Standard

Posted: 03/18/08

R State Standard £ Institutionally Developed College: N/A

OPD 113 – Rigid Contact Lenses

Course Description

This course continues students' study of contact lenses with emphasis on rigid and gas permeable trial and prescriptive lens fitting techniques. Topics include: lens selection; inspection and verification; fitting guidelines and regulations; follow-up care; lens care and storage; and fitting specialty lenses.

Competency Areas	Hours
Lens Selection	Class	2
Inspection and Verification	D. Lab	4
Fitting Guidelines and Regulations	P. Lab/O.B.I.	6
Follow-Up Care	Credit	6
Lens Care and Storage
Fitting Specialty Lenses

Prerequisite:	OPD 111
Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will be able to:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
LENS SELECTION		3	10	8
Initial consideration	Describe the factors used to make an initial selection of rigid contact lenses.
Lens material	Name the primary properties of lens material considered in the selection of rigid contact lenses.
Custom lens	Describe the factors considered when determining the total diameter of custom rigid contact lenses.
	Compare and contrast power and radius in the selection of rigid contact lenses.
	Define and explain the purpose of peripheral curves in the selection of rigid contact lenses.
	Describe the blend categories for rigid contact lenses.
	Discuss the impact of blending on lens verification of rigid contact lenses.
	Define center thickness.
	Identify the practice used to determine lens thickness for rigid contact lenses.
	Describe the short method of calculating the power of rigid contact lenses.
	Discuss the methods used to determine high refractive power for rigid contact lenses.
	Calculate corrected power for a high refractive rigid contact lens.
	Explain edge lift and edge contour as they apply to the selection of rigid contact lenses.
	Discuss the factors considered when determining the need for a front bevel of a rigid contact lens.
	Describe the impact of riding position of a rigid contact lens on corneal integrity.
Standard lenses	Compare and contrast diameter, power, and thickness procedures for custom and standard rigid contact lenses.
Flexing	Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the flexing property of rigid contact lenses.
INSPECTION AND VERIFICATION		3	5	8
Diameter	Describe the procedure for measuring the total diameter of a rigid contact lens using a measuring magnifier.
	Measure the total diameter of a rigid contact lens using a measuring magnifier.
	Describe the procedure for measuring the total diameter of a rigid contact lens using a V-channel gauge.
	Measure the total diameter of a rigid contact lens using a V-channel gauge.
Optical zone	Discuss the various methods used to measure optical zone diameter of rigid contact lenses.
	Identify the factors which limit the accuracy of instruments to measure the optical zone of rigid contact lenses.
	Use a projection magnifier to measure the optical zone of a rigid contact lens.
Peripheral curve	Discuss the various methods used to measure peripheral curve width diameter of rigid contact lenses.
	Identify the factors which limit the accuracy of instruments to measure the peripheral curve width of rigid contact lenses.
	Use a projection magnifier to measure the peripheral curve width of a rigid contact lens.
	Discuss the factors which determine the tolerance for peripheral curve width measurements of rigid contact lenses.
Base curve	Describe the methods used to verify the base curve of a rigid contact lens.
Warpage	Describe the procedure used to detect warpage of a rigid contact lens.
Peripheral curve radius	Discuss limitations in measuring the peripheral curve radius of rigid contact lenses.
Power	Describe the methods of measuring the power of a rigid contact lens.
	Measure the power of a rigid contact lens.
Center thickness	Describe the methods of measuring the center thickness of a rigid contact lens.
	Measure the center thickness of a rigid contact lens.
Edge	Describe the procedure used for evaluating the quality of the edge of a rigid contact lens.
	Inspect the edge of a rigid contact lens.
Surface and optical quality	Describe the procedure used to verify surface condition and optical quality of a rigid contact lens.
	Verify the surface condition and optical quality of a rigid contact lens.
Routine inspection	Name the instruments used to perform a routine inspection of a rigid contact lens to assure all parameters agree with the American National Standards Institute Z80 requirements.
FITTING GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS		5	10	20
General requirements	State the two general requirements of all contact lenses.
	State the minimum acceptable pupillary area coverage the optical zone of a contact lens must provide.
General rules	State the three physiological conditions contact lenses must have for successful wear.
Tears	Discuss the force of attraction between the lens and the cornea and its relationship to tear layer thickness.
	Discuss tear movement for various lens riding positions.
Gravity	Describe lens positioning forces when free of lid contact.
	Describe the factors which determine the exact position of the lens center of gravity.
Lid force	Discuss lid force on the position of contact lenses.
Friction	Discuss the frictional forces that determine lens riding position.
Lens adherence	Compare and contrast the forces affecting the adherence of corneal contact lenses.
Insertion and removal	Describe the procedures used by the rigid contact lens fitter to insert and remove customer lenses.
	Insert and remove customer's rigid contact lenses.
	Describe the procedure used to instruct a customer in the proper insertion and removal techniques for wear of rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct a customer in the proper insertion and removal techniques for wear of rigid contact lenses.
	Discuss federal, state, and professional organization's rules, regulations, and guidelines concerning the fitting of rigid contact lenses.
	Discuss the area of the State Board of Dispensing Opticians license requirements which concern the fitting of rigid contact lenses.
FOLLOW-UP CARE		3	5	8
Emergency procedures	Train the customer in appropriate emergency responses to insertion and removal problems concerned with rigid contact lenses.
Routine lens hygiene	Train the customer in the selection of specific care solutions for soaking, wetting, lubricating, disinfecting, and cleaning of rigid contact lenses.
	Provide customer with written instructions concerning symptoms of problems and recommended actions associated with rigid contact lenses.
Protocols	Describe the follow-up protocols for various types of rigid contact lenses.
	Describe the follow-up protocols for various types of rigid contact lens customers.
	Schedule follow-up visits compatible with customer physiology and type of rigid contact lenses.
Screening data	Obtain, record, and interpret rigid contact lens vision screening data.
Slit lamp techniques	Use slit lamp techniques, with and without fluorescein, to determine adequacy of fit for rigid contact lenses.
LENS CARE AND STORAGE		3	5	8
Wetting	Describe the functions served by applying a wetting solution to a rigid contact lens.
	Discuss the purpose of each ingredient in wetting solutions used with rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct customer on the danger of ocular infection when substituting saliva for wetting solutions used with rigid contact lenses.
Soaking	Describe the functions of soaking solutions designed for use with rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct the customer in the proper use of soaking solutions designed for use with rigid contact lenses.
Cleaning	Describe the functions of cleaning solutions designed for use with rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct the customer in the proper use of cleaning solutions designed for use with rigid contact lenses.
	Explain the various methods of disinfecting rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct the customer in the various methods of disinfecting rigid contact lenses.
Wet versus dry storage	Compare and contrast wet and dry storage of rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct the customer in the proper procedure to wet store rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct the customer in the proper procedure to dry store rigid contact lenses.
Contamination of solutions	Describe the factors involved in contamination of rigid contact lens solutions.
	Discuss the importance of proper instruction in the use of rigid contact lens solutions as a preventative of solution contamination.
	Describe methods of preventing contamination of bottled solutions used with rigid contact lens care and storage.
Storage cases	Describe the various types and styles of rigid contact lens storage cases.
	Instruct the customer in the proper use of rigid contact lens storage cases.
Cleaning	Discuss various rigid contact lens cleaning solutions and the purpose each serves.
	Link appropriate cleaning solution to customer's specific type of rigid contact lens.
	Instruct customer in the proper use of rigid contact lens cleaning solutions.
Accessory solutions	Discuss various accessory solutions and the benefits or disadvantages experienced by rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct rigid contact lens customer in the proper use of accessory solutions.
FITTING SPECIALITY LENSES		3	5	8
Tinted rigid lenses	Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of tinted rigid contact lenses.
	Discuss the various paradoxes of tinted rigid contact lenses.
	Instruct customers in tinted lens options and the expected results of wearing specific types and styles.
Ultraviolet absorbing lenses	Discuss the range of the ultraviolet spectrum which rigid contact lenses absorb.
	Identify the high point in the ultraviolet spectrum above which rigid contact lenses do not absorb.
Lenticular	Describe the construction of plus and minus power lenticular rigid contact lenses.
Non-rotational lenses	Discuss specialized non-rotational rigid contact lenses and the purpose each is designed to serve.
Increasing tear exchange	Discuss the rigid contact lens modifications designed to increase tear flow to the cornea and the effectiveness of the modifications.
Sports/underwater lenses	Compare and contrast the advantages and limitations of fitting sports and underwater rigid contact lenses.
Pinhole	Explain the concept of pinhole light transfer and discuss its practical application in rigid contact lenses.
Countering high-riding lens	Describe the factors which contribute to a rigid contact lens riding in a higher than normal position.
	Discuss the features which are designed to counter a high-riding rigid contact lens.
Fitting guidelines	Instruct the customer in the additional procedures and cautions associated with wearing optional feature rigid contact lenses.
	Evaluate the customer's improved vision and/or comfort which results from wearing optional feature rigid contact lenses.
	Order optional feature rigid contact lenses designed to correct a problem(s) not solved through wear of standard lenses.
	Conduct customer follow-up examination to determine suitability of wearing optional feature rigid contact lenses.

Suggested Resources

Mandell, R. B. (1988). Contact Lens Practice (4^th ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

Soper, J. W., et al. (1984). Adverse Effects of Contact Lens Wear: An Atlas for Ophthalmic Practitioners. Thorofare, NJ: Slack.

Stein & Slatt. (1988). Ophthalmic Assistant: Fundamentals and Clinical Practice (5^th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

Stein & Slatt. (1990). Fitting Guide for Rigid and Soft Contact Lenses (3^rd ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.