Optometric Technician Course

Lesson 1 • Ocular Anatomy and Terminology

Covers external and internal eye structures with clinical terminology. Provides the vocabulary needed for all subsequent diagnostic and clinical chapters.

Lesson 2 • The Optometric Profession Overview

Introduces the scope of optometry, distinguishing it from ophthalmology and opticianry. Establishes the technician's role within the care team.

Lesson 3 • Clinic Environment and Safety

Orients students to clinic layout, infection control, and equipment safety protocols. Ensures safe practice before hands-on training begins.

Lesson 1 • Paediatric and Special Population Intake

Adapts intake techniques for children, elderly patients, and those with communication barriers. Ensures complete histories across diverse patient populations.

Lesson 2 • Chief Complaint Documentation

Teaches structured questioning to identify and record the patient's primary visual concern. Accurate chief complaints guide all subsequent testing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Medication and Allergy Review

Identifies ocular side effects of common systemic medications and documents allergies safely. Prepares technicians to flag clinically significant drug interactions.

Lesson 4 • Electronic Health Record Entry

Introduces EHR navigation, data entry standards, and error-correction procedures. Accurate EHR use supports continuity of care and legal documentation.

Lesson 1 • Pupil Assessment and Cover Testing

Covers pupil size, reactivity, and relative afferent pupillary defect testing, plus cover-uncover and alternate cover tests. These tests screen for neurological and binocular anomalies.

Lesson 2 • Colour Vision and Contrast Sensitivity

Introduces pseudoisochromatic plate testing and contrast sensitivity screening. Results help identify colour deficiencies and early neural or retinal dysfunction.

Lesson 3 • Distance Visual Acuity Measurement

Teaches Snellen and LogMAR chart use, proper patient positioning, and monocular testing technique. Accurate acuity measurement is the baseline for all refractive work.

Lesson 4 • Extraocular Motility and Confrontation Fields

Teaches assessment of ocular movements and gross visual field screening by confrontation. Findings flag motility disorders and significant field defects for further testing.

Lesson 1 • Basic Optics for Technicians

Explains light behaviour, lens types, and the optics of the human eye in practical terms. This foundation is required for understanding refractive error and correction.

Lesson 2 • Lensometry: Reading Spectacle Prescriptions

Covers manual and automated lensometer operation to measure existing spectacle lenses. Accurate lensometry verifies prescriptions and establishes a baseline for refraction.

Lesson 3 • Assisting with Manifest Refraction

Prepares technicians to set up the phoropter, perform retinoscopy screening, and assist the doctor during subjective refraction. Efficient assistance reduces chair time.

Lesson 4 • Keratometry and Corneal Curvature

Teaches manual and automated keratometry to measure corneal curvature in dioptres. Keratometry data supports contact lens fitting and surgical screening.

Lesson 1 • Non-Contact Tonometry

Covers air-puff tonometer operation, patient preparation, and result interpretation. Non-contact tonometry is the most common technician-performed IOP method.

Lesson 2 • Automated Perimetry Preparation

Covers patient setup, fixation monitoring, and reliability indices for automated visual field testing. Technician preparation directly affects test validity and repeatability.

Lesson 3 • Goldmann Applanation Tonometry Assistance

Teaches fluorescein instillation, slit-lamp preparation, and assisting the doctor during Goldmann tonometry. Proper preparation ensures accurate gold-standard IOP measurement.

Lesson 4 • Visual Field Screening with Confrontation and Amsler

Introduces Amsler grid testing and its role in detecting central field defects alongside confrontation screening. Results guide referral for formal perimetry.

Lesson 1 • Eyelid and Conjunctival Examination

Teaches inspection of eyelid margins, conjunctiva, and fornices using diffuse and focal illumination. Findings include blepharitis, follicles, papillae, and conjunctival injection.

Lesson 2 • Slit-Lamp Instrument Familiarisation

Introduces slit-lamp components, illumination types, and magnification settings. Instrument familiarity is prerequisite to all anterior segment examination tasks.

Lesson 3 • Standardised Documentation and Grading

Establishes consistent use of grading scales, clinical diagrams, and EHR templates for anterior segment findings. Standardised records support longitudinal monitoring.

Lesson 4 • Anterior Chamber and Lens Assessment

Introduces Van Herick angle estimation, cell and flare grading, and nuclear sclerosis grading. These assessments screen for angle closure risk and cataract progression.

Lesson 1 • Optical Coherence Tomography Setup

Teaches OCT instrument preparation, patient positioning, and scan acquisition for macula and optic nerve protocols. Proper setup ensures interpretable scan quality.

Lesson 2 • Optic Disc and Retinal Screening

Introduces disc-to-cup ratio estimation, nerve fibre layer assessment, and retinal lesion identification from fundus images. Technicians flag abnormal findings for the doctor.

Lesson 3 • Fundus Photography Fundamentals

Covers fundus camera operation, patient alignment, and image quality criteria. High-quality fundus photos document disc, macula, and vessel status for longitudinal comparison.

Lesson 4 • Pupil Dilation Procedures

Covers dilating drop selection, instillation technique, contraindication screening, and monitoring for adverse reactions. Dilation is required for most posterior segment imaging.

Lesson 1 • Patient Training: Insertion and Removal

Guides patients through step-by-step lens insertion, removal, and handling under technician supervision. Competent self-handling reduces infection and dropout rates.

Lesson 2 • Lens Care, Compliance, and Follow-Up

Educates patients on cleaning systems, replacement schedules, and warning signs requiring prompt care. Follow-up protocols ensure long-term lens safety and satisfaction.

Lesson 3 • Contact Lens Types and Parameters

Surveys soft, rigid gas-permeable, toric, multifocal, and specialty lens categories with key parameters. Parameter knowledge is essential for fitting and troubleshooting.

Lesson 4 • Pre-Fitting Assessment and Candidacy

Covers tear film evaluation, corneal topography review, and contraindication screening before lens fitting. Candidacy assessment prevents complications and improves outcomes.