Principles and Practice in Ophthalmic Assisting

Author, editor, and speaker Jan Ledford, COMT, began her ocular adventure as a job-trained assistant. Three certifications, 20+ books, and thousands of eye exams later, she is still very happy in an exam room with a patient, doing refractometry and other fun things. She is currently owned by only one cat (Nadia Narci), but hopes to one day retire (although no time soon) and become a crazy cat lady. Jan lives in the mountains of western North Carolina where she enjoys singing, reading, spending time with her grandkids and other family, and watching Judge Judy and NCIS. Oh, and bleeding red ink on other people’s manuscripts. Al Lens, COMT, began his career in ophthalmology in 1986 and has enjoyed teaching new ophthalmic medical personnel how to evaluate and care for patients in the best way possible. He is a firm believer that you should never stop learning. When students face a new scenario, Al encourages them to gain knowledge from the experience, possibly undertaking further study to fill in the blanks. Continuous study makes the job more enjoyable and better serves the patients.

Dedication Acknowledgments About the Editors Contributing AuthorsIntroduction Section I General Ophthalmic Knowledge Chapter 1 Introduction to the Field of Eye CareJan Ledford, COMT Chapter 2 Ocular AnatomyCharles A. Beck, DO, FAAO Chapter 3 Ocular PhysiologyAl Lens, COMT Chapter 4 OpticsAl Lens, COMT Section II Ophthalmic Skills Chapter 5 Ophthalmic EquipmentAl Lens, COMT Chapter 6 Scribing and Chair-Side AssistingJane T. Shuman, MSM, COT, COE, OCS, CMSS, OSC Chapter 7 History TakingEllie Bessarab, COT, NCLEC, OSC, and Duanna VanCamp, COT Chapter 8 Vision TestingJan Ledford, COMT Chapter 9 Basic Eye ExamSuzanne Hansen, MEd, COMT, and Anna Kiss, BS, COMT Chapter 10 Ocular Motility, Strabismus, and AmblyopiaColleen Schreiber, OC(C), COMT, CCRP Chapter 11 Retinoscopy and RefractometryAaron V. Shukla, PhD, COMT Chapter 12 Slit Lamp MicroscopySergina M. Flaherty, COMT, OSC Chapter 13 TonometryGayle Roberts, COMT, BHS Chapter 14 Visual FieldsGayle Roberts, COMT, BHS Chapter 15 Ophthalmic PhotographySarah M. Armstrong, CRA, OCT-C, FOPS Chapter 16 Diagnostic ImagingAl Lens, COMT Chapter 17 Ophthalmic UltrasoundMonique Rinke, COMT, and Laura Barry, BSc, COMT Chapter 18 Electrophysical TestingJacob P. McGinnis, BA, COT Section III Optical Skills Chapter 19 Optical ProceduresSumáya Sumi Rodríguez, COT, OSC, ABO-AC, FNAO, USN (Ret) Chapter 20 Eyewear: Spectacles and LensesAnne West-Ellmers, COT, OSC, LDO, NCLEC, AAS Chapter 21 Contact LensesWendy M. Ford, BS, COMT, FCLSA, NCLEM Section IV Ophthalmic Medical Sciences Chapter 22 PharmacologyPeter D. Anderson, Pharm D, BCPP, CMI-IV, and Gyula Bokor, MD Chapter 23 MicrobiologyCatherine Horan, BA, COMT Chapter 24 GeneticsJames Walsh, MD, PhD, and Sandra Johnson, MD Chapter 25 Neuro-OphthalmologyBeth Koch, COT, ROUB, and Lisa Lystad, MD Chapter 26 Ocular Disorders and Conditions: External and Anterior SegmentJessica M. Barr, COMT, ROUB Chapter 27 Ocular Disorders and Conditions: Posterior SegmentJessica M. Barr, COMT, ROUB Chapter 28 CataractRoxanna Martin, BSc, OSC Chapter 29 GlaucomaSandra Johnson, MD, and Eric Areiter, MD Chapter 30 DiabetesChristine McDonald, COE, COA, ROUB, OSC Chapter 31 Other Systemic Disorders/Conditions Affecting the EyesAl Lens, COMT Chapter 32 Ocular TraumaAdel Ebraheem, MD, MS Chapter 33 Nontraumatic Ocular Emergent and Urgent SituationsGayle Roberts, COMT, BHS Chapter 34 Subspecialties in Ophthalmology and OptometryDonna Bong, COMT Chapter 35 Low VisionBeth Koch, COT, ROUB Section V Surgical Services and Skills Chapter 36 Overview of Ophthalmic SurgeryCynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, Henry Lee, MD, and Sebastian Lesniak, MD Chapter 37 In-Office Minor SurgeryKesha Hyde, COT, and Jan Ledford, COMT Chapter 38 Refractive SurgeryPaul M. Larson, MBA, MMSc, COMT, COE, CPC, CPMA Chapter 39 Ophthalmic Laser SurgeryAdeline Stone, COT, CRA, CDOS Chapter 40 Surgical AssistingRobert M. Kershner, MD, MS, FACS, and Jacob P. McGinnis, BA, COT Section VI Administrative Skills Chapter 41 Around the OfficeJane T. Shuman, MSM, COT, COE, OCS, CMSS, OSC Chapter 42 Record Keeping and Electronic Medical RecordsJane T. Shuman, MSM, COT, COE, OCS, CMSS, OSC, and Amanda J. Shuman, Esq Chapter 43 The Basics of Coding in an Outpatient SettingJane T. Shuman, MSM, COT, COE, OCS, CMSS, OSC Chapter 44 Health Care Compliance and Regulatory IssuesGloria Garcia-Garza, COA, CMC, and Cheryl PelhamAppendices Appendix A Review of Sciences and ApplicationsJan Ledford, COMTAppendix B In-Office TrainingSavory Turman, COMT, OCSAppendix C Medical TerminologyJohn P. Rowan, COMTAppendix D Commonly Used Ophthalmic MedicationsJan Ledford, COMTGlossaryFinancial Disclosures Index