Fellowship in Geriatric Optometry

About this course

World-wide, Optometry is expanding its scope of practice in many jurisdictions. Optometrists are increasingly becoming involved in co-managing glaucoma and the ocular complications of diabetes, interfacing with systemic and ophthalmic specialists. Optometrists continue to define their role as members of the healthcare team by serving as post-operative care specialists following refractive and cataract surgeries.

Geriatric optometry is, perhaps, the newest sub specialty of Optometry. We do not need to remind the aging population in most developed and developing countries and the increased eye care needs that will ensue. It is clear that there is a need for more research on the elderly and vision and there is much work to be done to improve the clinical eye care of elderly persons.

While Optometry has an obvious and major role to play in the measurement and optimization of functional vision and in the treatment of many vision disorders in the elderly population, Optometry is also responsible for building the evidence base for the treatments we offer the elderly.

Indian Academy of Optometry introducing fellowship in Geriatric Optometry which include high quality training and professional certifications

Geriatric optometry differs from the more usual form of optometric care in that the geriatric patient suffers specific and characteristic visual symptoms and problems on the one hand, and has a reduced capacity for dealing with them on the other. This program presents the origin and nature of the important problems of visual functioning for the geriatric patient and the presently available means of coping with them. There is a great need and a great scope for these services.

Older patients may require a variety of different approaches to be taken in the eye exam. Many older patients will require additional time in their exam to account for more extensive history taking, objective testing and interpretation. Attempts to obtain additional medical information from other providers, including medication lists and laboratory reports, can be very useful to the optometrist in ensuring the best optometric care is taken for the patient. Exam modifications may be required to adapt the exam for patients who are wheelchair bound, have functional impairments or have cognitive problems. Eye exams may be best done outside of the exam room entirely and instead done bedside in the patient’s home or nursing home, in the inpatient setting, or a variety of other settings. In summary, the care of the older patient is a complex task that can be challenging, stimulating and rewarding. Older patients deserve compassion and dignity in their care and the well-equipped geriatric optometrist can provide the utmost of care for this group of people.

Objectives

Be able to identify, investigate the age related changes in the eyes.

Be able to counsel the elderly.

Be able to dispense spectacles with proper instructions.

Adequately gained knowledge on common ocular diseases.

Eligibility

Fellowship is open to the optometrists who are completed 4 year Degree or 2 year Diploma in Optometry

Synthesis of knowledge about

• check What is geriatric optometry?
• check What age is considered a geriatric patient?
• check What geriatric means?
• check What happens in a geriatric assessment?
• check What do geriatric optometrists treat?
• check What is a geriatric exam?
• check What are the geriatric syndromes?
• check How do I get a geriatric assessment?
• check How long does a comprehensive geriatric assessment take?
• check What is the difference between elderly and geriatric?
• check What is the most common vision problem in the elderly?
• check How can old people improve eyesight?
• check Why do old people have bad eyesight?
• check What happens to the human eye as a person gets older?
• check At what age do eyes stop deteriorating?
• check How can I stop my eyes from deteriorating?
• check How do you know if you're going blind?
• check How can I take care of my eyes after 40?
• check What are the most common eye diseases?
• check What is age related vision loss called?
• check What causes blindness in the elderly?

Course Fee

₹20000

for Indian Students

$450

for International Students

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