Light for Sight Associates Certification Program (ACP) Series

In clinical collaboration with the ELZA Educational Curriculum (EEC)

Outreach. Education. Research. Access to treatment

Executive summary

The goal of the ACP is to provide optometrists, medial residents, and ophthalmologists with practical training and medical guidance on how best to detect, inform, and later manage patients with keratoconus. After the completion of the listed didactic courses and conducting a mini-surgical observership with a Light for Sight Ambassador, the ACP participant will receive a certificate and be an official “Light for Sight Associate Partner.”

Educational purpose of training and intended goals

To enhance diagnostic skills, decision-making process and patient management planning of ACP participants specifically focused on keratoconus. A strong emphasis is placed on the understanding of the disease process from the basic science/cellular level.
To provide exposure to live surgery of the cornea, specifically to observe a cross-linking procedure to better understand the whole spectrum of care for a keratoconus patience
To improve the medical management of diseases of the, cornea and anterior ocular segment, as well as recognition and treatment of posterior segment disease that may affect the anterior segment, including the principles of contact lens fitting and management of complications.
To influence candidates to advocate for early screening and access to treatment, especially for high-risk patient groups like children and adolescents and in the Down Syndrome community

Swiss Faculty:

Prof. Farhad Hafezi, ELZA Institute AG (Dietikon/Zurich) – L4S Ambassador. The ELZA Institute (Zurich, Switzerland) is a team of 24 people, including eight ophthalmologists, and a number of optometrists, orthoptist, opticians and one full-time corneal fellow.

www.elza-institute.com

Program Specifics

Course Duration:	12–18 months
Acceptance / Year:	TBD
Application Closure:	TBD
Course Fees:	TBD
Observership Fee:	TBD

ACP Course Curriculum

German Language

“Diagnosing Irregular Corneas” (2 h) – Date TBC

“Treatment Options for Irregular Corneas” – Date TBC
Surgical Mini-Observership

The location for all of the seminars and the observership will be the ELZA Institute, Webereistrasse 2, 8953 Dietikon.

French Language

Online refresher course – details to follow.

Surgical Mini-Observership

After the completion of all three courses, each registered participant in the ACP will be entitled to schedule a surgical observership with a Light for Sight Ambassador. The surgery mini-observership will allow the ACP participant to observe a live cross-linking procedure of a keratoconus patient.

Evaluation Process

Each ACP participant will have an exit-interview after the surgical mini-observership. This exit interview will be focused on the main topics that were covered in the didactic courses. Additionally, each ACP participant must be able to perform the basic functions of a Pentacam and have access to a Pentacam in their professional setting.

Renewal Process

Every two years, the ACP requires that the optometrist attends at least one ACP course or an EEC with a topic that covers keratoconus. Then, upon the attendance of the course, the certification will be automatically renewed.

Application Process

If you are interested in applying for the ACP, please send an email along with your current CV to: eec@lightforsight.org no later than March 31, 2020. A printable PDF version of this form is available here.ch