The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) is taking registrations for its Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses (ACO-CACL), which is run online.
ACO lecturer Dr. Adrian Bruce says the College is well placed to provide this quality education program to qualified optometrists having been involved in advanced contact lens fitting since its establishment back in 1940.
“Optometrists at the ACO have always been actively involved in advanced contact lens fitting. However in recent years the ACO has also been working collaboratively at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital Contact Lens and Keratoconus Clinic and our scope of practice has broadened even further,” said Dr. Bruce.
“Now, for the first time, we are bringing that advanced contact lens experience to a graduate teaching program. Optometrists are able to access advanced contact lens teaching with the convenience of Australia’s most modern online optometry education delivery platform.”
The course comprises online lectures and demonstration videos as well as a practical clinical experience component.
Dr. Bruce said the first two online presentations review the fundamentals of modern contact lens practice, and corneal assessment including topography and tomography. “We also cover GP lens fitting for spherical errors and high astigmatism, pellucid marginal degeneration, keratoconus and post-keratoplasty, as well as fitting for ocular trauma and aphakia. There are also presentations on presbyopia and contact lens complications and solutions.
“The most dynamic areas of contact lens practice are probably miniscleral lenses and orthokeratology for children,” said Dr. Bruce. “We have great presentations on these two areas. Current corneal assessment technology such as Pentacam, Orbscan and Anterior OCT are also reviewed, as well as getting more out of topography.”
The lecturers in the ACO Advanced contact lens course combine experienced well known practitioners, with up and coming optometrists who are actively practicing in the advanced contact lens field. Dr. Bruce said the result is an advanced yet practical course, with material that can be applied to everyday contact lens practice.
He said the course will help optometrists who see contact lens patients to deliver practical patient care. “A part of everyday optometry practice is keeping up to date. Patients ask questions about things they have heard from “Dr. Google”; active industry partners are continuing to bring out new products; optometry practices need unique points of difference in order to stand out in a competitive marketplace. Even with existing patients; optometrists want a higher proportion of accurate first fittings, meaning less chair-time and happier patients. This advanced contact lens course will help optometrists stay “on top of the wave” in the modern era.”
• The six-month certificate includes 48 CPD (including 8 therapeutic) points and post-nominals upon completion of the full course. It features self-paced independent learning (approximately 24 hours) and flexible delivery comprising of local clinical experience placements and exams. Registrations close on the 19th August.
