What are the appropriate skills and knowledge required for the entry-level practice of optometry?

All health professions have developed a national program of competence assessment to address the specific issue of "entry-level practice." This is also true in optometry through the 3-Part examinations of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. These examinations test the cognitive (knowledge) skills necessary to be fit to practice and the communication, affective and psychomotor skills that are required to apply the underlying knowledge in the solution of patient problems. The scope of the National Board examinations and how they change to keep pace with the expansion and the scope of practice, demonstrates that entry-level is a dynamic concept.

Corneal hydration changes during the normal menstrual cycle--a preliminary study.

PIP: A study is described that was undertaken to determine if significant changes in corneal hydration and curvature occur during the normal menstrual cycle over an extended period of time. The right eyes of 6 young women ranging in age from 19 to 22 years, were measured for corneal thickness and curvature over a 2-month period. 5 readings of corneal thickness and 3 readings of corneal curvature were taken 3 times per week on the same day and hour for each subject. Each subject maintained a calendar of menstrual activity for the 2-month period and submitted it on completion of the experiment. The testing days were converted to the days of the menstrual cycle by matching chronological dates. The mean menstrual cycle length was 27.5 days. The mean menstrual phase was 5.5 days. Results from the data collected showed that the mean corneal thickness curve during 1 menstrual cycle closely paralleled the bimodal nature of the estrogen levels in plasma. A relationship of the corneal curvature change to corneal thickness change, of the levels found here (approximately 9%), was lacking. This study demonstrated that there is a significant change in corneal hydration during the normal menstrual cycle. Apparently, the change is associated with the effects of estrogen more than with progesterone. The authors believe one might assume ready access of these hormones via the aqueous humor or tear film because of their high lipid solubility. They suggest that another possibility would be an indirect action of hormones on the cornea via their effects on tear film osmolarity.^ieng