ABSTRACT
Purpose: To describe a new pathway for virtual keratoconus (KC) monitoring in the corneal department of a tertiary referral center in the UK during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID?19) pandemic. Methods: A virtual outpatient clinic to monitor KC patients (KC PHOTO clinic) was created. All patients from the KC database in our department were included. At each hospital visit, patients’ visual acuity and tomography (Pentacam; Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) were collected by a health?care assistant and an ophthalmic technician, respectively. The results were virtually reviewed by a corneal optometrist to identify stability or progression of KC and discussed with a consultant if needed. Those with progression were contacted by telephone and listed for corneal crosslinking (CXL). Results: From July 2020 until May 2021, 802 patients were invited to attend the virtual KC outpatient clinic. Of them, 536 patients (66.8%) attended and 266 (33.2%) did not attend. After corneal tomography analysis, 351 (65.5%) were stable, 121 (22.6%) showed no definite evidence of progression, and 64 (11.9%) showed progression. Forty?one (64%) patients with progressive KC were listed for CXL and the remaining 23 patients deferred treatment after the pandemic. By converting a face?to?face clinic to a virtual clinic, we were able to increase our capacity by nearly 500 appointments per year. Conclusion: In pandemic times, hospitals have developed novel methods of delivering safe patient care. KC PHOTO is a safe, effective, and innovative method of monitoring KC patients and diagnosing progression. In addition, virtual clinics can increase the clinic capacity tremendously and reduce the need of face?to?face appointments, which is beneficial in pandemic conditions.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and clinical practice of glaucoma among optometry students and optometry practitioners with different years of clinical experience and academic background. Methods: A survey with 20 questions on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of glaucoma was prepared and self?administered to optometry students and optometry practitioners practicing in an eye hospital/clinic/optical with varied years of clinical experience and education qualification. Results: Among the 558 participants, 57% were optometry practitioners and 43% were students. The knowledge scores among optometry practitioners increased significantly with an increase in the years of clinical experience (P < 0.001). Participants with master’s degrees scored higher than participants with bachelor’s degrees (P = 0.12). There was no statistically significant difference in knowledge scores based on the type of clinical practice ? hospital, private practice, or optical (P = 0.39). Practicing optometrists who performed slit?lamp examination, gonioscopy, IOP measurements, and disc evaluation for the detection of glaucoma had significantly higher knowledge scores than those who did not perform these tests in their practice (P < 0.05). A positive attitude toward glaucoma learning through workshops and hands?on training was reported by optometrists and students. Conclusion: Knowledge about glaucoma was good among optometrists and optometry students and was better among those who handled the diagnostics. All the optometrists had a positive attitude toward enhancing their practice through proper training
ABSTRACT
The optometrist education system in the United States has a history of more than 100 years and has become a complete and mature system. It contains five parts: optometry admission test (OAT); a complete curriculum of optometry, including basic medical lectures, optometric theories and skills, large amount of clinical practices; the National Board Exam of Optometry (NBEO) which is mandatory for every licensed optometrist/practitioner, a one-year optional resident program; continue education in every year for renewing optometric licenses. We analyzed differents such as the enrollment requirements, the training time, the graduation requirements and the career perspective of the optometry education system between China and the United States were analyzed, we want to develop a optometrist training system with Chinese characteristics.
ABSTRACT
The optometrist education system in the United States has a history of more than 100 years and has become a complete and mature system . It contains five parts: optometry admission test (OAT);a complete curriculum of optometry, including basic medical lectures, optometric theories and skills, large amount of clinical practices; the National Board Exam of Optometry (NBEO) which is mandatory for every licensed optometrist/practitioner, a one-year optional resident program; continue education in every year for renewing optometric licenses. We analyzed differents such as the enrollment requirements, the training time, the graduation requirements and the career perspective of the optometry education system between China and the United States were analyzed , we want to develop a optometrist training system with Chinese characteristics.
ABSTRACT
India has a proud tradition of blindness prevention, being the first country in the world to implement a blindness control programme which focused on a model to address blinding eye disease. However, with 133 million people blind or vision impaired due to the lack of an eye examination and provision of an appropriate pair of spectacles, it is imperative to establish a cadre of eye care professionals to work in conjunction with ophthalmologists to deliver comprehensive eye care. The integration of highly educated four year trained optometrists into primary health services is a practical means of correcting refractive error and detecting ocular disease, enabling co-managed care between ophthalmologists and optometrists. At present, the training of optometrists varies from two year trained ophthalmic assistants/optometrists or refractionists to four year degree trained optometrists. The profession of optometry in India is not regulated, integrated into the health care system or recognised by the majority of people in India as provider of comprehensive eye care services. In the last two years, the profession of optometry in India is beginning to take the necessary steps to gain recognition and regulation to become an independent primary health care profession. The formation of the Indian Optometry Federation as the single peak body of optometry in India and the soon to be established Optometry Council of India are key organisations working towards the development and regulation of optometry.