Course Description
This course provides learning opportunities in contact lenses and optical technologies at an advanced level. Students will apply knowledge and skills from related theory and laboratory courses to the clinical dispensary. Students will complete their clinical practice in the on-campus contact lens lab. They will complete their clinical skills under the direct supervision of a licensed eye care professional. There will be a continued focus on the technologies related to independent automated refraction.
Course Content
- Introduction
- clinical objectives
- clinical and personal hygiene
- Traditional and computerized diagnostic technologies
- slit lamp biomicroscope
- profile analyzer
- vertex conversion chart
- Snellen chart
- phoroptor
- autorefractor
- keratometry
- hand loop
- dioptric conversion chart
- acuity trial lens set
- automated corneal topography
- tonometry
- retinoscopy
- lensometer
- diameter gauge
- low vision devices
- Pre-fit evaluation / gas permeable contact lenses
- advanced ocular anatomy and physiology
- recognition of advanced ocular pathology
- abnormalities affecting gas permeable lens wear
- lifestyle considerations for hard and gas permeable lens wear
- interpreting refractive errors for hard and gas permeable lenses
- advanced corneal defects, deformities, and injuries
- Lens parameter determination
- Lens care
- chemical disinfection systems
- ultrasonic disinfection systems
- surfactant cleaners
- enzyme cleaners
- rewetting agents
- Fitting procedure for gas permeable lenses
- Patient compliance, instruction and dispensing procedures
- Patient follow-up care and evaluation
- instrumentation and differential diagnosis
- keratometry and biomicroscopy
- post-fit assessment
- corneal health assessment
- differential diagnosis and troubleshooting
- phoropter / trial lens set
- visual acuity verification
- over-refraction
- Follow-up protocol for gas permeable lens designs
- aspheric
- bitoric
- presbyopic
- front toric
- prism ballast
- aphakic
- back toric
- keratoconus
- cosmetic
- Follow-up protocol – fitting issues
Learning Activities
- Student and assigned group members are to complete 90 hours of clinical contact lens fitting under the supervision of the course instructor or lab technician
- Lectures
- Independent study of courseware
- Completion of field assignments
- Participation in Industry Day activities
Means of Assessment
Evaluation will be consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. This is a mastery course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Obtain a general history from the patient
- Determine what diagnostic activities must be conducted to complete an evaluation
- Use instrumentation and other provisional methods to determine appropriate gas permeable contact lens types and designs
- Interpret patient refractive error, keratometry readings, and automated corneal topography
- Discuss contact lens options with the patient
- Conduct a diagnostic evaluation of a contact lens using reality and simulation software
- Educate the patient on lens insertion, removal, and care
- Conduct a contact lens follow-up examination
- Make necessary modifications to improve contact lens fitting characteristics
- Verify visual acuity by over-refraction
- Perform the automated sight testing procedure
- Perform low vision assessment and dispense low vision aids
Textbook Materials
No textbooks required. A student practicum manual will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.