Amblyopia and Strabismus

Definitions – Diagnosis - Management

To be offered in fall 2024 – 1 credit (1.5 ECTS credit)

Click here to register for Amblyopia and Strabismus course

Introduction

Optometrists are the initial source of detection for amblyopia. As this disorder can cause severe, lifelong visual impairment, it is imperative that optometrists know the different kinds of amblyopia, how to detect and co-manage treatment with ophthalmologists. This information will allow you to provide better care for your patients and save their vision before the damage is permanent.

Course Structure

  • Asynchronous lectures
  • 3 live sessions via Zoom which will be recorded to facilitate flexible study and review on:
    • November 12th: 14:15 – 16:30 (IST)
    • December 17h: 14:15 – 16:30 (IST)
    • January 28th: 14:15 – 16:30 (IST)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Describe specific disruptions which can result in strabismus or amblyopia
  • List, characterize and differentiate between different types of amblyopia and strabismus
  • Describe the importance of treating amblyopia and strabismus
  • Assess, diagnose, and devise a treatment plan for different types of amblyopia and strabismus
  • Co-manage amblyopia and strabismus with ophthalmologists and plan the approach and specific vision therapy techniques to apply to amblyopia in the child and in the adult

Topics Covered

Assessment

  • Basic examination techniques for strabismus
  • Advanced techniques for strabismus
  • Binocular sensory testing
  • Methods of vision testing and investigation in children with developmental delay
  • Basic evaluation and differential diagnosis of decreased vision in infants and children
  • Basic visual development and visual assessment of the pediatric ophthalmology patient

Basic Knowledge

  • Different aetiologias of amblyopia
  • Aetiologias of esotropia
  • Strabismus types

Treatment

  • (Non-)surgical treatment of strabismus and amblyopia
  • Treatment of complex strabismus patterns
  • Treatment of complex aetiologias of vertical strabismus
  • Treatment of intra- and extraocular pediatric diseases
  • Strabismus surgery

Course Requirements and Assessments

  • Short quizzes to check understanding after every lecture
  • Final exam for those wanting academic credit

Instructors


Prof. Mitchell Scheiman

Prof. Mitchell Scheiman is the Dean of Research, Director of Graduate Studies, and a professor at Salus University. Prof. Scheiman has spent over 25 years researching binocular vision disorders. He is world-renown for his work as study chair for the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial, and the subsequent CITT-ART study. His current research focuses on diagnosis and treatment of concussion-related vision disorders. Prof. Scheiman is a diplomate and a fellow in binocular vision, perception and pediatric optometry in the American Academy for Optometry, and a fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development.

Prof. Bruce Moore

Dr. Moore’s career as a pediatric optometrist has been devoted to studying the vision problems and therapeutic options for young children. Dr. Moore assumed the position of the Marcus Professor of Pediatric Studies at the New England College of Optometry in 1997 and served as a Department Chair for over a dozen years. Dr. Moore has published over 250 papers, posters, chapters, and two textbooks on a variety of subjects in pediatric optometry. His text, Eye Care for Infants & Young Children, published in 1997, became the standard textbook in pediatric optometry for students and practitioners for many years.  Dr. Moore is Co-Chair of the Children’s Vision Massachusetts Coalition and a member of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health. He was a founding member and principal investigator in the National Eye Institute funded multi-center research study of vision screening of children, the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) Study. Dr. Moore partially retired from full time faculty status at the New England College of Optometry and is currently Professor Emeritus at the College.


Dr. Margaret Woodhouse

Senior lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK, teaching Binocular Vision and Special Needs, Pediatric Eye Care and Advanced Pediatric Eye Care, and Eye Care for People with Learning Disabilities. Dr. Woodhouse’s main interests are visual development in children with Downs syndrome and the eye care needs of children and adults with disabilities. She designed the Cardiff Acuity Test, Cardiff Contrast Test and Cardiff Near Test and continues long-term research of visual and cognitive development in infants and young children with Down's Syndrome, who are at particular risk of eye defects. Other interests are the aetiology of refractive and accommodative defects, and the impact of visual impairment on a child's development and education.


Dr. Erin Jenewein

Associate Professor at Salus University, Pennsylvania and Coordinator of their Pediatric and Vision Therapy Residency Program. Professor Jenewein is a clinical specialist in Pediatric and Binocular Vision Services and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Prof. Patricia Cisarik

Professor of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee teaching didactic and clinical courses. Experience includes clinical instruction in the adult primary care and contact lens clinics and Chairperson of the Institutional Review Board for the Southern College of Optometry. In addition to her previous private practice experience, Dr. Cisarik served as an assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry and at the University of Houston College of Optometry.

Dr. Liat Gantz

Liat Gantz is an Israeli Optometrist with a PhD in vision science, in the field of psychophysics of depth perception from the University of Houston College of Optometry (TX, USA) in 2009. Additionally, she holds a post doc in the field of clinical electrophysiology as well as another post doc in the field of psychophysics of depth perception. Currently, Dr. Gantz is a senior lecturer of Optometry and the director of the Masters of Optometry  (M.Optom) program at Hadassah Academic College (Jerusalem, Israel). She is an active researcher in the field of depth perception and clinical optometry, a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and the European Academy of Optometry, and an expert reviewer to several scientific journals in the field of vision research.

Dr. Rachel Eichler

Dr. Rachel Eichler, the Director of the vision therapy clinics at Hadassah Academic College since 1997. She has received many awards for excellence in teaching and is involved in pedagogical research. Dr. Eichler was trained as an optometrist in the State University of New York College of Optometry. She is a senior lecturer and has been an independent practitioner with over 25 years experience.

Mrs. Natalie Morhaim

Natalie is a BABO accredited optometrist, licensed in the UK and Israel, who specialises in behavioural and developmental optometry. She works with children and adults with binocular vision problems and learning-related visual problems.

Click here to register for Amblyopia and Strabismus course


For registration assistance, please contact: international@hac.ac.il

For more information
Please contact:
Program Director: Dr. Liat Gantz
Program Administrator: Ms. Alisa Gania
Department Chairperson: Prof. Ariela Gordon-Shaag