Contact Lens Educational Goals and Objectives

PGY-2 Level Goals

Medical Knowledge

  • To describe the optics of the soft contact lens and hard contact lens (e.g., rigid gas permeable CL); base curve changes, the lacrimal lens, and the optic zone.
  • To describe conversion of a spectacle prescription (Rx) to a CL Rx, including method of converting from plus to minus cylinder.
  • To describe basic CL design, using appropriate terminology.
  • To describe techniques for and perform basic CL fitting.
  • To describe selection of CL candidates with non-complex needs.
  • To describe contraindications for contact lens use.
  • To describe fundamentals of ophthalmic optics in CL management (e.g., CL choices, techniques for fitting individuals).
  • To list indications for contact lenses in non-complex cases.
  • To describe CL choices and techniques for fitting individuals with non-complex CL needs.


Patient Care

  • To perform a basic contact lens (CL) history and examination, and to be aware of additional basic tests and questions that are required for CL patients with more complex needs.
  • To perform the techniques of retinoscopy, refraction, and over-refraction in the routine CL patient.
  • To perform advanced retinoscopy techniques in a CL patient.
  • To perform advanced refraction techniques in a CL patient, including diagnostic fitting.
  • To perform techniques to verify and inspect contact lenses.
  • To use auxiliary CL instruments and tests (e.g., trial set, fluorescein testing).
  • To perform CL verification for vision correction, fit, and comfort.
  • To utilize appropriate teaching skills to instruct patients in the safe insertion, removal, and care of contact lenses.


PGY-3 Level Goals (in addition to PGY-2 Level Goals)
Medical Knowledge

  • To describe more advanced concepts of ophthalmic optics in CL.
  • To describe indications for more advanced CL (e.g., therapeutic lenses).
     
  • To describe the more advanced optics of the soft contact lens (SCL) and hard contact lens (e.g., rigid gas permeable CL); base curve changes, the lacrimal lens, and the optic zone.
  • To describe more advanced CL design (e.g., special lenses and special CL shapes or materials).
  • To describe and perform more advanced CL fitting (e.g., post-keratoplasty).
  • To describe selection of CL candidates with more complex needs (e.g., post-surgical).
  • To describe the more advanced CL complications. (e.g. microbial keratitis, sterile corneal infiltrates, preservative toxicity)


Patient Care

  • To perform a more advanced CL history and examination, employing additional tests and questions appropriate for patients with more complex CL needs (e.g., keratoconus, difficult CL fittings).
  • To perfom retinoscopy and refraction in the CL patient with more complex needs (e.g., keratoconus, post-keratoplasty).
  • To perform more advanced retinoscopy techniques in a CL patient.
  • To perform more advanced refraction techniques in CL patient, including diagnostic fitting.
  • To perform advanced techniques to verify and inspect contact lenses in patients with complex CL needs.
  • To perform more advanced CL fitting in patients with complex needs (e.g., keratoconus, CL in children, active corneal disease).
  • To describe and use the CL instruments in more complex cases.
  • To perform appropriate CL selection (e.g., material selection, CL modification).
  • To perform corneal topography to fit contact lenses.
  • To use auxiliary CL instruments in patients with more complex needs (e.g., post-surgical topography).
  • To perform CL verification for vision, fit, and comfort in therapeutic CL care.

 

Goals at all levels of Training

Professionalism

  • To treat patients with respect and compassion at all times
  • To treat clinical and administrative staff with respect
  • To treat medical students with respect and strive to create an atmosphere conducive to education
  • To arrive on-time for clinical experiences
  • To prepare in advance for surgical experiences
  • To work to become part of the clinical team
    • To work with the faculty, staff, fellow and other residents on the service to determine your responsibilities
    • To remain flexible and offer to help out with the responsibilities of others when you can
  • To remain visible and available to participate in clinical care throughout the clinical session. If you leave the clinical care area make sure that other members of the service know where you are and why
  • answer your pager within 10 minutes of being paged.
 

Interpersonal and communication skills

  • To communicate your name and role on the service to patients and their families.
    • "Hello, I'm Dr. Resident, I'm a resident working with Dr. Attending today."
  • To present patients to the attending in a succinct but complete way
  • To maintain timely and legible medical records
  • To talk when you should be talking, listen when you should be listening
 

Practice-based learning and improvement

  • To learn to recognize feedback from faculty, fellows, fellow residents, patients and students
  • To accept that feedback constructively and work to improve based on it
  • To accept your role as a teacher as well as a learner. Work to educate students, fellow residents, faculty, staff and patients
 

Systems based practice

  • To work for the benefit of your patients to communicate with other health care provider
  • To act as an advocate for your patient within the health care system
  • To become aware of the costs of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Consider these costs as you recommend and prescribe these interventions.