Page 20 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition March-April 2021
P. 20
EFFECT OF SALUS UNIVERSITY
ALCOHOL ON PARTNERS WITH
HAND-EYE NATIONAL VISION TO EXPAND
COORDINATION
OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION
A new study that
aimed to emphasise the Salus University, founded College of Optometry.
impact of drinking alcohol as the Pennsylvania College “Initiating this pilot project
on activities like driving, of Optometry in 1919, has will allow us to reveal the
has found that hand-eye partnered with National strengths and limitations of
coordination is far more Vision, Inc., a subsidiary of this inevitable innovation.
sensitive to alcohol than National Vision Holdings, Inc. PCO looks forward to
previously imagined. and one of the largest optical providing recommendations
retail companies in the United on best practices to eye care
According to the
States, to expand the scope of providers.”
researchers at Nasa’s Ames optometric education.
Research Center, earlier Through the program
studies pointed to the The pilot program, patients can get an eye
fact that eye movements introduced in January by examination, inclusive of
and vision were only some doctors from the both subjective and objective
affected at blood alcohol University, is dedicated refraction as well as anterior
concentrations approaching to training students and and posterior segments eye
the legal limit of driving teaching them how to health testing. In addition, a
(0.08%). The study findings conduct remote eye exams qualified technician employed
printed in the Journal of with the help of high-tech by National Vision helps
Physiology showed that equipment and real-time conduct the exam in person,
the ability to process visual secure HD video conferencing. collecting all necessary
motion was compromised The technology allows the information about the patient
after consuming the optometrists to see patients and sending it via computer
equivalent of less than half remotely in locations that do to a doctor at The Eye Institute
a beer for a person around not have a doctor or when the where the PCO faculty serve
75kg in weight. doctor is not available.
as proctors allowing students
The study further The remote exams are to perceive a full remote
underlined the impact conducted from The Eye examination without actually
of minimal alcohol Institute – the University’s being in the same room as
consumption on activities main clinical optometric the patient.
like driving, piloting or facility – for patients within a “Technology is changing
operating heavy machinery. retail optical location operated rapidly, and we believe it
by National Vision.
“Our findings provide is important to learn and
a cautionary tale that the “Telemedicine is not a explore to ensure we are
subjective experience of new concept yet the use always operating in ways
drunkenness is often not in optometry is somewhat that are best for patients,
aligned with objective controversial. PCO (the customers and doctors,”
impairment of sensorimotor Pennsylvania College of said National Vision’s CEO
coordination. In other Optometry) has a long history Reade Fahs. “We are proud
words, most people feel of leading the profession and to have the opportunity to
they are unimpaired after keeping abreast of the latest support advancing the field
one drink, yet they are developments,” said Dr. Maria of optometry and optometric
to a significant degree,” Parisi, associate dean of Salus education through this
summed up Terence Tyson, University’s Pennsylvania partnership pilot.”
first author of the study.
| MAR-APR 2021 | 16 OPTOMETRY NEWS
Mar-Apr 2021 SK News.indd 2 27-04-2021 15:41
