Course Description
This course provides learning opportunities in contact lens and optical technologies at an advanced level in simulated laboratory environment. Students will fit spherical, toric, and presbyopic refractive errors for soft contact lenses, and spherical refractive errors for gas permeable contact lenses.
Course Content
Introduction
- Laboratory objectives
- Laboratory hygiene
- Office instruments
Refraction, automated refraction and over-refraction with contact lenses
- Phoropter and trial lens acuity set
- Mathematical calculations
- Verifying spherical lens correction
- Verifying toric lens correction
- Verifying presbyopic corrections
- Visual acuity complication
- Co-manage and recognize when to refer to an optometrist, ophthalmologist, or physician
- Automated refraction
- The process of refraction
- Equipment and function
- Subjective and objective refraction
- Tonometry
- Professional standards of practice
Soft and gas permeable lens types, materials characteristics, and fitting relationship to ocular health
Soft and gas permeable lens solution properties, chemical compounds, and relationship to ocular health
Contact lens contaminants, complications, and contraindications
Lens damage and the relationship to fitting complications
Soft and gas permeable specialty materials and fitting applications
- Keratoconus lenses
- Astigmatic lenses
- Piggyback lenses
- Aphakic lenses
- Pediatric lenses
- Orthokeratology lenses
Soft and gas permeable lens design analysis and parameter modification
Communication and interaction with patients
- Cultural safety and humility
- Patient-provider relationships
- Informed consent
- Patient file documentation
- Appropriate patient referral
Learning Activities
Application / calculation exercises in laboratory
Laboratory assignments
Independent study
Means of Assessment
Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following:
- Professionalism, preparedness, and attendance 0-5%
- Assignments 10-20%
- Term tests 45-60%
- Final exam 20-30%
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:
- demonstrate the use of instruments for soft and gas permeable contact lens fitting and analysis to meet the criteria for a well-fitting contact lens
- demonstrate the steps of a typical soft or gas permeable lens pre-fit evaluation, diagnostic fitting, and post-fit evaluation
- demonstrate proper soft and gas permeable lens care and hygiene
- access online pharmaceutical information on ocular medications
- perform gas permeable lens parameter modifications
- perform an over-refraction process in a typical contact lens fitting
- describe and perform an automated refraction procedure using objective and subjective means
- describe and perform the steps in an automated refraction assessment
- quantify refractive error using objective and subjective means
- desribe the automated refractive error assessment within the context of the overall eye health examination.
- 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
Textbook Materials
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
Efron, Contact Lens Practice, current edition, Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier.