AOA Online Paraoptometric Training – Navigator Program (OPT-N)

This first program is an introduction into the eye care field. Included are descriptions of the roles of various Eye Care Professionals. It also includes components of presenting a professional image, the Paraoptometric Professional's code of ethics and HIPAA requirements for patient care.

At the conclusion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Describe the role of an optometrist, ophthalmologist, optician and paraoptometric
• Recognize the ten statements that encompass the AOA Code of Ethics
• Discuss and describe what is considered a professional image for a paraoptometric
• List the elements that make up a proper patient greeting over the telephone and in person
• State HIPAA guidelines and discuss how they are applied in practice

This program is an introduction to technical terms that are used routinely in an optometric practice. Some of them are technical terms that refer to various parts of the ocular anatomy, while others are terms used in the management of the office.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain what CPT and ICD codes are in the health care industry
• List and identify the major structures of the eye including but not limited to the cornea, crystalline lens, pupil, iris, retina, and optic nerve
• Incorporate common optical and ocular terminology into day-to-day practice
• Identify various pieces of optical equipment used in the practice
• Explain the function of ocular anatomy and how these structures participate in the delivery of vision

There is no denying the importance of the procedures that take place at the front desk and that is the focus of the third module. Topics discussed are at an introductory level and include; telephone techniques, appointment scheduling, filing patient records, insurance and billing and check in/out procedures.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• List the proper steps to placing a caller on hold courteously
• Identify the ways to properly take a telephone message
• Outline how to effectively and politely screen calls for others in the office
• Incorporate tips on how to handle upset or irate callers on the telephone
• More efficiently schedule appointments for professionals in the office
• Set up and maintain filing systems in the office
• Discuss the difference between vision care insurance and medical insurance
• Outline steps to take when payment is not received in a timely manner

It is the patient’s ocular history that gives the optometrist the information they need to provide effective and appropriate care. And, it is often the paraoptometric who gathers this vital history. Obtaining an ocular history is the focus of this fourth module.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• List the eight elements of the History of Present Illness (HPI)
• List the fourteen systems in the Review of Systems (ROS)
• Describe what is part of the Past, Family, Social History (PFSH)
• Identify various abbreviations commonly used with ocular and systemic medications
• Differentiate between a medication side effect and a true allergic reaction to a drug
• Explain the legal and medical importance of accurate documentation

Many tests and evaluations take place prior to the optometrist performing their own procedures. The information gathered during the pre-test gives the optometrist a starting point and provides valuable data that becomes part of the patient’s permanent medical record. In this fifth module the following tests will be reviewed: visual acuity assessment, intraocular pressure measurement and lensometry.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe how visual acuity is measured and recorded
• List the various types of tonometers
• Describe how various tonometers are used to measure intraocular pressure
• List and describe different types of spectacle lenses including spheres, sphero-cylinders and multifocals
• Describe the steps to using the lensometer to neutralize spectacle lenses
• Read a spectacle prescription and identify the various components of the prescription

The external examination is a critical part of a thorough eye exam and it is often the paraoptometric who performs this vital task. “External Examination” is designed to outline the various steps to be performed in an alignment and motility evaluation, ocular muscle testing, color vision assessment, along with a pupil and anterior chamber evaluation.

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss principles of ocular motility
• Describe cover-uncover, Worth 4-Dot and stereopsis testing
• Identify the different types of color vision tests available
• List the various types of color vision deficiencies
• Describe the techniques used for pupil size assessment
• Understand the principles behind the “Flashlight Test” used to estimate the depth of the anterior chamber

The ancillary or supplementary tests the paraoptometric performs offer valuable information relating to patient care. This module will outline a number of evaluations that include the keratometer, corneal topographer, pachymeter, Schirmer's test and blood pressure.

At the conclusion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Outline the steps of taking a keratometer reading
• Evaluate the K readings to determine the amount and orientation of corneal cylinder
• Describe the findings on a corneal topograhy map
• Outline the steps required for a blood pressure reading
• Describe the ideal blood pressure reading

The purpose of this eighth module is to acquant the paraoptometric with the components of the refraction that the optometrist performs in the exam lane. The principles of objective and subjective refraction will be discussed along with the role of autorefractors. Loading a prescription into the phoropter will also be outlined in this module.

At the conclusion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Differentiate and explain the difference between an objective and subjective refraction
• Name the various parts of the phoropter
• Outline the steps to loading a prescription into the phoropter
• Describe the procedure for properly placing the patient behind the phoropter