Press Releases & Archive

19 March 2002

INAUGURAL CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTICIANS

In a move to extend its educational activities and exchange with eye care professionals, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) will hold its 1st Clinical Updates for Optometrists and Opticians on 20 March 2002 at the SNEC auditorium located in its newly completed Phase 2 wing. The aim of the programme is to update optometrists and opticians with the latest clinical progress and advances in the field of vision care. The SNEC has organised courses and workshops for this group of eye care professionals from time to time in the past. Introducing this series of updates is a natural extension of SNEC's educational activities which will also build professional exchange and rapport.

Dr Ang Chong Lye, Director, SNEC explains, "We feel it is timely to introduce a regular continuing education programme for optometrists and opticians as they are important eye care professionals who very often have first contact with patients who go to them with visual complaints which can arise from underlying eye disorders. Updating optometrists and opticians with knowledge on common eye conditions, symptoms, treatment options available will enable all of us to work together and serve patients better over the entire continuum of care."

The inaugural update covers many useful and practical areas in optometry. With the unabated increase in the incidence of myopia which is already amongst the highest in the world, What's new in the Prevention of Myopia will be of great interest to optometrists and opticians who deal with this problem daily in their practice. Contact Lens related Complications is another highly relevant topic with over 300,000 contact lens wearers in Singapore and optometrists as the key provider of such services. Other topics will centre on major blinding conditions such as cataracts and retinal conditions which all eye care professionals should keep abreast with the new knowledge and latest developments in the field. The programme has been fully subscribed. Over 100 optometrists and opticians will be participating in the programme tomorrow.

Another initiative SNEC is keen to explore with eye care professionals is the opportunity for observership attachment to SNEC's Optometry Service which will provide an avenue to interact and exchange with their counterparts and to observe the delivery and management of such services in an institutional setting. At the same time, visits to general and subspecialty clinics to observe how different eye diseases are managed can also be arranged upon request. A pilot programme will commence within three months if there is sufficient interest for such a programme.

Known for organising many international ophthalmic conferences over the last ten years, the SNEC has also initiated several quality training programmes directed at para-medical staff including the Ophthalmic Technician Course and the Basic Ophthalmic Nursing Course which has successfully attracted hundreds of participants both locally and abroad from countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and People's Republic of China. SNEC plays a leading role as the ophthalmic training hub in the region.