Optometrists are important members of the eye care team at Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital. They take care of a predominant portion of the workload in outpatient services and play a complementary role to Ophthalmologists in this hospital. Over time, it has begun to play a multifaceted role with ever-increasing scope and responsibility.
83 Optometrists now provide outpatient care in almost every outpatient subspecialty, namely General Outpatients Department (GOPD), Private Outpatients Department (POPD), Cornea Wing, Contact lens, Cataract cell, Neuro-ophthalmology, Vitreo-Retina, Glaucoma, Oculoplasty, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Orthoptics, Vision Therapy and Low Vision Departments.
Optometrists document history, perform clinical refraction with glass prescription, evaluate basic components of binocular vision and ocular motility, examine the anterior structures of the eye using the slit lamp bio-microscope, measure intraocular pressure using the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer, perform perimetry, biometry, and also few other eye examinations. This first level of evaluation aids the ophthalmologist in diagnosis and arriving at an appropriate treatment plan. The Optometrist therefore not only performs a detailed ocular examination but also facilitates the management of a great number of patients that can be examined by a single Ophthalmologist providing accurate documentation of the entire procedure.
The team consists of In-Charge of Optometry Department, Senior Optometrists Optometrist/Orthoptists, Deputy Senior Optometrists, Optometrists, Associate Optometrists, Junior Optometrists, Refractionists and Asst. Oph. Technician.
Refraction Services: Optometrists provide refraction services in the outpatient departments and all the subspecialties. All members of this department perform streak retinoscopy which is gold standard for the estimation of refractive errors.
All members of this department perform streak retinoscopy which is gold standard for the estimation of refractive errors.
Optometry Sub-Specialties
Contact Lens Services: A comprehensive contact lens service, ranging from soft lenses to more complex presentations requiring Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP), Rose-K, mini-scleral, scleral, and prosthetic contact lenses are being provided.
Senior and trained Optometrists are assigned to fit contact lenses and care to patients with advanced corneal pathologies, and post-surgical and therapeutic needs, according to advice from cornea specialists.
Orthoptics: It deals with binocular vision disorders. Orthoptists measures the Ocular Misalignment, Ocular motility and binocular vision performances. They also perform children’s refraction and prism-related services.
The orthoptic measurement is greatly helpful for the squint surgeon to correct the precise amount of squint by surgery.
Vision Therapy: This is a new clinic started in the year 2020. This concept is also new in Bangladesh. Few optometrists received advanced training to provide the Vision Therapy services. So far, response is good.
The vision therapist evaluates the patients and provides some eye exercises. Those exercises help to improve patients’ visual acuity or visual performance slowly and steadily.
Low Vision Rehabilitation Services: The low vision clinic at IIEI&H is managed by Optometrists and other professionals who have a full range of optical devices and adaptive equipment including electronic magnifiers.
Recently, the services of Low Vision have been scaled up by incorporating vision rehabilitation services. The rehabilitation services are aimed at helping economically weaker persons with vision impairment and permanent vision loss to lead an independent, dignified, and productive life – these include assistive devices, mobility & orientation training, daily living skills training, computer-based training, use of apps on smartphones, Braille for children and other learning activities to help improve their quality of life.
Biometry: It deals with ocular refractive status. Optometrist or ophthalmic technician perform biometry to before undergoing cataract surgery to get better surgical outcomes.
Manual and digital keratometry services available in here. A-Scan, IOLMaster, Lenstar optical biometer, Pentacam also in use to calculate precise amount of IOL power to be implanted for cataract patients.
Academic Activities
Teaching in Optometry Courses: Beside the medical services, dedicated optometrists teaches the students to create future optometrists as skilled manpower.
Currently, this organization conduct D.O.T. program (2-year course), MLOP program (1-year course), Refraction training program (6 months), Orthoptic training program (6 months), Low Vision training program (1 or 3 month) in optometry domain. All courses conduct by the education department where optometrists are the resource persons to teach in such programs.
Continuous Medical Education (CME): Continuous Medical Education program for Optometrists are held at early morning on each Thursday to update with the latest developments in the Optometry domain.
Optometry Gallary
