Although ophthalmologists are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease and vision loss, interprofessional teams in the emergency room and primary care settings are often involved in initial evaluation and long-term management. The purpose of this course is address knowledge gaps, enhance nurse/physician clinical skills, and improve the care of patients with disorders of the eye that threaten vision. The goal is to achieve better clinical outcomes and a reduction in the prevalence of vision impairment. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Describe the normal anatomy and physiology of the eye and eyelid.
2. Outline the physiology of vision.
3. Describe vision screening recommendations and barriers to their implementation.
4. Identify appropriate skills for the clinical examination of the adult eye.
5. Describe the components of pediatric eye examinations.
6. Discuss the assessment of refraction and preparedness for eye examinations in the primary care setting.
7. Differentially diagnose inflammatory conditions of the eye and eyelid, and describe the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options.
8. Define the causes, treatment options, and preventive strategies for noninflammatory conditions of the eye and eyelid.
9. Identify the causes and treatment of mechanical disorders of the eyelid.
10. Identify the most common causes of eye injuries and sudden loss of vision.
11. Explain the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for eye emergencies, including interventions for non-English-proficient patients.
12. Describe eye conditions that commonly occur in children.
13. Outline the impact of vision impairment in adults and interventions to improve quality of life for vision-impaired individuals.
14. Describe the ocular manifestations of several chronic diseases and the recommendations for eye follow-up.
15. Identify ocular side effects that may result with the administration of some common medications and herbal supplements.
16. Discuss the diagnosis and treatment of malignant conditions of the eye and eyelid.
This 15-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.
