Contactology Course

Lesson 1 • Contact Lens Types and Materials

Introduces soft, rigid gas-permeable, and specialty lens categories alongside polymer chemistry basics. Connects material properties to clinical performance expectations.

Lesson 2 • Ocular Anatomy for Lens Practitioners

Covers corneal layers, conjunctiva, tear film, and anterior segment structures relevant to lens wear. Provides the anatomical baseline for all subsequent fitting decisions.

Lesson 3 • Scope of Contactology Practice

Defines the practitioner's professional boundaries, referral criteria, and ethical obligations. Situates contactology within the broader eye care team.

Lesson 1 • Vertex Distance and Power Conversion

Teaches conversion of spectacle prescriptions to contact lens powers using vertex distance calculations. Directly enables accurate prescription translation in clinical practice.

Lesson 2 • Refractive Errors and Correction

Explains myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia in terms of focal point displacement. Links each error type to the corrective lens strategy used in fitting.

Lesson 3 • Geometric Optics Fundamentals

Reviews refraction, reflection, vergence, and thin-lens equations as applied to contact lenses. Forms the optical foundation for prescription calculation in later sections.

Lesson 4 • Tear Lens and Residual Astigmatism

Explains how the fluid lens formed under a rigid lens corrects corneal astigmatism and introduces residual astigmatism concepts. Critical for toric and RGP lens selection.

Lesson 1 • Anterior Segment Examination

Covers slit-lamp biomicroscopy technique, grading scales, and documentation of lid, corneal, and conjunctival findings. Establishes the pre-fitting baseline for monitoring changes.

Lesson 2 • Contraindication Identification

Catalogs absolute and relative contraindications including dry eye disease, active infection, and uncontrolled systemic conditions. Enables safe patient selection before fitting begins.

Lesson 3 • Tear Film Evaluation

Teaches non-invasive and invasive tear assessment methods to quantify volume, stability, and quality. Tear film status directly determines lens modality and replacement schedule suitability.

Lesson 4 • Corneal Topography and Keratometry

Introduces curvature measurement tools, topographic maps, and indices used to characterize corneal shape. Accurate curvature data is essential for base curve selection in fitting.

Lesson 1 • Multifocal Soft Lens Fitting

Introduces simultaneous-vision and alternating-vision designs and their fitting and optimization strategies. Extends soft lens skills to presbyopic patient management.

Lesson 2 • Soft Lens Fit Assessment

Covers centration, movement, coverage, and push-up test evaluation using slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Systematic assessment criteria ensure physiologically acceptable lens behavior.

Lesson 3 • Toric Soft Lens Fitting

Addresses axis stabilization mechanisms, rotation assessment, and over-refraction for toric lenses. Builds on spherical fitting skills to manage astigmatic corrections.

Lesson 4 • Trial Lens Application and Removal

Teaches practitioner-performed and patient-performed insertion and removal techniques with hygiene protocols. Competent handling reduces contamination risk and lens damage.

Lesson 1 • RGP Lens Design and Parameters

Explains back optic zone radius, total diameter, edge design, and peripheral curve systems for RGP lenses. Parameter knowledge is prerequisite to trial lens selection and modification.

Lesson 2 • Fluorescein Pattern Interpretation

Teaches sodium fluorescein instillation, cobalt blue illumination, and systematic pattern reading for RGP lenses. Pattern interpretation drives all base curve and peripheral curve adjustments.

Lesson 3 • RGP Fitting for Regular Corneas

Applies alignment fitting philosophy to spherical and toric corneas using trial lens sets and over-refraction. Builds systematic fitting skills for the most common RGP patient population.

Lesson 4 • RGP Parameter Modification

Covers in-office and laboratory modification techniques including polishing, edge blending, and curve adjustment. Enables practitioners to refine lens fit without full reorder.

Lesson 1 • Scleral Lens Fundamentals

Introduces scleral lens anatomy, landing zone concepts, and vault measurement principles. Provides the conceptual framework before hands-on scleral fitting practice.

Lesson 2 • Orthokeratology Principles and Fitting

Explains corneal reshaping mechanics, reverse geometry design, and topographic monitoring for orthokeratology. Prepares students to fit and manage overnight reshaping lens programs.

Lesson 3 • Prosthetic and Cosmetic Specialty Lenses

Covers hand-painted prosthetic lenses, cosmetic tinted lenses, and fitting considerations for disfigured eyes. Completes the specialty lens curriculum with aesthetic and rehabilitative applications.

Lesson 4 • Therapeutic and Bandage Lens Use

Addresses bandage lens indications, material selection, and monitoring protocols for ocular surface disease management. Bridges cosmetic lens fitting skills to clinical therapeutic applications.

Lesson 1 • Adverse Event Documentation and Reporting

Teaches accurate clinical documentation, incident reporting workflows, and communication with manufacturers and regulators. Proper reporting supports patient safety and professional accountability.

Lesson 2 • Dry Eye and Lens Discomfort

Differentiates lens-induced dry eye from primary dry eye disease and outlines stepwise management strategies. Discomfort is the leading cause of lens discontinuation and requires proactive management.

Lesson 3 • Structured Aftercare Examination

Defines the sequence and content of routine aftercare visits including symptom review, acuity, and slit-lamp findings. Systematic aftercare detects complications before they become vision-threatening.

Lesson 4 • Corneal Complications

Covers microbial keratitis, corneal infiltrates, neovascularization, and hypoxic edema with grading and management. Corneal complications represent the highest-risk category in lens practice.

Lesson 1 • Patient Communication and Counseling

Develops health literacy-appropriate communication, informed consent delivery, and motivational interviewing skills. Clear communication improves compliance and reduces medico-legal risk.

Lesson 2 • Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

Establishes audit frameworks, patient satisfaction measurement, and clinical outcome tracking for ongoing practice improvement. Quality assurance closes the loop between clinical care and professional development.

Lesson 3 • Lens Care and Hygiene Education

Covers solution chemistry, cleaning regimens, case hygiene, and wear schedule compliance for all lens types. Effective education is the primary defense against lens-related infection.

Lesson 4 • Practice Operations and Business Basics

Introduces appointment scheduling, inventory management, fee structures, and key performance indicators for lens practices. Operational competence ensures clinical excellence translates into a sustainable business.