ABOUT GOA

Graduate Optometry Association is a professional association of West Bengal. It is the only association which consider a person as optometrist, who has minimum Four years of Bachelor Degree in Clinical Optometry and Vision science from UGC recognised University.

GOA has more than 500 working Optometry professionals across the state and works to benefit it's members at the professional front. GOA had played a crucial role during the drafting and amendment of NCAHP ( National Commission for Allied and Health Professional) bill..

Currently, GOAis voluntarily drafting the guidelines for the Opthalmic science professionals that may help the West Bengal Government's Allied and Health Council interim board.

Optometry and Optometrist

As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's model curriculum handbook of optometry , ' Optometrist are primarily health care practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care ,which includes Refraction and Dispensing, Diagnosis and primary management of eye diseases and Rehabilitation of the condition of visual system.

As pOptometrist also means a person having -
1. Graduate degree in Optometry obtained after the completion of a full time course of Four years from UGC recognised University.
2. Post Graduate degree in Optometry after completion of a full time course of Two years and /or PhD in the same.

What is NCAHP Act 2021

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Act 2021 , recognised Optometry as a Health care profession in India. NCAHP Act 2021 is enacted on 28 th March 2021 to provide regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by allied and health care professionals, assessment of institution, maintenance of a Central Register and State Register and creation of a system to improve access , research and development and adoption of latest scientific advancement and for matters connected in addition to that or incidental thereto.

Function of Optometrist

1. Diagnosis and Primary management of eye ailments.
2. Taking care of 90 % or more of vision correction needs.
3. Refer severe eye diseases for further management and those needing surgery.
4. Prescribe Contact Lens for vision correction and sight restoration.

Contact Lens Evaluation Consists of

• Evaluation of the fit, centration and movement of the lenses.
• Additional measurements and testing if necessary.
• Additional examination to look for contact lens related complications.
• Training contact lens insertion and removal.
• Contact Lenses Fitting

After your initial fit, contact lens follow-up visit may be needed. In order to maintain healthy vision, Dr. Yang recommends all contact lens wearers to have a complete eye examination once a year after your initial fitting.

Contact Lens Care Information

• Always wash your hands with soap & water and dry with a lint-free cloth before handling contact lenses. Keep your fingernails smooth to prevent contact lens damage.
• Do not use saliva, tap water, or anything other than recommended contact lens solution to clean your contact lenses.
• Don’t wear your contact lenses overnight, unless given specific approval by your doctor.
• Don’t wear your contact lenses beyond the replacement schedule recommended by your doctor. Problems can arise even if your aging contacts allow you to see & feel well.
• Don’t wear your contact lenses while bathing, showering, or engaging in water activities. This risk a sight- threatening infection by Acanthamoeba or Pseudomonas. This germ can cause an ulcer to your cornea within 24 hours. Use water-tight goggles if going underwater with contact lenses and dispose your lenses after each use.
• Don’t wear your contact lenses around irritating vapors, fumes or smoke.
• Don’t instill prescription eye drops while wearing your contact lenses.
• Don’t wear your contact lenses if they are uncomfortable or appear ripped or damaged.
• If the lens has dirt, an eyelash, or foreign body on it, thoroughly clean, rinse and disinfect the lens.
• If your contact lenses feel uncomfortably dry, either take them out and put on your back-up glasses, or instill contact lens re-wetting drops.
• In the event of a suspected eye infection, remove your contact lenses, put on your back-up glasses, and promptly return back to your doctor. Symptoms of an eye infection may include reddish or pinkish coloration of the eye, an irritating dry or gritty sensation, pain, blur, pussy or crusty discharge, foreign body sensation, and morning eye lid stickiness.
• Minimize your contact lens wear when you are sick.
• Minimize or refrain from contact lens wear during active allergy flare-ups.
• Always have a pair of back-up glasses-updated enough for legal driving.
• Bring an extra set of contact lenses, contact lens solution and a case with you when spending the night away from home.
• Wear 1005 UV-protective sunglasses with your contact s outdoors, unless your contacts already block UV. Contacts don’t necessarily protect against the sun.
• Regardless of which cleaning/disinfecting solution is used, clean your lenses with a rub & rinse method rather than a no rub method. This step should be done immediately upon lens removal rather than waiting until morning.
• Only fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact lenses. Never re-use old solution. Change your lens solution every day, even if the lenses are not used daily.
• Let your contact lens case air-dry every morning & replace the case regularly.
• Some job may require use of protective eyewear over your contact lenses or may require that you not wear contact lenses.
• Don’t let anyone else wear your contact lenses.
• Have your eyes examined annually.
• Contact lens prescriptions are valid for one (1) year. Contact lens prescriptions may be held from release if the patient is non-compliant with wearing schedule or proper lens care.
• After your initial contact lens fitting, you have 3 months of follow up care. If you exceed the 3 months fitting period, additional refitting fee will be charged.