2016 AND BEYOND Paras of the future Desinee Drakulich O.D.

DISCLAIMER I do not have any affiliations nor am I paid by any of the companies that are used in this presentation.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Optometry can be traced back to the 1200's Traditionally optometrists did most of the clinical and optical work on their own. As optometry became a more accepted practice the profession exploded. With the ever changing health care system optometry has stepped up as the primary entry point for eye care. With this increasing demand optometrist had to relinquish their all encompassing duties and start delegating. This is where the paraoptometric was born.

IN THE BEGINNING In the beginning the para’s primary duty was to ensure a smooth patient flow and keep the doctor on schedule. As optometric testing became more automated the para’s responsibilities grow beyond imagination. Currently in our state, there are two different levels of delegation an optometrist can do. Direct supervision – refractions, administration of drop etc. Indirect supervision – visual fields, OCT etc.

IN OUR OFFICE Paras perform the following duties Visual fields OCT Optos/Fundus photography AR AL IOP BP Color/Stereo History Contact lens I & R And much more

NOW TO THE FUN STUFF In the future, I believe more automated testing and procedures will open up new doors for paraoptometrics. So lets take a glance into the past and a peak into the future of paraoptometrics.

REFRACTION

STONE AGE

MEDIEVAL TIMES

THE PRESENT

FUTURE

CORNEAL TOPOGRAPHY

WAVEFRONT TECHNOLOGY

COLOR AND STEREO TESTING

STONE AGE

MEDIEVAL TIMES

RESULTS

PRESENT

DEPTH PERCEPTION

FUTURE

TONOMETRY

THE STONE AGE Schioetz

MEDIEVAL TIMES Goldmann Tonopen Pascal

THE INQUISITION Not the puff of air!

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

DIABETES TESTING

THE STONE AGE

MEDIEVAL TIMES

TODAY

FUTURE

VISUAL FIELD TESTING

STONE AGE

MEDIEVAL TIMES

THE PRESENT

FUTURE

IN OFFICE LABORATORY TESTING

THE PAST In office laboratory testing was pretty much none existent in optometry until recently. Due to lengthy test times and specialized equipment to analyze samples, it was difficult and costly to do in office testing. Recently a series of less expensive, relatively simple tests have been developed with optometry in mind. These test will be and are being performed by paras.

DRY EYE

TEAR OSMOLARITY

OSMOLARITY RESULTS

THE RED EYE

DETECTION OF VIRUS

OCULAR ALLERGY

GENETIC TESTING

DRY MACULAR DEGENERATION

WET MACULAR DEGENERATION

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Yes the future is bright for both Optometrists and Paraoptometrics. I believe with increasing technology and the ever growing demand for primary care providers our profession will continue to have a wonderful future.

QUESTIONS

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