News from ASCO Special Interest Groups

ASCO’s Low Vision Educators SIG met in Oklahoma in July.

ASCO’s Low Vision Educators SIG met in Oklahoma in July.

LOW VISION EDUCATORS SIG

Met: July 10-12, 2014 at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in Tahlequah, Okla.

Chair: Dr. Tracy Matchinski

Attendees: 24 attendees from 19 U.S. and two Canadian schools/colleges and a representative from the Veterans Administration

Speakers/Discussion Topics: Dr. Dave Lewerenz, Dr. Swati Modi, Cathy Holden and Lynda Crouch (multidisciplinary work in low vision rehabilitation); Dr. Matchinski and Dr. Kierstyn Napier-Dovorany (teaching case studies); Dr. Henry Greene (telescopes); telescope and prism-fitting workshops; Dr. Sarah Appel (How are we getting students excited about providing low vision care?); Dr. Sharon Lee (How do we teach technology to our students? How can we keep it current?); Dr. Julie Marinier (journal club); Dr. Elli Kollbaum (ideas for generating referrals into your low vision clinic); and Dr. Katie Boland (What has been your most successful and unsuccessful teaching idea?)

Sponsors: Ocutech Vision Enhancing Systems, Chadwick Optical Inc. and Lighthouse for the Blind of St. Louis.

Contact: LaShawn Sidbury, ASCO’s Manager of Programs and Meetings, lsidbury@opted.org.

 

OPHTHALMIC OPTICS EDUCATORS SIG

Met: July 24-26, 2014 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Chair: Dr. Mark Street

Attendees: 33 attendees from 19 U.S. and two Canadian schools/colleges and four sponsor representatives

Actions: The SIG observed a moment of silence to pay homage to the loss of a sponsor and friend Dr. Darryl

Dr. Pete Hanlin received this year’s Joe Bruneni Lecture Award from the Ophthalmic Optics Educators SIG.

Dr. Pete Hanlin received this year’s Joe Bruneni Lecture Award from the Ophthalmic Optics Educators SIG.

Meister (Carl Zeiss Vision). The group is discussing honoring him by establishing the Darryl Meister Memorial Research Project; Curriculum Database Project: consensus to create a composite database of syllabus and curriculum comparisons of the general optics and ophthalmic material courses of the various schools and colleges of optometry (final product to be presented in potential publication form); Dr. Pete Hanlin delivered this year’s Joe Bruneni Memorial Lecture, “Contrast Sensitivity and Visual Perception.”

Speakers/Discussion Topics: Dr. Mike Tolentino (presentation and discussion regarding the deleterious effects of non-ultraviolet blue light within the visual spectrum); Discussion regarding the validity of “blue light” claims, availability of industry materials designed to “filter” blue light, potential incorporation of both theoretical basic and practical application of this topic into existing ophthalmic curriculum; Rose Harris and Michael Matson (life 360: using real life metrics to advance technology); Dr. Nicole Putnam (using technology in an optics classroom setting); Dr. Michele Hoff and Dr. Natalie Hutchings (comparing course syllabi)

Sponsors: Carl Zeiss Vision, Essilor of America, EyeMed, HOYA, Transitions. The SIG thanks Transitions for being the sole sponsor of the events held on July 24.

Next Meeting: July 23-25, 2015 in Grand Rapids, Mich. The workshop will be chaired by Dr. Jamie Brady. The theme of next year’s workshop is “Education and Scholarship.”

Contact: LaShawn Sidbury, ASCO’s Manager of Programs and Meetings, lsidbury@opted.org.