Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses 2025 (ACO-CACL)

Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses 2025 (ACO-CACL)

Date: 28/04/2025 (AEST)

Venue: Online + Clinical Placement

Provider: Australian College of Optometry

Contact: Shazia Tahseen, [E] cpd@aco.org.au, [P] 03 9349 7546

Activity Outline

Developed to meet the needs of practising optometrists, the Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses (ACO-CACL) is designed to enhance your understanding of contact lens practice and enable you to increase your competency through theory and the development of appropriate skills.

An expert team of presenters will deliver lectures on a range of topics including rigid gas permeable, orthokeratology, mini-scleral, prosthetic, keratoconic and post-graft lens fitting. The course offers a flexible remote learning structure ideal for rural or remote optometrists and those balancing work and other commitments.

Learning Objectives

• List the key clinical indications for advanced contact lens correction
• Identify the Holden-Mertz critical oxygen transmissibility for contact lenses
• Find how to minimise the risk of corneal infection by selecting the safest contact lens wear modality
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the methods used for evaluating corneal shape and determining its suitability for advanced contact lens fitting
• Acquire knowledge on how these techniques can be used to monitor changes in corneal shape, such as the progression of corneal ectasia or orthokeratology
• Learn about the utilisation of techniques like topography and OCT in the fitting and creation of specialised lenses
• Demonstrate a proficiency in the assessment of evaluating fluorescein patterns during the fitting of spherical RGP CLs
• Recognise adverse events that are associated with RGP CLs that are not fitted properly
• Propose alternative fitting strategies for RGP CLs that need to be re-fitted
• Identify indications for toric RGP lenses
• Understand the principals behind empirical and trial-based fitting of toric GP lenses
• Demonstrate a proficiency in designing suitable toric GP lenses when indicated
• Review commercially-available soft CL and RGP solutions and care systems
• Discuss clinical management of common complications associated with contact lens wear
• Identify common microbial pathogens associated with contact lens wear and corneal infections (microbial keratitis)
• Review the slit lamp signs and topographical analysis of keratoconus
• Review RGP contact lens fitting of keratoconus
• Review modification of RGP lens designs to resolve fitting problems
• To understand which patients would benefit from mini-scleral contact lenses
• Explain to patients the benefits, downfalls, and management of mini-scleral contact lenses
• Demonstrate an ability to fit mini-scleral contact lenses
• Develop a detailed understanding of appropriate patient selection of potential orthokeratology wearers
• Understand the principals behind fitting orthokeratology lenses
• Understand the management of orthokeratology patients
• Understand the soft and hard contact lens modalities currently available for myopia control and their proposed mechanisms of action
• How to formulate recommendations based on the current body of evidence regarding contact lenses for myopia control
• Understand how to prescribe contact lens for myopia control and monitor their long-term efficacy
• Understand how to identify and manage unexpected orthokeratology treatment outcomes
• Understand how to identify and manage potential orthokeratology complications
• Be able to apply the above principles to real-life case examples
• Evaluate the patient's vision and corneal status following keratoplasty and refractive surgery
• Discuss the procedure for fitting CLs to eyes that have undergone keratoplasty and refractive surgery
• Review the modification of CL designs and aftercare for contact lenses for keratoplasty and refractive surgery
• Evaluate the visual and cosmetic needs of eyes affected by congenital, traumatic or post-surgical conditions
• Identify the prosthetic coloured lens options indicated for different eye conditions
• Demonstrate an understanding of the correction of irregular cornea, aphakia or binocular vision issues arising post ocular trauma
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of software-based contact lens
• Develop an understanding of profilometry and its role in empirical contact lens fitting
• Understand the key steps for designing a customized contact lens with leading contact lens design software packages
• Analyse complex case scenarios involving advanced contact lenses to enhance problem-solving skills
• Evaluate the suitability of different advanced contact lens designs for challenging cases
• Apply best practices in fitting and managing advanced contact lenses through interactive discussion and case-based learning
• Understand the different types of evidence and evidence hierarchy
• Understand the importance of critical appraisal and how critically appraise research
• Understand the importance of referencing and how to reference correctly
• To provide attendees with a clear understanding of the process of critical appraisal in the context of clinical optometry journal article evaluation
• To develop attendees' ability to work collaboratively in small groups to appraise and critically evaluate clinical optometry journal articles
• To equip attendees with the skills and knowledge necessary to present their findings in a clear and concise manner to the larger group, and to facilitate further group discussion and learning
• Understand the significance of oxygen permeability (Dk) in rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, its impact on corneal health, and factors influencing material selection;
• Compare the properties of various RGP lens materials available in the market
• Understand how to write an RGP lens prescriptions with practical examples
• Identify and manage common mini-scleral lens challenges
• Modify mini scleral lens parameters for an optimal fit
• Utilise advanced tools such as profilometry and software-based designs for lens customisation
• Understand the course design, philosophy and points of contact, where and how to access course content and understand the assessment tasks
• Understand the different types of evidence and evidence hierarchy, the importance of critical appraisal and how to do this, and understand the importance of referencing and how to do this correctly
• Have a clear understanding of the process of critical appraisal in the context of journal article evaluation
• Develop the ability to work collaboratively in small groups to appraise and critically evaluate journal articles
• Have the skills and knowledge necessary to present their findings in a clear and concise manner to the larger group, and to facilitate further group discussion and learning
• Understand the significance of oxygen permeability (Dk) in rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses, its impact on corneal health, and factors influencing material selection
• Compare the properties of various RGP lens materials available in the market and understand how to write an RGP lens prescriptions with practical examples
• How to identify and manage common mini-scleral lens challenges and modify mini scleral lens parameters for an optimal fit
• Utilise advanced tools such as profilometry and software-based designs for lens customisation

Max CPD hours awarded: 33.5 (17i 1T1.75N)

Session Information