Clinical Skills Certificate Course:
Contact Lenses
Course level:
This course is intended for ophthalmic assistants, technicians and technologists.
Course structure:
This course consists of short, illustrated reading segments. There is a quiz at the end of the course. Upon passing the quiz, the user will receive a certificate of completion.
Estimated time to complete:
Two hours.
Short Course Description:
This course on soft and hard (RGP) contact lens fitting includes discussion of indications for wear, history taking, contact lens parameters and verification, wear and replacement schedules, anterior segment examination, fitting variables and techniques, fit evaluation, insertion and removal, lens care, fitting astigmatism, and fitting the presbyope.
For the Detailed Course Description, see below
The course can be purchased via Paypal (you don't need a Paypal account) by using the button below, $10 for 2 months access. More than one course can be purchased at the same time by going to the course catalog. Courses can also be purchased via Authorize.net from the course catalog.
After purchase, the course can be accessed immediately by using the "courses" tab on the top menu bar to link to your "my courses" page.
Detailed Course Description
Basic vs. Specialty Contact Lens Fitting
Soft Contact Lenses, Part 1
Indications for contact lens wear
cosmetics
better vision
artificial iris
bandage lens
History taking
why?
age
occupation
medical history
expectations
Contact lens parameters
diameter
base curve
vault system
diameter/base curve relationship
lens thickness
lens edge design
water content
lens materials
oxygen transmission
Wear and replacement schedules and terminology
daily wear
flexible wear
frequent replacement
disposable
extended wear
continuous wear
tinted
decorative
Part 2: Fitting Spherical Soft Contact Lenses
Anterior Segment Examination
health
tear production
lids
pupil size
hygiene
Lens Type
Diameter
Base curve
Power
Fit Evaluation
coverage
centering
drape
movement
power
Ordering the contact lens
Insertion and removal
Initial wear time
Soft contact lens care
Part 3: Soft Contact Lenses, Fitting Astigmatism and Fitting Presbyopia
Soft lenses for the astigmatic patient
Does the patient really need astigmatic correction?
Toric soft lenses vs hard gas permeable lenses
Cylinder sensitivity testing
How much astigmatism correction does the patient need?
Using a trial toric soft lens
Choosing a trial lens
Evaluating the fit
LARS
Soft lenses for the presbyope
Soft lenses plus readers
Over-plusing the contact lens power
Monovision
determining the dominant eye
Multifocal soft lenses
Hard Contact Lenses (Rigid Gas Permeables, RGP), Part 1
Introduction
Lens Parameters
The base curve
Corneal topography
Calculating the initial lens power
The tear lens
The base curve/ lens power relationship
Lens diameter and the optic zone
Other lens parameters
Lens Fitting Designs
Apical clearance design
Corneal alignment design
Evaluation of the contact lens fit
Position and movement
Condition
Visual Acuity
Hard Contact Lenses (Rigid Gas Permeables, RGP), Part 2
Evaluation of the contact lens fit
Flexure
Residual astigmatism
Comfort
Fluorescein pattern
Corneal and eyelid integrity
punctate staining
corneal abrasion
3 and 9 o'clock staining
arcuate staining
dimple veiling
neovascularization
polymegathism
spectacle blur
orthokeratology
RGP lens inventory management
Diagnostic fitting
Empirical fitting
Lens parameter verification
Reading the lens power
Reading the diameter
Reading the base curve (with a radiuscope)
Reading the center thickness
RGP lens insertion and removal
Techniques
General instructions
Wearing time
RGP contact lens care
Daily cleaner
Saline solution
Enzymatic cleaner
Disinfection
General instructions