The College of Optometrists

Hi,

has anyone sat for the australian conversion exams? I have done the written part of it but am waiting to sit the practical?

does anyone have any information about the Medmont C100 colour vision test and vision therapy?

hi jshah, dont know much about the c100 but vision therapy is just you basic binocular vision exercises. They definately are into this much more than us uk optoms, especially MEM ret, fusional reserves (vergence testing) and flipper testing.

This is the cheeky bit, I'm just waiting to sit the written papers. If you look at the Ocanz web site the old papers show amazingly different content between 2000, 2003 to the 04 papers. In the exams you sat, was there much basic lense optics questions? (E.g what powers is this lense, with this center thickness and this refractive index)?

hi pseaward, thanks. Do you know where i can find some more information and/or notes on this? Have been looking on the net but no luck

I actually sat the written exam twice, didnt get through the first time.It was very different both times. The most recent papers were all about CL's. a lot of RGP questions, keratoconus fitting, CL problems. however the first set was more calculation based...few on optics and others on CL calculations. The first paper was a lot of lateral thinking...they want to know your problem solving skills. Dont rely on the past papers, they are very different to the actual exam.

I found them very difficult but got through so hope that helps. Are you sitting them now? Good luck...if you pass will meet you in australia.

Hi Jshah, I'm sitting the papers at the next chance, problem seems is what to revise. I qualified about 13 years ago so most of my knowledge has become practicle, as in "if an eye is unhealthy you refer". My revision has gone well but even following the ocanz guidelines for content theres just so much they could as you about. Its just going to be random luck if what I've re-learnt or learnt for the first time comes up. I presented my pre-reg with a past paper and he almost fainted. Then again I did have to teach him slit lamp, cover test, rgp fitting..........etc. what did they teach him for his degree?

Hopefully it wont be too much optic calculation etc as its just too long ago to get that knowledge back, even the guy doing the abdo course at work couldnt help with thick lense calculations.

As to vision therapy I've used my old Pickwell book which was always a bit confusing but classifies the different eso exo conditions well. He doesnt go into vergence testing heavily or any real accommodation defect. I've researched those off the internet mainly by looking up key words from the past papers.

things like mem ret PRA NRA Accomadtive facility - +2/-2 flippers

its all just about developing a program to exercise the opposite fusional reserve or relative accommodation.

eso and plus and base out go together exo and minus and base in go together

First measure motor and sensory adaptations e.g cover test, supression etc The vision therapy then has to overcome the sensory adaptations, then exercise the correct fusional reserves. so if someones decompensated esophoric any exercise that makes them work through -ve lenses or base out prisms will exercise the correct fusional reserves. So these exercises might be variable prism devices, +/- flippers or phys dip exercises.

I'm really not good with binocular vision as in practice if its not exophoria or npc probs then its another referal.

hope you practice exams go well. Where have you practice BIO and gonioscopy?

cheers

hi...thanks for the info regarding vision therapy. Was never good at BV so its taking some time to absorb it all :)

yes, i agree that you are unsure of what to study. i was in the same dilemma, also it is luck on what they ask. The papers i had were completely different to what the past papers have.

They did ask about low vision situation in australia, and what you think about the glaucoma, diabetes screening scheme. Had questions where they give you a case scenario and ask what you would do. The third paper on diagnosis and management is difficult because the pictures are not very clear. also it is only 2 hours NOT 3 so you tend to run out of time.

As i said, the papers last sept were based on CL's. atleast 75% of the first paper was bout cl's. RGP's - assessing fit and calculation of tear lens, over refraction etc. one question was on post PRK CL fitting. Others were on CL complications, how would you manage them.

They are keen on therapeutics so some questions on the third paper they will ask what medication would be given for the condition.

About gonioscopy and BIO, im still looking for somewhere i can practise. Do you have any idea where that might be possible? i am thinking of buying a gonio lens and practising at work on staff. Have done it on a course, it is not as difficult as it looks but im not sure what im looking at.

I cant remember a lot of it now - sorry, but i hope that helps abit more. When are the exams?

Tc

Hi Jshah, I havent looked into where to practice bio or goinoscopy as I was going to wait till I'd passed the written papers. My idea was to see if I could visit the local hospital and practice there. The pre regs usually get good experience there. We do have to pay for them to go to hospital, I think its around 3 hundred pounds per week so it may be just as cheap to get on ebay and buy a goniolens or a bio.

I know in this country most of what you get taught at university is never used but these exams make it sound like all Australian optoms sit there all day drug testing pupils, performing goinoscopy and fitting keratoconics!!

How did you manage to find the information about safty eyewear or sunspec standards? I'm having great difficulty researching these. I know I can buy them but a copy of all the standards runs into a few hundred pounds.

cheers

hey pseaward,

sorry for the late reply. I didnt actually get any info on safety specs and standards...crossed my fingers and hoped it didnt come up as a question :) i know like you said, they are expensive to buy.

Have you sat the exam yet?

You might find the following threads helpful:

http://theoptom.com/viewtopic.php?t=2193&highlight=ocanz

http://theoptom.com/viewtopic.php?t=1816&highlight=ocanz

http://theoptom.com/viewtopic.php?t=3027&highlight=ocanz

Regards, www.TheOptom.com

HI jshah,

I've been tracking down the Medmont c100. Still no real success. It uses a constant flickering LED that changes from red to green. The px then has to adjust the machine to reduce flicker this gives a plus or minus reading which tell you if they are protan deutan and how servere. Its based on something called silent substitution. Sounds like I know all about it but I dont know how the results are interputed. Have you tracked it down yet. I did buy the saftey standards in the end, thought there was only light reference to these.

cheers

Hi I am a pre reg about to sit my exams in June. How does it work with sitting the conversion exams to Australia? Do you have to be qualified for a certain amount of time?

Hi,

No you dont have to be qualified for a certain amount of time but you do have to be a qualified optom ie: passed your pre-reg year and registered.

Have a look on ocanz.org for all the information.

Good luck for your exams