Course Description
This course provides learning opportunities for students to consolidate knowledge and skills gained in all of the second year courses. Students will complete their skills in contact lenses, eyeglasses, and automated sight-testing under direct supervision of a program approved licensed eyecare professional. A one-week on-campus (laboratory and clinical) instruction component may be required near the end of the semester to complete the course. Students will be expected to carry the workload of a beginning Contact Lens Fitter by the conclusion of the course.
Course Content
Introduction
- Assignment to contact lens supervisor
- Supervisor policies and objectives
- College of Opticians Of British Columbia – Review of the Standards of Practice
- Orientation with supervising Contact Lens Fitter
Contact Lens Practice Management
- Effective and professional patient communication
- Dispensing and contact lens price schedules
- Effective and regulative patient record keeping
- Resolving patient problems
- Doctor / patient follow-up care
Application of Theory and Skills
- Contact Lens Fitting Procedures
- Pre-fit ocular assessment by keratometer and slit lamp biomicroscope examination
- Recording normal and abnormal conditions of ocular tissue
- Tear performance test and evaluation
- Refractive error considerations
- Trial lens considerations and fitting designs
- Identifying and resolving physical fitting outcomes by keratometer and slit lamp biomicroscope examination
- Over-refraction
- Contact Lens Design Configuration and Ordering
- Implemented fitting philosophy
- Soft and Gas Permeable Lens Design
- Specialty lens configurations
- Determination of lens parameters
- Material requirements
- Manufacturing requirements
- Lens parameter verification
- Contact Lens Dispensing Procedures
- Personal hygiene
- Insertion and removal training
- Lens movement, centration, and comfort
- Lens solution requirements
- Lens care training
- Patient education
- Contact Lens Post-Fit Follow-Up Evaluation
- Keratometry
- Slit lamp biomicroscope examination of ocular tissues
- Slit lamp biomicroscope evaluation of lens fit
- Corneal staining evaluation
- Over-refraction for visual acuity
- Solution compatibility
- Patient lifestyle compatibility
- Resolving ocular problems
- Resolving lens fitting complications
- Contraindications To Contact Lens Wear
- Troubleshooting Allergies
- Systemic contraindications
- Referral for further treatment
Learning Activities
- Lectures
- Independent study of courseware
- Independent completion of online self-assessment quizzes
- Completion of field assignments
- Participation in online Discussion Forums
- Regular site visits and practical assessments will be conducted by the instructor
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:
- Perform complete soft and gas permeable initial and follow up contact lens fitting appointments
- Perform patient file maintenance on new and previous eyeglass and contact lens patients
- Order appropriate eyewear products for eyeglass and contact lens patients
- Apply boutique eyeglass and contact lens dispensing strategies when appropriate
- Troubleshoot eyeglass and contact lens patients’ issues
- Train and educate patients on eyeglass and contact lens care
- Communicate effectively and professionally with patients and staff within the clinical practice
- Perform appropriate interpersonal skills when handling customer complaints
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.