OPTOMETRY PROGRAMME
The World Council of Optometry defines the Optometry as;
“Optometry is a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), and optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of disease in the eye, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system”.
Scope and Career Options
As eye care in India progresses - both in widening its reach across the nation and in raising its standards to the highest levels - and new and more sophisticated products are available in the market, there is an increasing demand for competent optometrists who can provide the best eye care for people with visual disabilities. In Eye Health Care Pyramid optometrists comes just under ophthalmologist.
To fulfil this growing need especially in India’s North East, Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Institute offers: -
Diploma in Optometry
A program affiliated by State Medical Faculty of West Bengal
Description
Diploma in Optometry (DOPT) is a two-year programme with 6 months Internship programme started with the objective of producing trained ophthalmic personnel for rendering eye care services to the masses. The incidence of preventable blindness in India is ever increasing due to non-availability of qualified eye care professionals. The qualified personnel can work with vision care hospital as a part of team with ophthalmologists and optometrist and contribute towards prevention of blindness.
Duration
2 years 6 months
Eligibility
The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing Diploma in Optometry is qualifying 10+2 or equivalent examination in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and/or Mathematics from a recognized board of the country.
What Would You Learn
The optometrists are required to examine and diagnose specific eye-related disorders, manage injuries and underlying problems of the visual system and also counsel and prepare clients for their underlying treatment options (both surgical and non-surgical). For performing these duties diligently, the candidate has to be,
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Patient with the clients and be confident in their approach
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A strong disposition to serve others and self-discipline
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The ability to deal with clients tactfully
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Professional ethics characterized by persistence and dedication
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They should be willing to serve people
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Should be a team player and coordinate effectively with other members of the team.
Internship & Fellowship Programmes
Internship Programme for Optometrist
Description
Most of the Optometry colleges in India do not have an attached eye Hospital. The hospital offers these students of different colleges a comprehensive on the job training in different eye specialities and Diagnostics at its premises under the skilled supervision of the Trained Health Care Staff and Ophthalmologists of the Hospital. Being a super speciality Charity Eye hospital with extensive grass root reach, it conducts more than 700 eye screening camps across North Bengal and Sikkim. The internship students also participate extensively in the implementation of these camps, screening exercises and take leadership roles in bringing treatment to these people through the community outreach, ophthalmology programme contributing to improving the eye health-seeking behaviour among the masses.
Duration
13 months
Eligibility
1 Year internship programme offered as the last year Bachelor in Optometry programme
6-month internship to Diploma in Optometry students
What Would You Learn
The students come to learn the practical implications of the course with a more human centric appeal, learning effective communication, empathy and professionalism.
Comprehensive Fellowship In Optometry
Description
This program is designed for those trained Optometrist who wants to further empower themselves in a specific stream of clinical optometry. The programme offers the candidate with the opportunity to work closely with the Doctor and Optometrist of the speciality and serves the opportunity to handle patients independently under supervision.
Fellowship In Ophthalmic Investigation
Description
This fellowship program is specially designed to produce quality optometrist who specializes in different diagnostic tests and can document reports to assist doctors and the organization in Clinical research, development of treatment, and specializes care administration for better eye care.
Fellowship in Pediatric Optometry
Description
Pediatric Optometry is a specialized programme for an optometrist who are interested in learning specific skills focused towards Pediatric Ophthalmology. Regular optometry procedures include very less interaction and training that may help them understand the need to provide quality eye care services to the pediatric population. As this population is very sensitive and wrong management may hamper the development and management of normal visual function. The fellowship is specially designed to empower these Optometrist to play a major role in examining pediatric population.
Paramedic Courses
Vision Technician
Description
Vision Technician are primary eye care providers who work as the bridge between the primary eye care model with tertiary eye care. A Vision Technician comes under an Optometrists in the hierarchy ladder and is mostly the guardians of primary eye care initiatives in community ophthalmology. In the eye health care pyramid, they lie at the base of the pyramid and play an important role in outreach activities, promoting eye health-seeking behaviour through the community participation in different awareness programs. The program at the hospital is an autonomous 2 years course specifically designed to provide primary eye care services like dispensing proper eyeglasses, detection of eye ailments that need secondary or tertiary treatment and act as a proper referral who needs medical and surgical intervention from all peripherals.
Accreditation Status
Autonomous course in process of accreditation from HSSC
Ophthalmic Assistant
Description
Certified ophthalmic assistants aid ophthalmologists by obtaining medical records, and explaining to patients about medication or procedures. Ophthalmic assistants generally work closely with an ophthalmologist, and optometrist gathering patient information necessary to complete a diagnosis. Assistants often see the patient before the ophthalmologist, and is often responsible for preparing the patient for the exam and beginning the examination with standard tests and measurements.
Eligibiliity
2 years In process of accreditation from HSSC
What would you learn from the programme
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Gathering medical records and patient information
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Taking ocular measurements, both anatomical and functional
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Administering or preparing medications
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Providing eye care and contact lens information to the patient
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Maintaining and cleaning ophthalmic instruments
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Assisting the ophthalmologist in basic and Operation Theater procedures
Optical Sales and Dispensing
Description
Optical dispensing and sales is a subspecialty of optometry which includes all procedures from the time the glass prescription is presented to the optician till the patient receives the pair of glasses satisfactorily. A trained optician is required for the management of avoidable blindness by means of modern scientific dispensing. The hospital offers advanced training in optical dispensing and trains the optical technicians in a well-equipped optical training centre. The objective of this course is to develop the optician’s skills and knowledge for quality vision care services both dispensing and sales.
Duration
6 months Autonomous Program
Eligibility
10+2
What would you learn from the course?
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After the completion of this course the candidate will be able to:
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Guide the patients to choose suitable frames and appropriate lenses
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Measure the lens power by lensometry
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Do lens glazing by manual process
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Troubleshoot the problematic spectacles
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Do the frame measurements, centering and decentering.
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Inspect the lens defects
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Organize the optical service in community outreach programmes
Courses for Doctors and Ophthalmologist
Short term fellowship (SICS)
Description
This course was started to train Ophthalmologists in manual SICS. For ophthalmic surgeons all over the world, manual SICS provides the ideal stepping stone to mastering phacoemulsification. The objective of this course is to convert an ECCE surgeon to perform SICS with the help of a well-structured training program.
Duration
3 to 6 months
Autonomous Program
Eligibility
Practising Ophthalmologists with knowledge of SICS ad ECCE
What would learn during the course
Observing SICS and performing ECCE cases for 2 days
SICS step surgery under the supervision
Perform surgeries completely and independently.
Trainees can get practice in wet lab on human donor/animal eye/simulator
Short term fellowship (PHACO)
Description
The hospital to keep pace with current and future needs is now conducting a short term training programme in phacoemulsification for practicing ophthalmologists with support from Zeiss. The aim is to train candidates in phacoemulsification surgery as well as in the maintenance of phaco machines.
Duration
3 to 6 months Autonomous Program
Eligibility
Practising Ophthalmologists with knowledge of SICS ad ECCE
What would learn during the course
Observing Phaco and performing SICS
Phacoemulsification surgery under supervision
Independent surgery and instructions on phaco machine maintenance by faculty from Instrument Maintenance Department