1. Chapter 27
Ophthalmic Care
Health Care
Science
Technology
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Objectives
 Compare the roles and
responsibilities of the optometrist
and ophthalmologist.
 Summarize the role and
responsibilities of an orthoptist.
2 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

3. Objectives (cont.)
 Describe the roles and responsibilities
of ophthalmic medical personnel.
 Research ophthalmic career
opportunities that involve preparation
and fitting of corrective lenses.
 Successfully complete 3 ophthalmic
procedures.
3 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

4. Careers in Ophthalmology 27-1
 The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist
 Orthoptist
 Ophthalmic Medical Personnel (OMP)
 Preparation and Fitting of Corrective
Lenses
4 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

5. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist
 The Job of the Optometrist
– Use instruments and
observation to examine eye
health.
– Test client’s visual acuity,
visual depth, and color
perception.
– Test ability to coordinate and
focus the eye.
– Prescribe eyeglasses and
5 contact lenses.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

6. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist (cont.)
 The Job of the Optometrist (cont.)
– Provide vision therapy and rehabilitation.
– Administer drugs to aid in the diagnosis of
vision problems.
– Prescribe drugs to treat some eye diseases.
– Diagnose eye conditions due to other
diseases such as diabetes and high blood
pressure.
– Refer clients to other health care
practitioners.
6 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

7. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist (cont.)
 Optometrist Specialty Areas
– Working with the elderly, children, or partially-
sighted clients.
– Developing ways to protect workers’ eyes from on-
the-job strain or injury.
– Providing contact lenses, sports vision, or vision
therapy.
– Teaching optometry or performing research.
– Working with ophthalmologists to provide pre- and
postoperative care.
– Working as consultants for industrial safety
programs, insurance companies, and manufacturers
7 of ophthalmic products.
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8. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist (cont.)
 The
Job of the
Ophthalmologist
– Can perform any or all of
the duties of an
optometrist.
– Can treat eye injuries.
– Can perform eye surgery.
– Most common eye
surgery is the removal of
cataracts, cloudy areas
on the eye lens.
8 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

9. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist (cont.)
 Corrective Eye Surgery
– Can correct the following vision
disorders:
Nearsightedness, or myopia, which
results in defective vision of distant
objects.
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, which
results in defective near vision.
9 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

10. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist (cont.)
 Corrective Eye Surgery (cont.)
– Techniques being developed to
correct the following:
Astigmatism – a condition caused by an
irregularly shaped cornea, resulting in
blurred vision.
Presbyopia – the inability of the eye
lens to focus incoming light, common
in people over 40.
10 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

11. The Optometrist and the
Ophthalmologist (cont.)
 LASIK – laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis
– Surgery using cool, ultraviolet light on the cornea, the
transparent anterior portion of the outer layer of the
eyeball.
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12. Orthoptist
 Diagnoses and treats clients
with amblyopia, strabismus,
defects in eye movements,
and binocular vision.
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13. Orthoptist (cont.)
 Usually
works with an ophthalmologist,
performing any or all of the following:
– Evaluates vision and ocular alignment
using special examination techniques.
– Measures visual acuity, ability to focus, and
the movement of the eyes.
– Checks near vision and depth perception.
– Estimates the eyeglass correction.
– Performs glaucoma tests.
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14. Orthoptist (cont.)
– Evaluates color vision.
– Assists in ophthalmic surgery.
– Teaches children and their parents
exercises to strengthen eye muscles.
– Researches current methods of treatment,
devises new modes of exercises, and
increases the understanding of binocular
vision.
– Teaches orthoptics in hospitals or clinics.
14 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

15. Ophthalmic Medical
Personnel (OMP)
 Work under the direction of an ophthalmologist
or optometrist as an assistant.
 Collect data, dispense treatments ordered, and
supervise clients.
 Take ophthalmic photographs or use ultrasound.
 An ophthalmic technologist may provide
instruction and supervise other workers.
Expected to perform at a higher skill level than
ophthalmic assistants.
15 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

16. Ophthalmic Medical
Personnel (OMP) (cont.)
 TheJob of Ophthalmic Medical
Personnel
– Take medical history and perform diagnostic
tests.
– Take measurements of the eye and
surrounding tissue.
– Test visual acuity and ocular fields.
– Perform all the ophthalmologic tests
necessary for preliminary and highly specific
eye tests.
16 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

17. Ophthalmic Medical
Personnel (OMP) (cont.)
 The Job of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel
(cont.)
– Administer topical ophthalmic and oral
medications.
– Instruct the client in care and use of contact
lenses.
– Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments.
– Assist with ophthalmic surgery.
– Assist with fitting contact lenses.
– Provide supervision and instruction to other
17 ophthalmic medical personnel.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

18. Preparation and Fitting
of Corrective Lenses
 Ophthalmic laboratory
technicians are also known as
manufacturing opticians,
optical mechanics, or optical
goods workers.
 They cut, grind, edge, and
finish lenses according to
specifications given by
dispensing opticians,
optometrists, or
ophthalmologists.
18 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

19. Preparation and Fitting
of Corrective Lenses (cont.)
 The Job of Dispensing Opticians
– Examine written prescriptions to
determine lens specifications.
– Recommend eyeglass frames, lenses,
and lens coatings.
– Measure clients’ eyes, including the
distance between the centers of the
pupils and the distance between the eye
surface and the lens.
19 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

20. Preparation and Fitting
of Corrective Lenses (cont.)
 The Job of Dispensing Opticians (cont.)
– Prepare work orders that give ophthalmic
laboratory technicians the information
they need.
– Grind and insert lenses.
– Verify that the lenses have been ground
to specifications.
– Reshape the frame so that the eyeglasses
fit the client.
20 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

21. Preparation and Fitting
of Corrective Lenses (cont.)
 The Job of Dispensing Opticians (cont.)
– Fix, adjust, and refit broken frames.
– Instruct clients about adapting to,
wearing, or caring for eyeglasses.
– Keep records on customer
prescriptions, work orders, and
payments.
– Track inventory and sales and perform
other administrative duties.
21 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

22. Section 27-1
Apply Your Knowledge
What is used to perform LASIK
surgery?
Answer:
A laser, which consists of a cool ultraviolet
light beam.
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23. Procedures in Ophthalmic Care 27-2
 Additional Career Skills
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24. Additional Career Skills
 Inaddition to testing for visual acuity,
measuring color vision, and caring for
eyeglasses, ophthalmic care staff
members may perform other skills such
as instilling eye drops.
– Eye drops are used to dilate the pupils or treat
disease.
– Care should be taken to avoid errors when
instilling eye drops.
24 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27

25. Section 27-2
Apply Your Knowledge
What disease is treated using eye
drops?
Answer:
Glaucoma.
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26. Procedures in Student Text
27A Measuring Visual Acuity
27B Testing Color Vision
27C Caring for Eyeglasses
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27. Additional Procedures in
Lab Activity Manual
LM27-1 Instilling Eye Drops
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28. Chapter 27 Credits
Slide 5 Terry Wild Studio
Slide 8 Dr. P. Marazzi/SPL/Photo
Researchers
Slide 18 Ken Lax Photography
28 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 27