Optometric InternAt — In Focus Optometry

Optometric Intern will assist with front office duties as well as perform ancillary tests on patients such as autorefractor, glaucoma screening, and perimeter equipment. 

Tasks:

Optometric assistant duties include checking and verifying insurance; contact lens training, pre-testing on autorefractor and screening for glaucoma, verifying insurances, data entry, analyzing prescription glasses, frame adjustments, frame selection, and run visual field perimetry on patients.

Training:

• Provide hands-on demonstrations and closely supervised practice with preliminary testing equipment on patients (autorefractor, tonometer, visual field analyzer).
• Offer weekly discussions and provide readings about ocular conditions and equipment that will be used during comprehensive exams. The student will be able to shadow during patient exams for extra exposure.
• Train the student to accurately use optical equipment by providing a checklist with detailed instructions, opportunities to practice, and weekly assessments of the student’s knowledge.
• Introduce the student to the digital software and file organization system by assigning cases for the student to organize into files in the proper orientation.
  Provide a professionalism workshop during orientation; observe and evaluate patient interactions, providing feedback biweekly.

Learning Outcomes:

• Accurately conduct preliminary testing, including visual acuity tests, autorefraction, and tonometry.
• Understand and explain common ocular conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome, as well as the equipment that is used for diagnosis.
• Perform basic optical techniques including nose pad replacement, screw tightening, lens analysis, pupillary distance/segment height measurement and frame adjustment.
• Apply knowledge of optometric terminology, clinical documentation, and usage of digital software for organization of patient information in a private practice setting.
• Understand the business and retail aspects of a private practice, including inventory management, the different types of lens and frame selections, customer service, and insurance verification.