Academic Catalog

ODS-8632 Clinical Skills 3

Competent and successful optometric health care practitioners require a large number of clinical skills to be able to provide appropriate patient care to the public. The specific skills identified to allow patient interaction in clinical settings on and off campus are taught in Clinical Skills. This course will focus on the theory and clinical application of Clinical Skills in optometric medicine and will prepare the student for the Laser and Minor Surgical Procedures Course. The skills presented in this portion of the course are gonioscopy, dilated fundus examination including 90D auxillary lens, binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy, 3-mirror retinal evaluation. Advanced techniques will also be covered. These include foreign body removal, pressure patching, amniotic membranes, carotid auscultation, ocular cultures, punctual plug insertion, epilation, meibomian gland expression, scleral depression, extended ophthalmoscopy, off axis 90D fundus viewing, rotational and indentation gonioscopy and rotational 3-mirror retinal evaluation. Gonioscopy review will allow viewing of the anterior chamber angle for gonioscopic laser surgery. Dry eye diagnosis and management will be covered including tear break up time, Schirmer testing, dilation and irrigation. Corneal crosslinking, corneal chelation, anterior stromal puncture, epithelial debridement, paracentesis and conjunctival cystremoval and meibomian gland therapeutic management will also be introduced. These topics will be presented in a laboratory setting, readings with supplemental electronic material and lecture. Introduction to diagnostic imaging will be discussed with a concentration on indication and interpretation of the tests. We will continue to review previously taught procedures and theory. These will be presented via readings, lectures, simulators, in the laboratory and in the clinical setting.

Credits

2