A.     CLINICAL OPTOMETRY

 

Contact Lenses (CL)  All aspects of contact lens therapy inclusive of keratoconus and postsurgical

treatments.

 

Functional Vision/Pediatrics (FV)  Those portions of optometric practice that deal with visual processing and neuro-optometric rehabilitation, including sports vision; binocular vision; and visual training or vision development courses.

 

General Optometry (GO)  Any study in the area of the eye and vision care, which constitutes eye

and vision research, or examination, diagnosis and treatment of anomalies of the human eye and visual system. For the purposes of these categories .General Optometry. excludes any other category enumerated here.

 

Low Vision (LV)  All aspects of low vision devices, care and therapy.

 

B. OCULAR DISEASE

 

Glaucoma (GL)  The study of the etiology, clinical pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, management, and the outcomes of therapeutic regimens for the ocular condition involving the relationship of intraocular pressure and abnormal optic nerve function.  Examples: Any course with major emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, and/or surgical and medical management, of glaucoma (i.e., trabeculectomy, laser surgery for glaucoma).

 

Peri-Operative Management of Ophthalmic Surgery (PO)  The study and clinical training of any ophthalmic surgical procedure of the eye and adnexa (not to include any other procedures covered in other categories).  Examples: Includes all aspects of pre- and post-operative management of ocular surgery care (excluding Refractive Surgery), i.e., cataract, lid surgery/procedures, strabismus surgery, keratoplasty, etc.

 

Refractive Surgery Management (RS) Instruction and/or clinical training in refractive or photorefractive technologies, which may include Peri-operative Patient Management: Counseling and evaluation for indications  or contraindications in patient selection, including recognition of associated complications and course of action in analysis and treatment.  Examples: Courses related specifically to management of PRK, RK and LASIK patients; corneal refractive surgery, etc.

 

Treatment & Management of Ocular Disease: Anterior Segment (AS)  The study of the etiology, clinical pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, management, and outcomes of therapeutic regimens for anomalies of the anterior segment of the human eye.  Examples: Keratitis, anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, lid anomalies, foreign body removal, etc.

 

Treatment & Management of Ocular Disease: Posterior Segment (PS)  The study of the etiology, clinical pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, management, and outcomes of therapeutic regimens for anomalies of the posterior segment of the human eye.  Examples: Degenerative, infective, and vascular diseases of the retina/choroid/sclera and optic nerve, inclusive of all aspects of surgical care involving the posterior segment of the eye, i.e., retinopathies, neuropathies, retinal laser surgery, retinal detachment surgery, etc.

 

C. RELATED SYSTEMIC DISEASE

 

Neuro-Optometry (NO)  The study of the etiology, clinical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management of disease and disorders of the nervous system, both systemically, and as it relates directly to the eye and visual system.  Examples: Includes all aspects of nervous system conditions involving the brain, cranial nerves, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and corresponding muscles, i.e., multiple sclerosis, pituitary tumor, brain trauma, Myasthenia Gravis, papilledema, Horner.s Syndrome, etc.

 

Pharmacology (PH)  The study of the interaction of chemical agents with biological systems.  Examples: Toxicology; adverse effects of systemic drugs; adverse effects of ocular drugs; control of ocular pain. Any courses related to medications and how they affect the various tissues or their mechanism of actions.

 

Oral Pharmaceutical (OP) 

 

Principles of Diagnosis (PD)  The study of the art and science of the process of determining the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition with emphasis on the biological and clinical procedures utilized in medical examination and disease differentiation, and underlying clinical pathophysiology, e.g., corneal topography, visual fields (unless specific to glaucoma); laboratory testing and imaging; fluorescein angiography; gonioscopy.

 

Systemic/Ocular Disease (SD)  The study of the relationship of any anomaly of normal function of the human body and the possible manifestation of such as signs and/or symptoms in the eye or visual system. Examples: General study of diabetes,HIV/AIDS, thyroid disease, etc., along with their ocular manifestations. Vascular diseases both systemic and ocular.

 

D. (OPTOMETRIC) BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

 

Ethics/Jurisprudence (EJ)  The study of body of law and ethics in the practice of optometry and its relationship to the medicolegal system.  Example:  Any courses related to rules and practice acts for optometry or addressing  medicolegal issues related to patient treatment, judicious prescribing, medical errors and other liability concerns and issues.

Practice Management (PM)  The study of management of the affairs of optometric practice. This

does not include courses that are intended strictly for personal enhancement, business development,

or investment prowess. Examples: Concepts in managed care and operations management; courses designed to help market practices; educate and/or manage office staff; improve fiscal efficiency; billing and coding, clinical record keeping, etc.