the complete process of a contact lens fitting
- Recognize ocular situations that require referral for further care
- Describe the specialty contact lens fitting concepts
- Apply the Standards of Practice of Dispensing Opticians (Contact Lenses) from the College of Opticians of B.C.
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.