Course Description
This course provides learning opportunities for students to consolidate knowledge and skills gained in all of the second-year courses. Students will refine their skills in contact lenses, eyeglasses, and automated refraction under direct supervision of a program approved licensed eyecare professional. 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
- Regulatory standards of practice
- Orientation with supervising contact lens fitter
Contact lens practice management
- Effective and professional patient communication
- Eyeglass and contact lens price schedules
- Effective patient record keeping
- Resolving patient contact lens issues
- 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
- Identification and resolution of fitting outcomes by keratometer and slit lamp biomicroscope examination
- Over-refraction
- Contact lens Design and Ordering
- Soft and gas permeable lens design
- Specialty lens designs
- Determination of lens parameters
- Material 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 pattern evaluation
- Over-refraction for visual acuity
- Solution compatibility
- Patient lifestyle compatibility
- Resolution of ocular problems
- Resolution of lens fitting complications
- Contraindications to contact lens wear
- Troubleshooting allergies
- Systemic contraindications
- Referral for further treatment
- Communication and interaction with patients
- Cultural safety and humility
- Patient-provider relationships
- Informed consent
- Patient file documentation
- Appropriate patient referral
Learning Activities
The student will be under the direct supervision of a licensed eyecare provider in a retail optical practice. They will participate as a member of the optical staff providing eyewear service to patients. Regular site visits and practical assessments will be conducted by the instructor.
Means of Assessment
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.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, successful students 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 appropriate contact lens dispensing strategies when appropriate
- troubleshoot eyeglass and contact lens patient issues
- train and educate patients on eyeglass and contact lens care
- communicate effectively and professionally with patients and staff within the clinical practice
- apply appropriate interpersonal skills when handling customer complaints
- incorporate cultural safety and humility in opticianry practices
- descuss 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
Textbook Materials
No textbooks required. A student practicum manual will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.