Clinical: 120 hrs/semester
Supervised practicum experience
Introduction
- Assignment of student to the optical dispensary and supervising licensed eyecare professional
- Clinical objectives
- Professionalism in the dispensary
Frame Analysis and Procedure
- Identification of materials and fitting design philosophy
- Frame part functions
- Verification of manufacturer specifications
- Neutral frame alignment
- Adjustment frames on patients
- Frame selection with patients
Single Vision Lens Analysis and Procedure
- Product knowledge development
- Prescription interpretation
- Application of product knowledge to patient requirements
- Interpupillary distance measurement
- Vertex distance measurement
- Lab order form completion
- Verification of completed eyewear
- Eyewear delivery to patient
Multifocal/Progressive Lens Analysis and Procedure
- Product knowledge development
- Prescription interpretation
- Application of product knowledge to patient requirements
- Interpupillary distance measurement
- Main reference point for multifocal and progressive lenses
- Lab order form completion
- Verification of completed eyewear
- Eyewear delivery to patient
- Eyewear care for patients
Prior Prescriptions and Fitting Methods
- Neutralization of prior prescriptions
- Determination of lens material and type
- Optical centre and main reference point placement
Problem Solving / Patient Adaptation
- Interpretation of patient concerns
- Frame fitting analysis
- Verification of lens power, optical centres and reference points
- Verification of visual acuity with prescription
Professional Dispensing Development
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Customer acknowledgment
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The positive approach
- Choosing product by price
Communication and interaction with patients
- Cultural safety and humility
- Patient-provider relationships
- Informed consent
- Patient file documentation
- Appropriate patient referral
Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:
- identify frame fitting philosophies
- apply appropriate frame fitting techniques to facial shapes and contours
- align frames to neutral position and adjust frames to patient needs
- interpret prescription and patient requirements and dispense appropriate lenses and frames
- interpret multifocal prescriptions
- measure patient interpupillary distance for both distance and reading vision
- measure vertex distance
- measure major reference point for fitting of single vision, multifocal and progressive lenses
- complete lab order forms for lens and frame ordering and patient record keeping
- analyze patient’s prior eyeglasses for duplicating eyewear
- fit and dispense prescriptions for high powered lenses
- solve patient problems during adaptation
- incorporate cultural safety and humility in opticianry practices
- discuss the history and ongoing effects of colonization on the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, including disparities of power in patient-provider relationships
- identify situations where informed consent may be problematic and take appropriate steps to ensure patient understanding
- adhere to infection prevention and control measures established by jurisdiction and national regulatory bodies
- recognize significant signs and symptoms in relation to the patient's eyes to identify the need for referral
This is a mastery course. Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Students will receive detailed outlines of performance expectations at the beginning of the course. Evaluation for mastery will include the following components:
- satisfactory performance of objectives as assessed by the course instructor and in conjunction with the supervising licensed eyecare professional.
Evaluation records will be completed by the course instructor following consultation with the student and with the supervising licensed eyecare professional.
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
Stein, Stein and Freeman, The Ophthalmic Assistant: A Text for Allied and Associated Ophthalmic Personnel, current edition, Elsevier.