Brief
Course Description

Advanced Techniques

This
course covers contact lenses which are fit for the correction of presbyopia,
astigmatism, aphakia, and keratoconus. These, indeed, are advanced techniques
and require the skill and experience of the seasoned contact lens fitter.
While the study of this section by itself will not produce an expert
fitter, it will provide an introduction to and a survey of the various
lens designs and fitting procedures which are employed.

The
section begins with the study of presbyopia by presenting the various
options available to the presbyopic contact lens wearer. Among these
are spectacle lenses for near vision to be worn over the distance vision
contact lenses, monovision, concentric style multifocal contact lenses,
and segment style contact lenses. The discussion of contact lenses for
the correction of astigmatism includes the fitting of front toric, back
toric, and bitoric lens designs. Lens stabilization techniques designed
to inhibit lens rotation in cylindrical and segment multifocal lenses
will be discussed. These include prism ballast, truncation, double slab-off
and posterior toric surfaces.

The
section on contact lenses for the correction of aphakia will survey
the various lens materials and shapes that can be used to help the cataract
patient. These will include conventional lenticular, minus carrier lenticular
(myoflange), and single cut lenses. Emphasis will be placed on the special
problems encountered by the elderly aphakic contact lens wearer.

We
continue with a discussion of keratoconus, a degenerative hereditary
condition of the cornea. The various stages of the disease will be defined
and contact lens fitting methods and philosophies designed to help improve
visual acuity will be surveyed.