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Additional Information
Program Mission
The mission of the Residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses is to attract the best-qualified post-graduate optometrists seeking specialization in anterior segment conditions and contact lenses and provide them with advanced clinical training in both primary and specialty contact lens patient care. The intensive clinical setting provides a basis for attaining expertise in patient care, specialty lens fittings, and patient education and communication with regards to contact lenses, as well as increased knowledge and skill in the areas of emergency eye care, post-operative care and management of anterior segment conditions. Upon completion of the program the resident will be qualified to pursue professional opportunities which require a high level of clinical proficiency in contact lenses as well as corneal disease and trauma management. It is expected that the resident will not only be prepared to pursue private practice as a contact lens specialist, but he or she will also be prepared to engage in research or function as an educator in optometric institutions in the field of contact lenses.
Description of Program
The Cornea and Contact Lens Residency is a one-year program designed to provide intensive clinical, teaching, and research experience in anterior segment disease, contact lenses, and primary care optometry. Clinical teaching is expected to be a part of the residency program, in order to prepare the clinician for the role of clinical educator. Academic leadership and communication skills will be emphasized through case conference instruction, and scholarly writing and speaking through research. Although structured experiences are necessary to ensure consistent quality of the program, specific educational opportunities can be tailored to meet the individual interests of the Resident.
The Residency begins July 1. The work will consist primarily of clinical consulting with student interns, but will also consist of independent patient care. The resident will also be required to be on-call a maximum of every other week.
One half day per week the Resident will see patients and/or consult with an intern at the Indiana University Health Center. This setting focuses on triage and acute care of Indiana University students, faculty, and staff. Another half day per week the Resident will consult with third-year interns in Primary Care Clinic. This setting enable the Resident to maintain primary care skills and to teach optometry students who are new to clinic and patient care. All other times not designated elsewhere, the Resident will consult with fourth-year interns in the Contact Lens Clinic. Here the Resident will assist the interns in fitting all types of contact lenses and contact lens related problem solving as the need arises.
Once a week, the Resident will hold a case conference seminar for the fourth-year interns to discuss patient care and interesting cases. The resident will be required to observe all students give a 20 minute case presentation, and organize speakers each week to talk on various topics. The resident is also required to give one 30-60 minute presentation at one of the scheduled case conferences.
At least one half day per week will be designated for independent patient care. During this time, the Resident will provide direct patient care to clinical patients. It is expected that these patients will require specialized care and expertise appropriate for a Resident. Clinical consultation from faculty with necessary interest, experience, and expertise will be available, and it is expected that the Resident will take advantage of this consultation when needed. Clinical patient care and teaching will be divided between Indianapolis and Bloomington clinics as available.
An academic project is required, and a paper of publishable quality will be written prior to and as a condition of the completion of the Residency program. This paper can be a report of original clinical research, case reports, or a literature review, and will be written with the assistance of the Residency Advisor. It is expected that this paper will be submitted to a scholarly journal for publication. At least one half day per week will be set aside to complete this task.
Resident Responsibilities
In order to meet the educational goals of the program, residents are expected to:
- Provide optometric care to a large and diverse group of patients in the Indiana University School of Optometry Contact Lens Clinic, with emphasis in contact lenses and anterior segment conditions.
- Acquire clinical experience in primary, specialized, and advanced contact lens fitting techniques, including and toric and bifocal soft contact lens fittings, and aspheric, bitoric, bifocal, keratoconic, and post-refractive rigid gas permeable contact lens fittings.
- Gain clinical experience in the management of emergency eye care and anterior segment conditions, including an external rotation at the Indiana University Student Health Center's Urgent Eye Clinic, provision of emergency eye care services at the Contact Lens Clinic, and after-hours emergency on-call responsibility.
- Acquire proficiency in the use of therapeutic agents used to manage and treat anterior segment conditions.
- Learn in the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including the latest digital imaging, corneal topography, and computer technology.
- Clinical and didactic instruction of optometry students including clinical supervision in the Contact Lens Clinic and during various health screenings throughout the year.
- Give lectures and organize presenters for the weekly Case Conference Seminar for optometry interns.
- Organize specialized training workshops for advanced contact lens fittings; attendance at lectures and workshops in optometric pre- and post-refractive surgical care.
- Attend continuing education classes and seminars.
- Participate in clinical research in contact lens or anterior segment related conditions, including the completion of a research paper, literature review, or case report of publishable quality by the end of the program.
- Attend at least one scholarly meeting devoted to specialty contact lens care, as well as attendance of weekly Oxyopia research seminars.
- Actively participate in the optometric community through membership and participation in optometric organizations.
Questions?
Please contact Dr. Kovacich (the Contact Lens and Cornea Residency Coordinator) or the school's Director of Residencies.
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