Ultimate Technicians Survival Guide:

Two articles by Eye Source & published in Glaucoma Today 2012:  

I checked Intra-ocular pressure.  Now what do I do?

• Key Technical Skills
• Patient Work-up

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR TIPS

Because ophthalmic medical equipment is extremely expensive, the saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” rings especially true. We train staff members to efficiently handle easy repairs in the office, and they know who to call when more complex equipment issues arise.  This saves enormously in equipment down-time and maintenance fees!  Be prepared to be shocked, surprised & elated!

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: BUILDING AN EFFICIENT TECHNICAL TEAM

Building a successful ophthalmic technical team is similar to running a factory assembly line. All the units need to work together seamlessly in order to produce a superior product. In ophthalmology, the units are the individual technicians and the product is a satisfied patient. This is easier said than done. Building a functional team doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes a lot of planning, time, and strategy. But the final result is well worth the effort.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: UNDERSTANDING VISION TRAINING AND TREATMENT

Tips for Optometric Assistants and Technicians on how to improve their INSTRUMENTATION SKILLS.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: LEARNING ABOUT EXTRAOCULAR MUSCLES

Additional Tips for Optometric Assistants and Technicians on how to improve their INSTRUMENTATION SKILLS.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: MEASUREMENT OF ANTERIOR SEGMENT OF THE EYE

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are caused by imperfections in the shape of cornea which in turn results in blurred or distorted vision. The cornea is a key factor in the overall eye health. With the increase in the amount of ocular surgical procedures, it has become increasingly more important during pre-operative examinations to test the eyes to ensure the best surgical decision for the patient.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: PEARLS FOR SUCCESSFUL MANUAL REFRACTIONS

The eye works like a camera. Parallel light rays travel through the cornea where they are refracted (bent). The light rays then pass through the lens where they are refracted again and ultimately come to a focal point on the retina. If those light rays do not come to a focal on the retina, then the eye has imperfect optics. Imperfect optics are a result of the following conditions: eye too long, eye too short, curvature of the cornea, and curvature of the crystalline lens. If any of these conditions exist, then the result is the eye having a refractive error.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: AUTOMATED VISUAL FIELD INTERPRETATION

Light coming into the eye is received by the photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) in the retina and are converted into electrical energy. These

impulses are picked up by special cells called ganglion cells that come together to form the optic nerve. When damage occurs to these ganglion cells, the “messages” from that portion of the retina are lost. As the nerve fibers of the optic nerve become damaged, there is a gradual loss of vision. The visual field test can help measure entire scope of a person’s vision.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: GLAUCOMA IMAGING TECHNIQUES FOR PERFORMING MORE ACCURATE SCANS

No matter how advanced technology becomes, successful glaucoma scans are directly correlated to the skill of the clinician performing the test. It is imperative that a sharp, high-quality image is obtained by the examiner. Poor technique, inaccurate data input, and lack of patient education are some of the reasons for poor scan quality.

THE PARAOPTOMETRIC: TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF OCT INTERPRETATION

Additional Tips for Optometric Assistants and Technicians on how to improve their INSTRUMENTATION SKILLS.