Syfte: Att utreda förekomsten av ögonrelaterade läs-och skrivsvårigheter hos skolbarn. Metod: Studien bestod av en enkät med ögonrelaterade frågor, ett läsförmågetest och kliniska tester. 45 barn i årskurs 5 och 6 deltog från en mellanstadieskola i Växjö. De kliniska testerna bestod av fri synskärpa på avstånd och nära, +1-metoden för utredning av dold hyperopi, forier på nära håll, ackommodations amplitud, konvergens närpunkt, stereotest och ögonmotilitet. Läsförmågan undersöktes med ett screeningstest så kallade Läskedjor, ett test för att bedöma elevernas lästekniska förmåga, ordigenkänning samt ordavkodning. Resultat: En signifikant korrelation hittades mellan bokstavskedjor och ordkedjor (r = 0,4 , p < 0,05). Eleverna ansåg sig inte ha ögonbesvär. En jämförelse mellan Läskedjor och ögonbesvär visade en signifikant korrelation hos ordkedjor (r=0,44 , p < 0,05) men inte hos bokstavskedjor (r=0,083 , p=0,6). Det framgick att större delen av eleverna hade en esofori (35%) samt en ortofori (56%) på nära håll. Inga signifikanta värden hittades mellan Läskedjor och forier (ordkedjor; r=0,05 , bokstavskedjor; r=0,24). Inga signifikanta värden kunde hittas mellan de övriga kliniska testerna med Läskedjor (KNP: bokstavskedjor r=0,004 , ordkedjor: r=0,17 , Ack amplitud: bokstavskedjor: r=0,04 , ordkedjor: r=0,03). I jämförelse med fri synskärpa och +1-metoden visade sig, utifrån medelvärdet, att eleverna är emmetropa samt hyperopa. ANOVA för en faktor visade ingen signifikant skillnad mellan upprepade mätningar av KNP (p=0,4) samt ackommodations amplitud (p=0,8). Medelvärdet för KNP (cm) var 4,17 ± 1,80 och för ackommodations amplitud (D) 15,91 ± 4,38. Slutsats: En signifikant relation hittades mellan Bokstavskedjor och Ordkedjor. Ordkedjor är relaterade till ögonbesvär. Ingen relation hittades mellan de kliniska testerna och Läskedjorna.

Syftet med denna studie var att kontrollera om och i så fall hur mycketvisus förbättras med toriska linser jämfört med sfäriska linser vid astigmatism -0,50 D - -1,00 D. I studien ingick tolv försökspersoner, fördelat på nio kvinnor och tre män, medcylinder mellan -0,50 D och -1,00 D på ett eller båda ögonen korrigerades först medAir Optix® (sfärisk) beräknad på sfärisk ekvivalent och sedan med Air Optix forAstigmatism®(torisk) med styrkor baserade på refraktionen. Högkontrastvisus ochlågkontrastvisus mättes både monokulärt och binokulärt. I studien framkom att i både monokulärt och binokulärt finns en statistisktsignifikant förbättring med den toriska linsen jämfört med den sfäriska. Ävenlågkontrastvisus visar en förbättring både monokulärt och binokulärt med den toriskalinsen, denna skillnad är inte statistiskt signifikant. Även vid 0,50 D cylinder finnsäven här en förbättring med den toriska linsen men denna är inte heller statistisktsignifikant, varken för hög eller lågkontrastvisus. För 1,00 D cylinder är förbättringensignifikant vid högkontrast men inte vid lågkontrastS. I likhet med tidigare studier har denna studie visat att även lågastigmatism drar fördel av korrigeras med toriska linser.

Thesis (DTech. degree in Marketing)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2009. / This study focuses mainly on the marketing orientation of a franchisor in the optometric industry. Aspects such as the needs of franchisees with regard to products and services, prices and promotions, distribution, people and processes were investigated.

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish normal values for Schirmer tear test (version 2) and tear break up time (TBUT) in a South African young adult Black population. Method: Following ethical approval by the biomedical research and ethics committee, KwaZulu-Natal, participants were recruited from the city of Durban in South Africa via personal invitations, poster advertisements and University of KwaZulu-Natal optometry clinic clients. McMonnies questionnaire for dry eye diagnosis was administered and those who failed were excluded from the main study. Two hundred (100 males and 100 females) participants who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Following a slit lamp examination of the eye, the Schirmer test was administered and the following day, the TBUT was measured. A re-test version of the two procedures were conducted one week after, at about the same time of the day for each subject. Results: The participants were aged 18-30 years, mean = 20.77 ± 2.29 years. The mean Schirmer test values for all participants (N = 200; 400 eyes) was 15.96 ± 6.86mm. The values for the males and females (200 eyes each) were 16.34 ± 6.93mm and 15.58 ± 6.81mm respectively. The mean TBUT (400 eyes) was 7.18 ± 1.89 secs. The mean values for the males and females (200 eyes each) were 6.90 ± 1.88 secs and 7.32 ± 1.67 secs respectively. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.895) and (r = 0.914) respectively was found between the right and left eyes in the two tests. Conclusion: Generally, the mean values found in this study for the Schirmer test are similar to those that have been reported in the literature. However, values for TBUT differ from the values that have been previously reported, being higher in some instances and lower in others. These findings have implications for dry eye diagnosis and also contact lens practice in South Africa. / Thesis (M.Optom.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.

Purpose: The prevalence of age-related visual impairment is projected to increase as the Canadian population ages. As a result, the demand for low vision service is also projected to increase. However, there is a lack of healthcare planning regarding vision rehabilitation in Canada. The current study is the first study that describes optometric low vision services across Canada. The primary purposes of this study were to determine the provision of low vision services by optometrists in Canada, the barriers to providing low vision services and the pattern and perception of referrals to specialised low vision services. The secondary purposes of this study were to examine regional differences in low vision practice and referral patterns, and to identify predictive factors associated with the extent of optometric low vision care. Methods: Practising optometrists across Canada (n=1839 or 40.5% of the Canadian optometric population) were randomly sampled so as to obtain approximately equal responses from the Western Provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the Eastern provinces. Between October 2010 to January 2011, optometrists were invited to participate in a 30-item questionnaire that included questions on personal profile, primary practice profile, types of patients seen, levels of low vision services offered, patterns of referral and barriers to provision of low vision care. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the current landscape of optometric low vision care. Chi-square analyses were used to identify any regional differences in pattern of low vision provision and/or referrals. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictive factors associated with the extent of optometric low vision care. Written comments on low vision education and provision of low vision services were first coded to represent relevant categories of information emerging from the written data. Then the patterns of coding were grouped into common themes. Results: A total of 459 optometrists responded (24.8%). Optometrists estimated that 1% (range 0-100%) of their patients were patients with low vision, yet also estimated that 10% of their patients had a best corrected visual acuity of ???6/12. Almost three-quarters of respondents would manage a hypothetical patient with minimal visual disabilities and simple visual goals with high-powered additions and lighting; however, the proportion of those who would manage with the same patient with magnifiers and filter lenses dropped to 43%. The most frequently cited barriers to providing more extensive low vision services were found to be related to financial non-viability, lack of affordability by the patient and the time-consuming nature of conducting a low vision assessment. The percentage of respondents who cited no interest in low vision was 33.5%. Many respondents would like to see more continuing education on low vision, preferably through a hands-on approach. The most frequent site of referral was CNIB (81.9%), although most of the respondents (57.1%) rarely (0-5% of the time) or almost never (0-25% of the time) received a written report from the low vision service providers. Chi-square analyses revealed that optometrists in Quebec tended to refer eligible patients to government-sponsored vision rehabilitation centres, while optometrists in Eastern provinces tended to manage patients on their own. The predictive factors associated with the extent of optometric low vision care were advanced years of practice (16+ years), having local low vision optometrists/ophthalmologists within one-day???s travel, working in a practice within a population of less than 50,000 and working in a non-solo practice. Conclusions: This study documents that optometrists may be undertaking more low vision (LV) in patients with relatively good vision than they tend to label as LV. Vision rehabilitation is of interest to a large portion of optometrists across Canada. To translate the interest into practice, barriers identified by the current study must be addressed.

Thesis (M.A.)--Victoria University of Wellington, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

M.Comm. / The importance of service is constantly increasing in most economies (Gronroos 1988), and service is becoming exceedingly vital to success for manufacturers of goods as well. Service is very frequently referred to as the definitive competitive tool (Kyj 1987; Coppett 1988) and some writers (Quinn and Gagnon 1986) have warned that services if not managed suitably could follow manufacturing into decline, as inattention to quality, emphasis on scale economies, and short-term orientation predominates. Indeed Levitt (1981) has questioned the services-goods dichotomy, and states that all products, whether they are services or goods, possess a certain amount of intangibility perhaps the fundamental difference between the two referred to by most other writers. It is this intangibility which is seen as being the fundamental distinguishing characteristic of services.

Yes / Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of using primary care optometry data to support ophthalmic public health, research and policy making. Methods: Suppliers of optometric electronic patient record systems (EPRs) were interviewed to gather information about the data present in commercial software programmes and the feasibility of data extraction. Researchers were presented with a list of metrics that might be included in an optometric practice dataset via a survey circulated by email to 102 researchers known to have an interest in eye health. Respondents rated the importance of each metric for research. A further survey presented the list of metrics to 2000 randomly selected members of the College of Optometrists. The optometrists were asked to specify how likely they were to enter information about each metric in a routine sight test consultation. They were also asked if data were entered as free text, menus or a combination of these. Results: Current EPRs allowed the input of data relating to the metrics of interest. Most data entry was free text. There was a good match between high priority metrics for research and those commonly recorded in optometric practice. Conclusions: Although there were plenty of electronic data in optometric practice, this was highly variable and often not in an easily analysed format. To facilitate analysis of the evidence for public health purposes a UK based minimum dataset containing standardised clinical information is recommended. Further research would be required to develop suitable coding for the individual metrics included. The dataset would need to capture information from all sectors of the population to ensure effective planning of any future interventions.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))-- University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African health care industry is fragmented between the private and public sector. The disparity of resources between the private and public sectors as well as the escalating cost of health care services is threatening the sustainability of the private health sector and interferes with the national health policy objectives. Optometry shares the same concerns as the wider South African health industry with regards to accessibility, affordability, quality and equity of services. Deregulation of optometry has been suggested to address these concerns to the benefit of the consumer. But it seems to contradict the proposed higher regulatory environment of the greater private health sector. The objective of the research is to assess whether deregulation is the best way forward for the optometry industry. It also intends to get a more diverse perspective from service providers on the possible effects that deregulation might have on the industry. The study is conducted in three phases. The first two phases involves secondary data and includes an industry analysis and an assessment of the current regulatory framework of the optometry industry. The international deregulation trends in optometry are investigated as well as the deregulation trends of similar industries in South Africa. The third phase of the research includes an online questionnaire and approximately 2000 service providers were invited to participate. The 229 responses was analysed to assess the overall perception of deregulation. The skewed distribution of optometrists between the private and public sectors illustrates the need for more accessible and affordable eye care. Service providers are reluctant to get involved in community service and are not optimistic about the positive effect of deregulation. Professionalism and profitability are feared to be negatively influenced while trends in deregulation suggest that it is beneficial to consumers at least in the short term. Alternative options to deregulation should be investigated. But until the optometry industry increases their contribution to address industry issues, deregulation is the best alternative to improve accessibility, affordability, quality and equity of eye care services. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorg industrie is gefragmenteer tussen die private en publieke sektor. Die verskil in verspreiding van hulpbronne tussen die private en publieke sektore sowel as die stygende koste van gesondheidsorgdienste dreig die volhoubaarheid van die private sektor en belemmer die doelwitte van die nasionale gesondheidsbeleid. Oogkunde deel dieselfde bekommernisse as die groter Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorg industrie in terme van toeganglikheid, bekostigbaarheid, kwaliteit en gelykheid van dienste. Deregulasie van oogkunde is voorgestel om die kwessies aan te spreek tot voordeel van die verbruiker. Maar dit lyk teenstrydig te wees met die voorgestelde strenger regulasie van die groter private gesondheid sektor. Die doel van die navorsing is om te bepaal of deregulasie die beste weg vorentoe is vir die oogkunde industrie. Dit beoog ook om ‘n meer diverse perspektief van diensverskaffers te verkry rakende die moontlike effek wat deregulasie op die industrie mag hê. Die studie word gedoen in drie fases. Die eerste twee fases behels sekondêre data en sluit ‘n industrie analise en ‘n assessering van die huidige regulatoriese raamwerk van die industrie in. Die internasionale deregulasie neigings in oogkunde word ondersoek sowel as die deregulasie neiging van soortgelyke industrieë in Suid-Afrika. Die derde fase van die navorsing behels ‘n aanlyn vraelys en ongeveer 2000 diensverskaffers is uitgenooi om deel te neem. Die 229 responsies is geanaliseer om die oorsigtelike persepsie van deregulasie te bepaal. Die skewe verspreiding van oogkundiges tussen die private en publieke sektore illustreer die nodigheid van meer toegangklike en bekostigbare oogsorg. Diensverskaffers is huiwerig om betrokke te raak by gemeenskapsdiens en is nie optimisties oor die positiewe effek van deregulasie nie. Daar word gevrees dat professionalisme en winsgewendheid negatief beïnvloed sal word, terwyl neigings in deregulasie wys dat dit tot voordeel van die verbruikers is, ten minste in die korttermyn. Alternatiewe opsies tot deregulasie moet ondersoek word. Maar totdat die oogkunde industrie hulle bydrae verhoog om die kwessies van die industrie aan te spreek, is deregulasie die beste alternatief om toeganglikheid, bekostigbaarheid, kwaliteit en gelykheid van oogsorgdienste te verbeter.

Abstract Purpose: It is not clear as to whether sensory dominance is affected by test distance. Jiang et al previously reported that that the sensory dominant eyes may be affected by refractive error; however this study was done at a near distance only (60 cm). In this study, we investigated the effect of two different test distances (near, 60 cm vs distance, 6 meters) on the laterality of ocular dominance. Methods: Ocular sensory dominance was quantified in 60 subjects with a technique that involves the dichoptic presentation of a Mondrian noise and a Gabor patch. The threshold to detect the Gabor patch was measured in the presence of decreasing contrast in the Mondrian stimulus. Each eye was tested 50 times and thresholds from two eyes were compared with t-test. If the difference between the two eyes was significant, a subject was classified as having clear ocular sensory dominance and the eye that had lower thresholds was defined as the dominant one. If difference between the two eyes was not significant, a subject was classified as having unclear ocular sensory dominance. Ocular sensory dominance was measured at two different viewing distances, one for near at 60cm away and the other one for far at 6m away. Results: In 31 subjects (51.7 %), dominant eyes remained the same for near and distance viewing. In 15 (25.0 %) subjects, who showed clear ocular sensory dominance at distance, ocular sensory dominance became unclear at near. In 11 (18.3 %) subjects, that had unclear ocular sensory dominance at distance, showed clear ocular sensory dominance at near. In 3 (5.0 %) subjects, the laterality of the dominant eye switched between far and near distance. Conclusions: The effect of viewing distance on ocular sensory dominance is a continuous spectrum. In majority of the population, ocular sensory dominance is not affected. In 43.3 % of the population, ocular sensory dominance varies between unclear and clear status. Only in very rare cases, laterality of dominant eyes switches between near and distance.