The Industry Informer is distributed to all IACLE Industry Sponsors. If you wish to be receive a copy, please forward an email to the Editor, Industry Informer at the IACLE Secretariat.

IACLE Industry Informer

IACLE continually monitors our activities and outcomes as a way of measuring the impact that we have been able to achieve on contact lens education and in turn on the contact lens business. It is with your support that we are able to provide our educational programs and resources. Therefore, we would like to share with you a letter that was sent by a member in India, recounting for us the difference that IACLE has made. The improvements in the contact lens education provided at her institute have resulted in increased student interest and confidence in recommending and fitting contact lenses.

BEFORE AND AFTER: HOW IACLE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE

Contact lens curriculum at Dr.R.P.Centre , A.I.I.M.S

To start with I will list the contact lens curriculum followed in R.P. Centre before IACLE was introduced:

1. There was no definite curriculum

2. The students were learning fitting based more on practical training

3. The exposure to handling patients was enough both in RGP and SCL but there was less confidence. The final 3rd year students were only posted for a month at this time.

4. The ophthalmologist in charge of the contact lens department had students followed his book as reference for theory and had practical tips under his guidance.

5. In 1989 I joined R.P. Centre and worked in Contact lens department. The students posted in the department were under my supervision and guidance. There was no fixed curriculum and the teaching was mostly as a discussion class.

6. The Exam at the end of the final year was and is still by an external examiner an ophthalmologist who would ask questions during viva as per his knowledge on the contact lens subject. The students are also given contact lens case to be fitted, which is mostly a simple Soft or RGP fitting.

After IACLE:

1. IACLE gave a DIRECTION and motivation.

2. The information was supplied by IACLE to update my knowledge and it enhanced my confidence to teach.

3. Later the lectures were also given through Audio visual mode and the students always appreciated that. Their standard and interest in the subject increased.

4. The students now understand and give Contact lens subject its due Importance. They want to learn the most in it. They understand that this subject will also be utmost importance when they graduate, whether they are employed or are in practice.

5. Knowledge of the subject is based on IACLE MODULES and we try to follow a schedule of classes based on them starting this subject in the 2nd year now compared to the 3 rd year earlier.

6. Students are quite confident now as they graduate.

7. The EXAM procedure is still the same and the level of the students is not judged based on IACLE syllabus as the external examiner is an ophthalmologist who is generally not following IACLE standards.

8. To overcome this, and encourage students to read and learn the IACLE modules thoroughly, the Student Trial Exam is considered as a knowledge tester. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. has announced top 3 position cash award of Rs12000, Rs10000 and Rs8000 to the students who score best in the IACLE trial exam.

In the end I feel that words are less for the generous effort IACLE has done to my INSTITUTE and me in enhancing the knowledge of this subject.

We thank you for your ongoing support of global contact lens education. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of IACLE in further detail, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Kind regards, Prof. Deborah F. Sweeney IACLE President

IACLE Student Trial Exam - Preparing Next Year's Practitioners

Conducted shortly before an institution's final contact lens exam, the IACLE Student Trial Exam (STE) assists both students and educators in assessing knowledge levels and identifying where further training and studying is needed in order to confidently go into practice fitting and managing their contact lens patients.

IACLE Accreditation Examination - Setting a Standard in Contact Lens Education

With no other means available of accrediting contact lens educators, the IACLE Accreditation Exam is an instrument for assessing the contact lens knowledge of IACLE's membership. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice test items, including visual recognition and case-based questions. Topics covered include general knowledge relating to basic science, ophthalmic optics, patient management, and contact lens fitting.

Intensive Educator Training Program in China

IACLE has addressed the need to rapidly increase the knowledge levels of Chinese educators and practitioners by holding week-long intensive educator training programs. Most recently IACLE targeted the members in China who have not yet participated in this intensive form of training. The 4th intensive educator training program was held from 10-14 May 2004 at Donghua University in Shanghai for 29 educators from 21 institutions throughout China.

IACLE Asia Pacific

Through communication with our industry sponsors, IACLE has identified China and Korea as countries where the expanding contact lens markets require skilled and knowledgeable contact lens fitters. To meet this need, IACLE has held meetings and translated programs and resources for both Korean and Chinese educators.

SUMMARY OF 2003 IACLE ACTIVITY

At the recent American Academy of Optometry meeting in Dallas, Texas we had the opportunity to meet with our Industry Sponsors to update them on IACLE activities over the past year and the following is a summary of that presentation. The full annual report and presentation is available through the links provided below.

Third Quarter 2003 - IACLE Industry Seminars

Do students around the world who are studying contact lenses know your products? When they graduate, do they have all the information required to fit their patients with your products? The way to ensure that graduating practitioners have information about the products available to them and are skilled and comfortable fitting the lenses, is to participate in IACLE Industry Seminars.