Course categories
 | Introduction to Contact Lenses | |
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Basic Ocular AnatomyComprised of more than 2 million working parts, the eyes are one of the most complex organs of the body next to the brain. As a member of an eye care team, it is important that everyone has a basic understanding of how this fascinating part of the body is put together. This course will take a step- by-step look at a number of elements of the eye, how they function and of course, how they help to provide vision.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Basic OpticsOur responsibility in the eye care field is to help patients achieve their best when it comes to their vision. This course will take a look at some of the basics of optics, define some of the common terms used, and help you understand some calculations commonly used to determine a contact lens prescription.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Contact Lenses 101Millions of people enjoy the great vision and freedom from eyeglasses that contact lenses bring. And they play a large role in many eye care practices across the country. This course is designed to get you acquainted with the fascinating world of contact lenses.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Fundamentals of InstrumentationThere is a lot of fancy equipment used to fit and follow contact lenses. What do all of these instruments do and what information do they provide to help us keep the patient's ocular health and vision at their very best? In this course we'll provide you with an inside look at some of these unique pieces of equipment.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free NomenclatureThere are a lot of big, fancy words used in an eye care office and sometimes it can feel like youre not even talking the same language with the eye care professionals. Even though abbreviations and initials arent particularly difficult, unless you know what they stand for, it might as well be gibberish. In this course we will provide definitions for some of the most commonly used terms and abbreviations.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Patient InstructionIt's an exciting and happy time when a patient comes to pick up new contact lenses. In this module, well work through the vital directions patients need for a problem free contact lens wearing experience.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free TelephoneThere is no denying that an annual exam is an important part of overall health. But, there is one piece of equipment that is used prior to all of those bright lights and technical gadgets that is equally important to the success of the practice; the telephone.Format: Slide presentation with lecture NCLE CECs: None This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. |
| Level One: Fundamentals of Contact Lenses | |
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Basic Optical Principles and Proper Lens Selection by Michael Ward, FCLSAIn order to fully understand the basis for what contact lens professionals do every single day, it is important to understand basic optical principles. This course will provide a primer in this important area and will also discuss the various lens design families available and how to find the right lens for the patient.Format: Slide presentation with lecture Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Relevant Ocular Anatomy and PhysiologyEvery contact lens professional must remember that the contact lens rests upon an organ of the body. In contact lens fitting, the three areas that truly impact how the lens will fit are the structure of the eye and eyelids, the topography of the eye, and the lens and its design. But, as contact lens professionals we can only impact the lens. The eye, eyelids and corneal topography are not variables that can be changed. Whatever problems and challenges the physical aspects of the eye present, have to be addressed through the fit of the lens. This course is designed to help you better understand the physical elements of ocular anatomy and physiology and how they impact successful contact lens fitting. Format: Slide presentation with lecture | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Interview and Pre-fit Considerationsby Diane Broe, FCLSAThere are a multitude of indications for contact lens use including various visual and physical needs that make patients ideal contact lens candidates. This course will help you identify and understand situations that are favorable for contact lens wear, as well as those that are more demanding. It will also offer guidelines for conducting a constructive patient interview.Format: Slide presentation with lecture Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Principles of Soft Lens Fittingby Bruce Springer, FCLSASoft lenses have become hugely popular since their introduction in the 1970s. But, there is a lot more to successfully fitting them than simply opening a flat pack. This course will take you from designing the lens to evaluating the fit and everything in between.Format: Slide presentation with lecture Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit This course is made available to CLSA members at no cost through an educational grant from CooperVision, Inc. | ||
Non-member Cost: $50.00 CLSA Member Cost: $40.00 NCLE Basic Review Course Module 1: Prefit and AssessmentThis two-hour online review course is the first part of a seven-hour course designed to prepare a candidate to sit for the NCLE Basic Exam. While this is the primary focus of this course, it also serves as a comprehensive review for those who have already taken the exam and plan to further their education or desire a refresher. This module will cover the area of “Prefit, Preparation and Evaluation” as is outlined in the NCLE Advanced Exam Handbook. This module will cover subjects ranging from anatomy and methods of corneal measurement; to lens material and design choice based on individual characteristics presented by the patient. This is designated a review course and is designed to touch on a number of areas that may or may be included in the exam, but it will not cover any of them in great detail. While taking this course will help to prepare the student for the NCLE Basic Exam, it does not guarantee passage of the test.Format: Slide presentation with lecture Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 2 Credits | ||
Non-member Cost: $50.00 CLSA Member Cost: $40.00 NCLE Basic Review Course Module 2: Diagnostic Fit and EvaluationThis two-hour online review course is the second part of a seven-hour course designed to prepare a candidate to sit for the NCLE Basic Exam. While this is the primary focus of this course, it also serves as a comprehensive review for those who have already taken the exam and plan to further their education or desire a refresher. This course will cover the area of “Determine Lens Type and Design Contact Lens Parameters,” as is outlined in the NCLE Basic Exam Handbook. Throughout this course, attention will be focused on making the lens material and parameter choices and finally designing the actual contact lenses. This course will work through a review of basic lens designs such as spherical soft, soft toric, spherical gas permeable, and review the candidates for special GP lens designs such as front surface torics and bitorics. It is important to understand that this is a review course and is designed to touch on a number of areas that may or may not be covered in the NCLE Basic exam. None of the topics will be covered in great detail. And, while it will certainly be a bonus to the student to take this online review course before sitting for the NCLE Basic exam, completing the course will in no way guarantee passing the exam.Format: Slide presentation with lecture. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 2 Credits | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 NCLE Basic Review Course Module 3: Lens Dispensing and Patient EducationThis one-hour online review course is the third part of a seven-hour course designed to prepare a candidate to sit for the NCLE Basic Exam. While this is the primary focus of this course, it also serves as a comprehensive review for those who have already taken the exam and plan to further their education or desire a refresher. This course will cover the area of “Instruction and Delivery Procedures” as is outlined in the NCLE Basic Exam Handbook. In the course of this review, there will be a focus on a variety of subjects including lens verification, contact lens solutions and patient instruction on application, removal and care for their contact lenses. It is important to remember that this is a review course and while it will touch on a number of subjects that may or may not be included in the NCLE Basic exam, it will not focus on any of these in great detail. The completion of this course does not guarantee the student a passing grade for the exam, however it will help in their preparation. A 15-item multiple choice exam completes the online experience.Format: Slide presentation with lecture. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CEC: 1 Credit. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 NCLE Basic Review Course Module 4: Follow-up Visits with the PatientThis one-hour online review course is the fourth part of a seven-hour course designed to prepare a candidate to sit for the NCLE Basic Exam. It also serves as a comprehensive review for contact lens professionals who want to refresh their knowledge in a number of basic subjects. This course will cover the area of “Follow-up Visits with Patient” as is outlined in the NCLE Basic Exam Handbook. Throughout this course, various subjects will be reviewed beginning with the multitude of procedures used to conduct a thorough follow-up exam including the use of the slit lamp and its various illuminations. The course will also highlight the basics of how to evaluate a soft and GP lens fit and will provide basic information on in-office modification procedures for GP lenses. This is a review course and is not meant to deal with any subject in great detail. It is, however, designed to touch on a number of subjects in review that may or may not be featured in the NCLE Basic Exam. Completing this course does not ensure the student a passing grade on the exam. A 15-item multiple choice quiz is found at the end of the course.Format: Slide presentation with lecture. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 NCLE Basic Review Course Module 5: Administrative ProceduresThis one-hour online review course is the fifth part of a seven-hour course designed to prepare a candidate to sit for the NCLE Basic Exam. It also serves as a comprehensive review for contact lens professionals who want to refresh their knowledge in a number of these basic practice management subjects. This course will cover the area of “Practice Management” as is outlined in the NCLE Basic Exam Handbook. A number of important practice management topics will be covered, but none of them will be done in great detail since this is a review course. The review of this material, while helpful to those preparing for the NCLE Basic Exam, will not guarantee passing of the exam. A 15-item multiple choice quiz is found at the end of the course.Format: Slide presentation with lecture. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free A World of Color: Tinted Soft Contact Lenses By Vickie S. Portis, NCLC-AC, FCLSAThis is the age of self-expression. Our patients want to look better, to look different and to perform at their best. Cosmetic tinted soft contact lenses are one way to accomplish this. Advertising and affordable prices have given people the desire and the opportunity to wear tinted lenses. From handling tints and cosmetic enhancement, to improving your game with blue blocking "sport" tints, almost anything goes today! Satisfied patients who love their cosmetic tinted soft contact lenses can be a great source of referrals to your practice . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free When a Contact Lens Wearer Needs Spectacles by Phyllis L. Rakow, FCLSA(H), NCLC-AC, COMTPerhaps the largest group of patients in need of supplementary spectacles consists of presbyopes. Current contact lens technology provides us with three options for managing their visual needs: single-vision contact lenses for distance with spectacle over-correction for near and intermediate tasks; bifocal or multifocal contact lenses; and monovision or modified monovision contact lenses. A small percentage of presbyopic contact lens wearers prefer wearing reading glasses. Based on clinical experience . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free The Incredible Human EyeThe deeper one delves into the structure and function of the human eye, the more astonishing it is to imagine how the eye developed to adapt to our changing environment and meet our needs. I have no wish to incite an argument over the Creation of Humankind versus evolution from a lower species. Whether Homo sapiens was plopped into Paradise or flopped out of the primordial ocean, it seems likely that in the tens of thousands of years since that momentous occasion, the eye would have undergone some evolutionary changes to adjust to different conditions in order to provide us with the best possible vision. Join me for an incredible journey . . . | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free How to Prevent the Spread of Infection by Phyllis L. Rakow, COMT, NCLEC-AC, FCLSA(H)Constant traffic through the contact lens room by patients, physicians and technicians, brings a steady stream of microorganisms. These bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites have the potential to contaminate lenses, instruments, implements, and work surfaces and spread infection among the multitude of people who circulate through the lens room on a daily basis. Infection prevention begins with . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Where Have All the RGP Wearers Gone? by Mark Andre, MMSc, FCLSA, FAAORigid lens fits have been declining for years in the United States and around the world and unfortunately that trend is continuing. It is now estimated that only 7% of new contact lens wearers in the U.S. are fit with rigid lenses. Worldwide the percentage of RGP is higher than in the U.S., but still on the decline. Are soft contact lenses really the best option for the overwhelming majority of contact lens wearers, or are there other factors involved that have caused this dramatic shift in the market over the last 25 years? Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free SOAP by Phyllis L. Rakow, FCLSA(H), NCLEC-AC, COMTAs contact lens technicians, we wear many hats. Our responsibilities may include history taking; the pre-fit work-up; patient education on lens care, handling, application and removal; soft and/or gas permeable(GP) lens fitting and follow-up care; recognition of lens-induced pathology; referral when necessary to an optometrist or ophthalmologist; and practice management. With each patient, we, or the physician for whom we work, must proceed along a path with steps that lead us from data collection to diagnosis and finally to decision. These steps, collectively, are referred to in our lingo by their acronym, SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan). SOAP supplies a format that enables us to follow patients who are new to the world of contact lenses as well as experienced lens wearers, and to document their progress thoroughly, yet succinctly . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free When Beauty Becomes the Beast by Mika Hague, COA, NCLC-ACEveryone understands that providing good contact lens care requires more than a keratometer, refraction and a slit lamp exam. For instance, we utilize corneal topography to better understand an irregular corneal surface. We rely on instruments such as the radiuscope and diameter gauge to appreciate a patient's current fit. In general, we could say that most of our focus is on the clinical pieces of the patient. However, it also helps to appreciate the person behind the eyes and their specific needs . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Understanding Asphericsby Phyllis L. Rakow, COMT, NCLEC-AC, FCLSA(H)It would be nice if everyones corneas were shaped like sections of a ball. That way, all we would need were spherical contact lenses. Unfortunately, most of us have corneas that are shaped like the rounded end of an egg. Thus, for many people, an aspheric contact lens provides a better match to their corneal curvature. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Contemporary Contact Lens Care SystemsLong term success with contact lenses is directly related to patient compliance. Patients who are compliant with personal hygiene and lens disinfection, who follow their practitioners instructions for daily or continuous wear, and who replace their lenses at regularly scheduled intervals rarely experience adverse reactions. Educating our patients, though, is dependent on our own ... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Contemporary GP Lens Care and Care SystemsGP (oxygen permeable) lens care is simple and straightforward. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free A Road Map to GP Contact LensesChoosing the proper vehicle to carry you throughout your GP journey is fundamental to your long-term fitting success. Each GP material carries a long list of characteristics that are specific to only that material. Comparison of oxygen permeability (Dk value), wetting angle (surface ability to hold water), and specific gravity (weight) may guide your material preference and choice. The incorporation of additions such as tint colors and ultraviolet absorbers, give GP lenses added value to many patients. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Strategies for Improving Soft Contact Lens ComfortIt is estimated that last year in the United States alone over 3,000,000 soft contact lens wearers discontinued wearing their lenses. That is nearly ten percent of the soft lens wearing population in the US. What makes this staggering number even more astonishing is that about half of these dropouts claim they did so because their lenses were uncomfortable. These are the same patients that years ago, when first fitted with soft lenses, were amazed that they could not even feel the lenses in their eyes... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free The Right Service at the Right TimeAre you considering adding a new product or service to your practice? As the costs of running a medical practice continue to rise and the squeeze on reimbursement is growing, many practices are looking to increase cash flow and reaching out for other sources to keep them afloat. Adding new products and services may be the solution you are looking for. New technologies have reduced the cost, complexity and even the size of equipment needed to provide sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for your patients... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Topography...Technology UntappedIt was determined centuries ago that the front curvature of the cornea is a primary factor of refractive error. This understanding of corneal curvature is vital in understanding refractive error, and our ability to either alter that curvature with surgery or accommodate the refractive error with correctional devices such as spectacles or contact lenses. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Basics of Atypical Hydrogel Material and Toric Lens Design by Patrick Goughary, FCLSAThis course comprises three separate articles to provide the basics for understanding a unique hydrogel lens material and toric lens design. The three articles by two distinguished authors include
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Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Contact Lens Instruments to Verify and Evaluate GP Contact LensesGas permeable lenses are an important part of many contact lens practices. Fitters love the ability to control and verify the parameters of these lenses for their patients. Knowing which instruments are important to have, as well as their function and how to use them is valuable information for the contact lens fitter. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Optics of PresbyopiaThis course comprises three articles focused on the optics of presbyopia as well as a case history that provides a personal viewpoint on the perplexing situation of presbyopia. The optical questions that perplex contact lens fitters that will be focused on in this article compilation are | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Review of Hydrogel Contact Lens Care Products and Patient InstructionsThis article will review the evolution of lens care, lens care components, product enhancements and finally, recommendations for proper lens care instruction. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free HIV/AIDS, Infectious Disease and the Contact Lens PractitionerOf the total American population, about half has vision care and about 20 percent wear contact lenses. A significant number of your patients could be HIV positive. In more heavily populated areas, the incidence could be even higher. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free The History of Contact LensesThe History of Contact Lenses - Level 1 - 1 CE credits - The conceptual thought of contact lenses dates back to the 1500s, but many developments have occurred over the years. This article will give the technician a better understanding of the development of contact lenses an how today's lenses stand on a foundation of yesterdays concepts. The reader will understand that while technology moved forward, future development depends on lessons of the past. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Corneal Topography for the Orthokeratologist Corneal topography is considered by most to be necessary and required equipment for an orthokeratology practice. This article is designed to review the basic topography principles that every topography user should know. Secondly, topography functions and display analysis specific to the orthokeratologist is provided. The various post treatment topographical outcomes are presented. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Triage in the Contact Lens PracticeAs contact lens technicians, it is essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of ocular emergencies and contact lens-induced adverse reactions, divide them into three categories: Urgent, Priority, and Routine, and schedule them appropriately. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Contact Lenses Today…A Challenge and an OpportunityWe know that while every patient's corneal oxygen requirements differ, | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Pediatric Patients Fitting pediatric patients is not about routine situations and patients who want to wear contact lenses. It's about critical situations and patients who have to wear contact lenses. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free The Whys of Dry Eyes Each day, contact lens specialist experience a patient who has either dropped out of contact lens wear, or who is complaining about contact lens comfort and wearing time. Upon evaluation of the complaint and symptoms, the cause is often attributed to dry eyes. The purpose of this article is to discuss the whys of dry eyes while offering solutions that may improve the experience of the contact lens wearer. Topics discussed will include, but not be limited to, the lacrimal system, environmental and physical factors, solutions, lens materials and pharmaceuticals. The reader will gain an understanding of leading dry eye factors and the article will fortify them with information that can help reduce their contact lens drop-out rate. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Soft Multifocal Contact Lenses By: Kristi Green and Yvonne Metten This article provides the reader an overview on fitting a presbyopic patient with soft multifocal contact lenses. The reader will learn how to choose a proper patient, what design choices are available and appropriate for each patient and how to fit and evaluate the lens on the patient. Lens materials and parameters of some of the most common soft lens multifocals is provided and troubleshooting techniques are discussed. Upon completion of the article, the reader should be equipped with the necessary information to get started with soft multifocal fitting with his patients. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Staff Training: Turning Knowledge into Profit by Carrie Wilson This article discusses the importance of education and training and how it relates to the success of a contact lens practice. The reader will learn how to use a job description to discover the needs of an individual and the department that he is responsible for. Methods of training and levels of certification will be covered. Upon completion of the article, the reader will understand that training and continuing education will help improve the bottom line of the practice. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free The Modern Contact Lens Practice by Kathy McNelis and Diane Heistand The Modern Contact Lens Practice takes the approach of walking you through the day of a well-run, efficient contact lens practice. The reader will see how time can be saved and mistakes avoided by following specific protocols for contact lens fit, care and follow-up. Upon completion of the article, the reader will also be aware of many tools that will help make his practice a success. Some of these tools are on-line learning, manufacturer calculators and support with setting up on-line ordering for their patients and marketing ideas for promoting their practice. This article supplies you with great information for making your 21st century contact lens practice a success! Format: Technical article in PDF Format. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Fitting Irregular Corneasby Al Vaske, NCLECThis course will discuss techniques and designs for fitting irregular corneas. Modern lathing has made it possible to incorporate technology, such as Quad Sym that was not previous available to us. The reader will become familiar with fitting philosophies and designs for different types of irregular corneas and will be able to see how they are applied through the use of case histories. Upon completion of this course, the reader will be familiar with most irregular corneal situations, topographical maps and be able to apply a fitting technique that offers the potential for a successful outcome. Format: PDF material. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Digital Anterior Segment Photography Made Cheap and Easy by Trudy K. Grout, FCLSA We have all heard, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” This is also true when you are trying to document the physical condition of the eye or the fit of a contact lens or when you are trying to explain this to your patient. This article will teach you everything you need to know to incorporate Anterior Segment Photography into your practice – Cheap and Easy! No slit lamp camera needed when you use my technique. Upon completion of the article, you will understand what features you need on a standard digital camera as well as understand basic set-up and photography techniques necessary to achieve the photo you need. Format: PDF material. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Sports, Recreation, Life by Keith W. Harrison RO. ABO/NCLE(AC) F.C.L.S.A As we all are aware, it is difficult to find someone who would not prefer to eliminate spectacles from their daily activities, let alone for the physical demands of most sporting activities, or the cosmetic versatility for performing in the arts, when presented with a safe and effective alternative. This article will discuss options available for these active people including contact lenses, surgical and corneal reshaping procedures. Case histories will demonstrate the benefits of appropriate eye care management. Eye protection will be stressed. Upon completion of the article, the reader will have an appreciation for the visual needs of the active patient and be familiar with the options available to meet those needs. Format: PDF material Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CEC's: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Vision and Sports by Benny W. Phillips, Jr., FCLSA, NCLE-AC All of us see contact lens patients who at some time could benefit from advice concerning their visual needs during sporting activities; whether that patient is a full-time sports enthusiast or just a “weekend warrior.” This article will teach you important questions that you should include when evaluating your active patients. It will discuss the parts of the visual system that are important for specific activities as well as describe some of the training exercises and devises that are available to aid an athlete improve these functions. Upon completion of the article, the reader will not only understand how visual performance can be improved, but also understand which visual device, whether it be glasses or contact lenses, would be a first recommendation during specific activities. Format: Technical article in PDF Format Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CEC's: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Contact Lens Care and Compliance by Michael A. Ward, MSc, FCLSA It is our responsibility as contact lens professionals to keep ourselves informed about all aspects of our field. This article is an update and review of contact lens solutions and recommended storage and care. The reader will gain knowledge of cleaners, salines and disinfectants as well as recommendations on appropriate use of solutions in particular fitting situations. Upon completion of the article, the eyecare professional will be armed with the latest information to share with patients and increase the odds of healthy contact lens care and compliance. Format: Technical article in PDF Format Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CEC's: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Gas Permeable Care Systems: What is Available? By James W. Slightom, FCLSA, ABOM, NCLE-AC Solutions for gas permeable lenses have changed quite a bit over the years. Initially, when GP lenses were launched in the 70s, there really were no solutions for the material. When practitioners realized that soft lens solutions didn’t do much to help the surface wet and PMMA solutions were too harsh for the material, industry formulated solutions specifically for GP lenses. Today, just as with soft lenses, multipurpose solutions are available as well as multiple solution systems. At the conclusion of this article, the reader will be familiar with the solutions available for use and have an understanding as to why one system may be better for a particular type of patient than another. Format: Technical article in PDF Format Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CEC's: 1 Credit |
| Level Two: Advanced Contact Lens Professional | |
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Toric Soft Lens FittingIt's not uncommon to hear patients say to a contact lens professional, "I can't wear soft contact lenses because I have astigmatism." The good news is that excellent soft toric lenses have existed for a number of years. The bad news is that patients, and even some contact lens professionals, are unaware of how successfully they can correct astigmatism. Not only do good soft toric lenses exist, good disposable soft toric lenses exist. This course will help you better understand these lenses so you can share the good news with your patients. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Inspection and Modificationby Lee Hewitt, FCLSAIn-office inspection and modification of contact lenses can be a true "mistake-preventer" and problem solver for the professional. Taking the time to perform verification of contact lenses and learning to perform simple modification can eliminate mistakes, prevent errors and increase patient satisfaction. This course will walk you through various methods of inspecting and verifying contact lenses and a few simple procedures for in-office modification.Format: Slide presentation with lecture Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Analysis of Corneal TopographyA thorough evaluation of the cornea and its topography is critical to successful contact lens fitting. This course is designed to take you through a basic discussion of the topography found on the cornea as well as various methods available to measure that topography. This course will also discuss the interpretation of results found using keratometry, photokeratoscopy, and corneal mapping. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Principles of Rigid Lens FittingLet's face it. They have been called many things: RGPs, GPs, rigid gas permeable, oxygen permeable and sometimes simply hard. But, one of the very best options for contact lens patients is an oxygen permeable or RGP lens. They have excellent oxygen permeability, most people see better with them, they are uncomplicated to care for, easy to apply and remove, and they are an extremely healthy option for the eye. So why don't we fit more patients with oxygen permeable lenses? Part of the responsibility is certainly ours. We need to ask ourselves, are we really comfortable fitting them? This course is designed to help you with the basics in oxygen permeable lens fitting so you can become more comfortable offering your patients this excellent option. . . | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Presbyopia and MonovisionThe presbyopic community is the fastest growing group of contact lens wearers in the country today. This course will focus on the presbyopic patient and one method of contact lens correction, monovision. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 Contact Lens Related Slit Lamp UseThe slit lamp is arguably the most valuable piece of equipment in a contact lens professional's office. It provides information before the contact lenses are fit, it is a diagnostic tool that aids in the determination of lens parameters, and it is critical to follow-up. | ||
Non-member Cost: $40.00 CLSA Member Cost: $30.00 NCLE Advanced Test Review Course Module 1: Prefit, Preparation and EvaluationThis is the first module of a five part series and focuses on prefit, preparation and evaluation. During the course of this review, well cover a number of subjects from anatomy and physiology and methods of corneal measurement, to various pathologies and ocular conditions. Keep in mind that this is a review course, and is designed to touch on a number of areas that may or may not be included in the exam. But this course won't cover any of them in great detail. If you find an area that you are not totally familiar with, we encourage you to continue your education with other online courses at the CLSA University, through supplemental texts, or with live courses. | ||
Non-member Cost: $60.00 CLSA Member Cost: $40.00 NCLE Advanced Test Review Course Module 2: Determine Lens Type and Design Contact Lens ParametersThis is the second course in a five part series and this module will concentrate on determining lens types and designing contact lens parameters. Throughout this course, we will focus our attention on making the lens material and parameter choice for your patient and then designing the actual lenses. This course will work through a review of more advanced lens designs such as soft toric, aspheric gas permeable, gas permeable toric, bifocals and even special lens designs for the more challenging patients. Keep in mind that this is a review course, and is designed to touch on a number of areas that may or may not be included in the advanced exam. But this course wont cover any area in great detail. If you find a subject that you are not totally familiar with, we encourage you to continue your education with other online courses at the CLSA University, through supplemental texts, or with live courses. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 This third module in our five part series will help you review areas involving customer/patient instruction and delivery procedures. In the course of this review, we will focus on a variety of subjects including contact lens solutions and materials, slit lamp illuminations, lens verification and modification. It is important to remember that this is a review course, and is designed to touch on a number of areas that may or may not be included in the exam. But because this is a review course, it wont cover any of them in great detail. If you find an area that you are not totally familiar with, we encourage you to continue your education with other online courses at the CLSA University, through supplemental texts, or with live courses. | ||
Non-member Cost: $40.00 CLSA Member Cost: $30.00 NCLE Advanced Test Review Course Module 4: Follow-up Visits with Patient/CustomerThis module focuses on follow-up visits with the patient customer. Throughout this course, well review subjects ranging from the multitude of procedures used to conduct a thorough follow-up exam, and the unfortunate complications that a patient may present with during the course of their follow-up. It is important to remember that this is a review course. It is meant to touch on a number of areas that may or may not be included in the exam. But none of the topics will be covered in any great detail during the course. If there is an area that you feel you need more information regarding, we encourage you to continue your education with other online courses at the CLSA University, through supplemental texts, or with live courses.Format: Slide presentation with lecture. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 2 Credits | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: $20.00 NCLE Advanced Test Review Course Module 5: Practice Management This is the fifth module of a five part series and will focus on the management elements of a contact lens practice instead of the technical aspects. These elements, while not the total focus of every contact lens professionals day in the office, are an increasingly important element and one that deserves attention. Well cover a number of subjects during this review, but none of them will be covered in great detail. Keep in mind that this is a review course. If there is an area that you are not totally familiar with, we encourage you to continue your education with other online courses at the CLSA University, through supplemental texts, or with live courses. | ||
Non-member Cost: $30.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Soft Toric Multifocal Contact LensesThe presbyopic community is among the fastest growing group of contact lens wearers in the world today. Every day more and more of them show up in contact lens practices around the globe, wanting and expecting to wear contact lenses. Manufacturers have stepped up to provide wonderful lens designs to help this population. But, those patients with both presbyopia and astigmatism often had to compromise or wear monovision if they wanted to be fit with soft contact lenses. That is, until now. Welcome to Soft Toric Multifocal Contact Lenses presented by the Contact Lens Society of America. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free RGPs in the Next Decade—What Will Be Their Role? by Craig W. Norman, FCLSAChanges in the contact lens field are occurring at a rapid rate. Extended wear has had a rebirth of interest with the introduction of new hydrogel lens materials. Single use daily disposables are becoming more popular and there is a plethora of soft toric lenses available, especially in the disposable and planned replacement lens arena. Contact lenses are being viewed as a commodity by consumers, with their purchasing patterns significantly changing to alternative distribution channels such as mail order and on-line options. So, what does this mean to the RGP sector of our industry? Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Fine Balance of RGP Lens Parameters The fitting philosophies of rigid contact lens fitters vary widely. Some describe with intricate detail every parameter available: base curve, power, diameter, optical zone, intermediate curve and width, peripheral curve and width, and the blend he or she wants over the junctions. Other fitters will call for a "lab design" or a standard design like a Polycon design and only provide the laboratory with the base curve, power and diameter... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Soft Lens Practice Growth Through Patient Care by John F. Deering, FCLSANo one will argue the appeal of disposable regimens to patients or the fitting convenience to the contact lens professional. But, even with consumer popularity, the modality would never have evolved without the improved physiologic considerations that have been realized. Many soft lens related conditions are simply not as common due to today's practice of frequently replacing contact lenses. But, we all need to be aware of complications and learn to address them in the early stages before they advance ... Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Road to Presbyopic Contact Lens Success by Phyllis L. Rakow, COMT, NCLC-AC, FCLSA(H)Bifocal and multifocal contact lens fitting is an integral part of the mainstream of current-day contact lens practice, but its road to success has been slow and bumpy. The search for a means of correcting presbyopia with contact lenses actually began in 1938, when William Feinbloom, an optometrist, filed patent specifications that showed diagrams of bifocal and trifocal segments in the optical zone of scleral lenses . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Realities of Presbyopia by Buddy Russell, FCLSAPresbyopia has been defined as a "progressive age-related loss of accommodative amplitude." The young eye has the ability to change its focal range by a mechanism called accommodation. As the ciliary muscle contracts, the zonular fibers attached to the crystalline lens relax, resulting in a bulging of the crystalline lens. This shape change, or increased curvature, allows one to see near objects more clearly. The aging eye eventually loses this ability to change its focal length. This lost ability is normal, natural and frustrating. And it is a reality that most people will live approximately half of their lives as a presbyope. Many theories have been discussed as to the exact mechanism that causes loss of accommodation . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free A Scientific Approach to Soft Contact Lens FittingAnyone who fits soft contact lenses has encountered the patient with flat readings who, for some reason, required a contact lens with a steep base curve. Or maybe it was a patient with steep corneas who could only wear lenses with flat base curves. Some of us consider these cases to be "exceptions that prove the rule" and cite them as proof there is an art to fitting contacts beyond just going by the numbers. Others may explain it by noting that K readings only measure a relatively small area of the central cornea and don't take into account the variations in asphericity that shape the periphery of different corneas. While there is some truth to both of those rationales, the best explanation is simply that . . . | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Incorporating Overnight Orthokeratology into the Contact Lens Practice by Craig W. Norman, FCLSAOne of the hottest topics within the contact lens field today is overnight orthokeratology also termed corneal refractive therapy and corneal reshaping. This process provides a temporary reduction of myopia through the use of lens devices fabricated from high Dk gas permeable lens materials worn on an overnight basis. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free A Primer on Contact Lens Polymers by Sharon Brievogel, FCLSAThe material selection process can be confusing, and the results sometimes disappointing if the fitter is not aware of the nature of the lens material as well as its advantages and drawbacks. What characteristics are important and how does a material achieve those properties? And where does all this plastic stuff come from anyway? Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Evolution of Presbyopic Contact Lens Design by Phyllis Rakow, FCLSAPresbyopic soft lens correction has traveled a long and somtimes bumpy road, filled with much hope and many promises. The past few years have seen many breakthroughs in both lens design and manufacturing technology, but an understanding of where we are now and where we are going is enhanced by a retrospective look at the development of soft bifocal and multifocal lenses . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Ocular Physiology and GP Contact Lenses by Diane F. Drake, LDO, ABOM, FCLSA Contributions by Rene R. "Skip" Rivard, FCLSA(H)Many contact lens practices now have patients who have been wearing contact lenses in excess of 30 or 40 years. Some of these patients have been very successful contact lens wearers because of the practitioner's ability to properly fit the patient; the overall health and ocular health of the patient; as well as the compliance of the patient. Some of them continue to wear PMMA lenses, but most have been converted to GP contact lenses, and in some cases soft contact lenses. Many of these patients are what I will call "contact lens junkies" . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Specialty GP Lenses: A Review of Uses, Designs, and FittingThe need often exists to design a unique gas permeable contact lens for a patient. These special designs can not only help patients achieve their best vision, but the challenge can stretch our own fitting skills and expertise. This article will focus on a number of challenging yet rewarding GP fits. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Being a Specialist is a Good ThingToday, a gas permeable (GP) lens manufacturer probably sees more difficult or complex orders than ever before. And, we have not begun to see the | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Scleral Lenses: Everything Old is New Again The evolution of the contact lens started many years ago and utilized the ideas and research of many great thinkers, eventually | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free New Entrants in Overnight OrthokeratologyOvernight orthokeratology continues to be a quickly evolving field. Up until now, there have been only a few products available for this treatment in the United States, including Paragons CRT® (Corneal Refractive Therapy). But that has recently changed with the FDA approval of Bausch & Lomb Vision Shaping Treatment (VST). VST is not a specific lens or design. Instead, it is an umbrella concept that encompasses selected designs and fitting methods. Presently, there are four designs available and it is expected that other designs will also be available very soon. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free From a Grain of Sand! The Development of Silicone Hydrogels by Vickie S. Portis, NCLEC-AC, FCLSA.From the second most common element found on earth, the scientific community has developed an amazing, extremely versatile product called silicone. It has massive, far reaching implications and applications in industries worldwide, from computer chips to contact lenses; and it all started with a grain of sand! Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Applications for Silicone HydrogelsThe success of silicone hydrogel lenses as a problem solver is consistently being proven in our practice. These lenses have greatly reduced contact lens related corneal hypoxia, and can even reverse lens-induced corneal neovascularization; therefore, wonderful opportunities arise for numerous indications. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Understanding Soft Lens MultifocalsSo you've done all the proper prescreening and setting of realistic expectations, matched the best lens design to your patients visual needs, checked the fit and sent her home for a trial spin. Now the real fun in fitting multi-focal contact lenses is about to begin. When multifocal patients return for the first follow-up visit, there are several possible ways they will react to your first question, which should typically be something open-ended like "How did the lenses work for you?" They might say, "They were absolutely perfect. I love them." In this case the rest is simple. You order them a years supply and take your choice among the following three options: A) You thank your lucky stars; B) You pat yourself on the back for being such a good contact lens fitter; or C) You make a mental note to yourself that fitting soft multifocals is really pretty easy, as long you work primarily with 41-year olds. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free History of Toric Lenses by Jim Tannehill, FCLSAThe History of Toric Lenses is an article that takes the reader back to the beginning days of toric lens designs. The manufacturing process of rigid and soft toric lens designs, fitting analogies, possible complications and lens designs are discussed. This article provides a clear understanding of how far we have come and where we may be going with toric lens design. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Fitting Toric Contact LensesInsights From Practitioners, Educators and ManufacturersTo some contact lens fitters, especially those who are just starting out, the thought of fitting toric contact lenses is a bit intimidating. The following article is a composite of information from experts in the field representing different perspectives. Well start with an educators point of view and how he presents the concept to his students and progress through pearls of wisdom offered by expert fitters and manufacturers. Well also explore a case history to demonstrate the concepts of fitting a toric contact lens. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Silicone Hydrogels: What, Why and HowTwenty-five years ago, the word among contact lens fitters was, Silicone lenses are the lenses of the future and always will be. Silicone held a great deal of promise, especially in terms of oxygen transmissibility and the potential for safe overnight wear, but early attempts to fabricate lenses concentrated on silicone elastomer materials (which had the elastic properties of natural rubber), rather than the silicone hydrogels that we are using today. The early lenses were fraught with problems, since they were hydrophobic and did not allow fluid transport through the material. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Irregular Corneas and High Dk Reverse Geometry Lensesby James W. Slightom, ABOM, FCLSAFitting challenges on irregular corneas such as keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, corneal grafts, post surgical corneas, and others will be presented in this article. Examples of reverse geometry specialty GP designs, both in large and small diameters, will be shown and illustrated with the use of high Dk materials being emphasized on compromised and irregular corneas. A case history and final fit success will be a part of these illustrations. The use of topography and fluorescein fitting techniques will also be included.Format: Technical article in PDF format Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free GP Contact Lens Fitting Post Ocular TraumaTrauma is defined by Websters dictionary as a sudden injury to the body. This fact alone, as well as the sheer, unplanned sudden event that alters a patients world must be given great respect when we first meet our patient. For the previous months, or in some cases even years, the patient has been in a state of recovery. Depending on the type of trauma, a motor vehicle accident, for example, multiple body systems may have been involved... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free The incidence of myopia runs quite high in the Pacific Rim countries compared with other regions of the world. In some regions of Asia it is estimated to be as high as 90 percent. Many of these countries consider myopia an epidemic. And, with the growing Asian population in America, myopic patients are increasingly common in CLSA fitters offices. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free GP Contact Lens Post Surgical Fitting Options for AphakesThe fitting of the aphakic patient represents one of the most challenging services that an eye care professional can provide. In order to fully understand the indications of contact lenses for the aphakic patient, we need to be aware of the difficulties patients encounter with spectacles having an aphakic correction. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Hybrid Contact Lens Technology Hybrid contact lenses, having a rigid | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Managing Irregular Corneas with Large Diameter LensesFitting the irregular cornea patient remains one of the most challenging and difficult tasks the specialty GP lens fitter faces. Utilizing the many advanced lens designs available through industry partners enhances success, provides a quality of vision your patient will appreciate and is one of the most rewarding aspects you can expect to achieve when fitting large diameter specialty GP lenses for your irregular cornea patients. This article discusses the types of corneal irregularities that a contact lens fitter may face and offers lens designs and fitting philosophies that may help the fitter reach fit and vision success for these patients. Once the reader has completed this article, he will have an understanding of the tools available that will help him manage and care for this group of patients. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Getting Rid of the Red: Managing Allergic ConjunctivitisThis article is written for the contact lens specialist who is responsible for managing "red eye" on a daily basis. The first task is to determine whether red eye is caused by a mechanical, bacterial or viral or allergic factor. Upon completion of the article, the reader will be able to differentiate the symptoms of allergic "red eye" from other factors as well as be armed with information on how to manange the condition. Pharmaceutical, as well as non-pharmaceutical options will be discussed along with contact lens modalities and solutions. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Nutrition and the Eye | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Gas Permeable Multifocal By Jim Slightom, ABOM, FCLSA This article discusses the GP options available for meeting the presbyopic needs of patients in aspheric progressive multifocals. The reader will understand the challenges in meeting this need as well as learn lens designs and fitting techniques that will help them successfully meet the challenges of this particular patient group. Lathing techniques and lens materials have improved in recent years and upon completion of this article, the reader will understand how to use these industry advances to his advantage. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit |
| Level Three: Graduate Studies | |
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Current Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Dry Eye Disease by Michael A. Ward, MMSc, FCLSA, FAAOOur understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of dry eye disease has been rapidly expanding in recent years. Dry eye disease, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, aka ocular surface disease (OSD) is now considered a multifactorial disease with an inflammatory component. The definition of dry eye has been expanded to include any chronic symptomatic external ocular disease in which there is increased tear osmolarity and tear film instabililty resulting in ocular surface damage. Environmental influences such as humidity and pollution, immune influences such as allergy and stress, local physical tissue influences such as contact lens wear and/or LASIK surgery, as well as systemic influences such as medications, age, sex and hormone levels can all individually or collectively affect the prevalence and severity of ocular surface disease . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Wavefront and Adaptive Optics Light can be described in several ways depending on how you want to describe it, measure it, and what you want to do with it. The wavelength of | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Review of the Corneal Reshaping aka: Orthokeratology by Ken Kopp, FCLSA When the word is broken down into its Greek origins, orthokeratology can be defined as-the science of straight corneas. A more useful definition would describe orthokeratology as a nonsurgical contact lens treatment used to control or temporarily reduce or eliminate myopia and astigmatism. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free KeratoconusFrom Start to Finish by Glen G. Yunker, FCLSAWhat is keratoconus? It is a simple question with many answers and no simple explanation. The word keratoconus is derived from the two Greek words "kerato" meaning cornea, and "conus" meaning cone-shaped. The National Keratoconus Foundation in Los Angeles, California, defines keratoconus as a "conical cornea in which the normally round shape of the cornea is distorted and a cone-like bulge develops, resulting in significant impairment." Although there is no cure, nor does the research community completely understand the causes, significant progress toward both goals is being made . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Today's Corneal Refractive Therapy is Not Yesterdays Orthokeratology by Timothy O. Koch, FCLSAQuantum leaps in technology and science often indicate the need to enhance the definition of a modality altogether and confer a more descriptive and appropriate name. What is emerging is Corneal Refractive Therapy, a safe, predictable way to improve vision using a contact lens-like medical device to reshape the cornea. It is effective, non-invasive, and reversible . . . Format: Technical article in PDF Format. Credit: Credit is awarded when you pass the quiz with a score of 80% or better. NCLE CECs: 1 Credit | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free A Systematic Approach to Fitting Keratoconus LensesKeratoconus is a non-inflammatory ectasia | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free A Guide to Improve GP Multifocal Fitting SuccessIt is not uncommon to hear about breakthrough designs in gas permeable contact lens options for our presbyopic patients. The market and manufacturing labs are working hard to keep presbyopes happy and seeing as well as modern technology can allow. As a GP multifocal fitter, it is important to understand how all of the different designs work and, more importantly, what to do when they are not working quite as planned. Every lens manufacturer has specific troubleshooting tips for their proprietary lenses; however, it is beneficial to have an overall understanding of what can and should be done to resolve specific fitting challenges. | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Wavefront AberrometrySince the introduction of corneal lenses by Kevin Touhy in the 1950s, practitioners throughout the world have known about the benefits of corneal lenses for improved visual acuity. The materials have changed from the original polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), through oxygen permeable (GP) plastics, such as cellulose acetate buterate (CAB), silicone acrylate, fluorosilicone acrylate and many other types of polymers. The designs of these GP lenses have run the gamut from spheres to aspheric, single vision to multifocal, through reverse geometry and back to semi-scleral and scleral lenses... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Keratoconus and the Great Imposters: Management with GP LensesKeratoconus is defi ned as a corneal ectasia of unknown etiology in which the cornea thins and bulges outward. It is progressive, noninfl ammatory, and noninfectious. Until recently, it was thought to affect about one in 2,000 persons in the general population, but the widespread use of corneal topography is uncovering a much higher percentage of corneal irregularities that resemble keratoconus or other related ectatic conditions. Generally, keratoconus begins in the late teens or early 20s and progresses unpredictably. Although it affects both eyes in 94 percent of patients, there is usually considerable asymmetry between the two corneas, with the condition in one eye far more advanced than in the other. Eventually, 10 to 20 percent of affected individuals will require a corneal transplant... | ||
Non-member Cost: $18.00 CLSA Member Cost: Free Keratoconus and Inflammation by Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari, Ph.D and Juan Carlos de Rivero Vaccari, Ph.D, L.D.O., F.N.A.O. The topic of keratoconus is of essential importance to the contact lens fitter. Since the keratoconic cornea is not a healthy cornea, knowledge about its pathology is as essential as the technicalities necessary to fit this patient population. Historically, since the first case of keratoconus was diagnosed, keratoconus has been considered a non-inflammatory disease. Current research indicates that indeed there is an inflammatory component to keratoconus. Here we will explore the emerging knowledge in regards to this essential corneal disorder. Format: Technical article in PDF Format. |