Practicum: 8 hours/week
Supervised clinical experience
Introduction
- 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
- 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
- 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;
- complete patient records;
- 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.
Assessment will be in accordance with the ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.
This is a Mastery course. Attendance is mandatory for successful completion of the course.
Consult the ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½Bookstore 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.