Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Optometric Management of Nearpoint Vision Disorders: Dr Martin H Birnbaum Colour Adas of Corneal Topography: Interpreting Videokeratography, 1st edition: Yaron S Rabinowitz, Steven E Wilson and Stephen D Klyce     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Management of Difficult Glaucoma: EJ Higginbotham and DA Lee Reviewed by: Dr DM Cockburn Hampton VIC Optometric Management of Near Point Disorders: Martin H Birnbaum Reviewed by: Peter Dwyer Bentleigh, VIC Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems: Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Science Series, Vol 58 Ashim K Mitra (editor) Reviewed by: Dr CF Wildsoet     

ALDEN HAFFNER SPEAKS OUT ON OPTOMETRY

This is one of a series of interviews conducted by the Australian Journal of Optometry with some of the world's leaders in optometric education and research. Here Dr. Alden N. Haffner from the Optometric Centre of New York speaks with the Journal on the future of optometry and some of the problems facing optometry both today and in the near future,     

The Role of an Optometric Emergency Unit in a Natural Disaster

Following the recent Darwin Disaster caused by Cyclone Tracy, the Federal Government requested the presence of an Optometric Emergency Unit in Darwin to assist in the rehabilitation programme. The authors flew to Darwin to supply this need. The role of this unit in the emergency is analysed and some suggestions concerning an Optometric Emergency Unit are made.     

The Inaugural Alan Bott Memorial Lecturea: Twenty years of NZOVRF‐supported scientific inquiry

For many years, Alan Bott travelled from his optometric practice in Paeroa to supervise the contact lens laboratories and clinics at The University of Auckland. He was one of the founders of the New Zealand Optometric Vision Research Foundation (NZOVRF) working closely with Eugene Hirst and Dr Leon Garner (now Professor Emeritus Garner) to raise nearly $500,000 for the Foundation from 1985 to 1988. Alan passed away in 1999 as a result of prostate cancer. He is remembered fondly by all who knew him. Since its inception 20 years ago, the NZOVRF has supported research that has advanced our knowledge and understanding in many areas of optometry and vision science. Even a brief discussion of each of the 39 studies that the foundation has supported would result in a very long report, so I shall confine my remarks to an area that has been of great interest and controversy, especially concerning whether myopia and other refractive anomalies occur as a result of hereditary or environmental influences or both.     

BOOK REVIEW

Management for the Eyecare Practitioner, IrvingBennett Law and Management in Optometric Practice, SP Taylor, DP Austen     

Symposium on the delivery of optometric care in nontraditional settings. Summary and conclusions

During the 1987 Academy Meeting, a joint Optometric Education/Public Health and Occupational Optometry Symposium was held on The Delivery of Optometric Care in Nontraditional Settings. Papers were presented on prison systems, long-term care facilities, schools for the mental/physically handicapped, home eye care services, migrant work program, and juvenile detention facilities. This paper is an overview of care delivered in nontraditional settings, including important health care and demographic considerations, brief summation of the nontraditional populations presented, the impact on optometric education, and implications for optometric manpower needs.     

Book review

Book reviewed in this article:
Optometric Guide to Surgical Co-management , Debra Bezan, Kathy D. Halverson, Kathleen Schaffer and Pam Thomas     

Supply, distribution, and capacity of optometrists in Indiana.

BACKGROUND: The Indiana Optometric Association and the Indiana Health Care Professional Development Commission identified a need to collect and analyze data on the health professions workforce for formulating goals and strategies to accommodate demands for health care services in Indiana. This study looks at the supply, distribution, and services of optometrists practicing in Indiana. METHODS: Data compiled by the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Health Care Development Commission, and the Project HOPE Center for Health Affairs were analyzed with the results of a survey of practitioner members of the Indiana Optometric Association. Supply, distribution, services, provider-to-population ratios, per capita demand, and optometric productivity were used to evaluate the current and future capacity of Indiana optometrists to the year 2010. RESULTS: An estimated 893 optometrists practiced in 86 of 92 counties and comprised 77% of the state's licensed eye and vision care workforce in 1995. Optometric workforce capacity appeared to be related to county population, but unrelated to the urban/rural classification or the per-capita income of Indiana counties. Contact lenses, disease, geriatrics, and pediatrics were the most prevalent areas of practice specialty. CONCLUSIONS: Optometrist capacity in Indiana is sufficient at both the state and county levels, and optometric services are appropriately distributed such that patient access to optometric care is geographically unburdened. Estimates regarding supply are elastic, depending on the assumptions applied.     

Affiliations of community health centers with the accredited schools and colleges of optometry in the states and territories of the United States

BackgroundIn 2006, the American Optometric Association Community Health Center Committee surveyed schools/colleges of optometry in the United States and its territories to assess collaborations between community health centers and optometric institutions.MethodsThe survey investigated the number and structure of affiliations that existed between Federally Qualified Health Centers and schools/colleges of optometry in the United States. The survey reached the schools through the American Optometric Association Faculty Relations Committee or personal contact (Inter-American University of Puerto Rico).ResultsThe survey showed wide variation in affiliations of community health centers with optometry programs. Six schools had no affiliations, whereas the remaining 11 ranged from 1 to 14. Information relating to 37 community health centers was reported. Results showed that schools utilized community health centers for fourth-year students in 5 schools, and both third- and fourth-year students in the remaining 6 schools. Schools vary regarding how precepting is managed with either full-time faculty (64.9%) or adjunct faculty. Business models also vary between schools.ConclusionAffiliations between school/colleges of optometry and community health centers differ considerably. Optometric affiliations with community health centers can result in increased access to eye care for underserved populations and increased clinical experience for optometry students and residents. Opportunities exist to establish additional affiliations. Educational benefits and costs associated with affiliations should be explored before entering into a collaborative model of eye care delivery.     

Erickson goniolens system

The Optometric Research Institute has clinically evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of the Erickson Goniolens System. Operational procedures and interpreting the results are discussed. Advantages, disadvantages and conclusions are expressed.     

What are the appropriate skills and knowledge of reimbursement systems needed for the entry-level practice of optometry?

Health care reimbursement has increasingly become a major factor in the day-to-day practice of optometry. This paper, originally presented at the 1992 Summit on Optometric Education, outlines the various types of programs the optometrist should be familiar with, and emphasizes the importance of the integration of such knowledge into the curriculum of the schools and colleges of optometry.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Progress in Retinal Research, Volume 5. Edited by N. O sborne and G. C hader
Law and Management in Optometric Practice. By S. P. T aylor and D. P. A usten     

BRIEF REVIEWS

Optometric Pharmacology . By. J. G. J ose , K. A. P olse and E. K. H olden .
Central and Pripheral Mechanisms of Colour Vision. Edited by D. O ttoson and S. Z eki .     

Internet research: improving traditional community analysis before launching a practice.

Optometric practice management experts have always recommended that optometrists thoroughly research the communities in which they are considering practicing. Until the Internet came along, demographic research was possible but often daunting. Today, say these authors, it's becoming quite a bit easier ... and they show us how.     

Veterans Administration residency programs: an overview

At present, there are 33 Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Centers providing 1-year COE (Council on Optometric Education) accredited residency training programs for 46 recent graduates. This paper describes the types of programs available, discusses the staffing of the clinics, and details the clinical experience.     

An appropriate patient base for clinical optometric education.

The reasons for the need of an expanded patient base for adequate clinical instruction in the 4-year professional program are discussed. Optometric education must establish the "reasonable set" standard for patient size and diversity particularly in view of its expanded scope of professional responsibility.     

Guidelines for clinical electroretinography in the dog

These procedures described for the dog ERG were approved at the 1st European Conference on Veterinary Visual Electrophysiology in Vienna, Austria, May 30, 2000. Dr. Narfström was Chair of the Committee for a Harmonized ERG Protocol, appointed by the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ECVO), and Dr. Ofri was secretary. The other coauthors are committee members. Guidelines for ERG procedures in other animal species for clinical and laboratory studies are planned for in the future and the present guidelines are planned to be revised on a biannual basis. A brief report of the recommended procedures is available in the Conference Proceedings book.     

Why should optometric research be designated as a priority for the profession?

Research is the discovery of new information, ideas or theories that increases our knowledge and understanding of ourselves and our environment. Optometric research focuses on the health, functioning and performance of people with emphasis on their eyes and vision. The goal of optometric research is to enable optometrists to provide high quality eye and vision care for their patients.