Light for Sight Associates Certification Program (ACP) Series 2020

In clinical collaboration with the ELZA Educational Curriculum (EEC)

Executive Summary

The goal of the ACP is to provide residents and specialists in ophthalmologists, but also optometrists with practical training and guidance on how best to detect, inform, treat and later manage patients with keratoconus.

After completion of the instructional course and CXL wet lab, the ACP participant will receive a certificate and be recognized as a “Light for Sight Associate Partner.” Although not required but recommended, the Associate Partner can participate in a surgical observership of a live CXL treatment with any Light for Sight Ambassador.

Educational purpose of training and intended goals

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

Switzerland ACP 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

🇨🇭 ACP Course Curriculum 2020

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 (June 2020) – 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.