OPT-8530 Contact Lens 1-Soft Contact Lenses
This course, which is the first part of a three-term sequence, introduces the student to the fundamentals of soft contact lenses. Historical development of contact lenses will be reviewed and placed in context of modern developments. This course will develop the principles of contact lens physiology and optics, and integrate them with the student’s understanding of the cornea, tear film, and adnexal anatomy. Ocular measurements necessary for contact lens design will be correlated with on-eye evaluation of soft contact lenses. Oxygen requirements for safe lens wear will be contrasted for daily wear (soft and rigid lenses), extended wear hydrogel. Students will learn how to design, fit, and manage standard daily wear soft lenses, silicone hydrogel lenses worn for extended and/or continuous wear, and toric soft lenses for the correction of astigmatism. Students will also learn about contact lens cleaning and disinfection solutions that are used in order to maintain healthy contact lens wear. Students will have the opportunity to work through calculations and fitting procedures during weekly laboratory sessions. During these labs, students will work with a variety of different lens types and materials in order to gain confidence with fitting principles and problem solving prior to entering patient care at The Eye Institute.