DECEMBER , 2022 | THE HEALTH

Chairman of the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists ( IPAO ) said : “ With specialisation , we can expand our market and influence the population .

“ We will not just be dealing with patients with refractive errors , but also different groups of individuals , such as athletes , children with learning disabilities , and children and adults with special needs such as autism and ADHD . We can also help brain injury patients like traumatic injury , concussion , and stroke patients .”

Dr Ho was a speaker at the 3rd Asia Optometric Congress ( AOC ). He gave a talk on Vision Sport , a sub-speciality of optometry . He has been in sports optometry for 25 years and is considered the pioneer of sports vision practice in the Philippines .

The AOC , he said , is in the frontline to help practitioners who want to learn more about the field of optometry , guiding and teaching them about the different sub-specialisation areas available in the optometry field and providing them with opportunities for training .

“ Therefore , we want to expose these opportunities and these areas to as many optometrists as possible within the region so that we can do more for the population .”

Optometry specialisation in the Philippines

According to Dr Ho , IPAO actively promotes and guides its members and practitioners to specialisations in the Philippines .

“ This is because the Continuing Professional Development Act , passed in 2016 , requires optometrists to do at least one specialisation apart from practising primary eye care service .

“ So , we are not just addressing errors of refraction . Because of the legislation and with education and training , we are encouraged to perform specialised optometry practices .

“ As such , compared to some countries , we are a bit advanced in the specialisation .”

The Philippine government and IPOA work together to coordinate and lead the specialisation programmes for its optometrists .

Sports vision

“ I want to share with the delegates from our member countries about the value of sports vision , and with sports vision , we can contribute more and get the government ’ s attention .

“ This is because the government are usually very keen on sports and is focused on the winning spirit and culture and being the best . Hence , the ministry invests a lot on athletes ’ health and well-being . “ But they are missing something because optometry services are not part of their regular health procedures . And to be the best athletes must have a healthy functioning and working vision , because the human body movement , coordination , and motor response are all based on vision ,” he said .

He hoped governments recognise and utilise the untapped optometry service available in their countries .

“ We want optometrists here to return to their country and try to convince their sports officials to tap into their nation ’ s optometry services and ensure their athletes perform better .”

Dr Chung Kah Meng Dr Tan Niap Ming Liew Mei Lin

The chart is a helpful tool for optometrists to diagnose vision-related eye problems better and provide better patient care .

“ We are thrilled to invent this chart because it will help many optometrists in Asia to diagnose vision-related eye problems based on history-taking . And we believe this chart is the most up-to-date and comprehensive symptom-based Vision Chart to identify the differential diagnosis of eye conditions ,” said Dr Chung .

The chart was launched at the 3rd Asia Optometric Congress ( AOC ) and distributed to all 600 participants . The inventors shared their gratitude for the support and sponsorship from Vitop Malaysia Sdn Bhd .

“ We are delighted to have contributed this ground-breaking chart to the eye care community .”

Providing the best service and perfect vision

According to Liew , the chart is known as the ‘ Vision 2020 Chart for Optometrists ’ because it helps all optometrists provide perfect vision to their patients .

“ Vision 2020 always carries the notion of a perfect vision by international standards . By using this chart , optometrists can detect vision-related eye problems early and make the necessary management decision in the patient ’ s best interest .

“ We strongly believe that ensuring the good comfortable vision is the bread and butter of an optometrist , who is regarded as a primary eye care provider . This is similar to a GP , the primary general health provider .”

Nevertheless , this chart cannot replace the optometrist ’ s routine eye examination . This chart works as an adjunct to complement the optometrist ’ s full routine eye examination .

“ All optometrists should be well-versed in identifying the differential diagnosis of vision-related eye problems . Therefore , this chart should be placed on the desk of every optometrist for quick and easy reference .”

Creating and developing the chart

The chart is the brainchild of Dr Chung . “ It started four to five years ago when my daughter was sitting for her professional qualifying OSCE exam for optometrists in the United Kingdom .

“ There are 17 stations in the OSCE exam . One will be centred on the History Taking of Differential Diagnoses of Vision-related Eye Problems , where one examiner will pretend

to have a vision-related eye problem .

“ In five minutes , the optometrist student must ask the right questions and correctly diagnose the examiner ’ s vision-related eye problem .

“ Unfortunately , most of the information regarding History Taking on Visionrelated Eye Problems was patchy and not comprehensive at that time . This motivated me to find a solution to it . After doing a lot of research , I came out with the chart prototype , which helped my daughter prepare for her exam .”

He then believed that the chart had the potential to help all optometrists ; however , the prototype could have been more satisfactory .

“ So , I contacted my friends , Liew and Dr Tan , to further develop the chart and make it more presentable , satisfactory and perfect .

“ We shared the same dream to produce a useful and free Vision Chart for optometrists . After many rounds of discussions and improvements , we now have the final version of the chart .

“ We wish this chart can be translated into multiple languages and distributed to other Asian countries , which is aligned with the Asia Optometric Congress ( AOC ) motto : Asians Helping Asians !” he said , adding that the chart will be continuously improved and updated .– The Health