1. The Residency program is a one year Intensive clinical training program in Pediatric Optometry, Binocular vision and Neuro-Optometry. This clinical work will consist primarily of clinical posting in the Binocular Vision / Vision Therapy clinic / Neuro-Optometry clinic and in the Pediatric Ophthalmology outpatient department with Pediatric Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and in independent patient care. At least 85 percent of the clinical time would be spent in these clinical postings, allocation of balance time would be determined in consultation with an advisor. Teaching, clinical research and other requirements will fill the remaining part of the schedule.

2. There will be one advisor to assist the resident in activities related to the program. The advisor will act as a tutor and would provide constant guidance during the program.

3. A paper of publishable quality has to be submitted prior to and as a mandatory requirement of completion of the Residency program. This Paper can be a case report, original article or a literature review and will be prepared with the assistance of the Residency advisor. The paper is likely to be submitted to a scientific journal of repute for publication.

4. Participation in community eye care activities is also a responsibility of the resident. Community eye care will focus on school vision screening programs, Binocular vision screening in schools, corporate entities and for patients suffering from Autism and Learning disabilities.

Course Duration: 6 months
Course Fee: Rs. 60,000/-
No. Of seats: 2 per annum
Selection process: Based on academic credentials and personal / telephonic interview
Course Director: Dr. Kavitha Kalaivani Natarajan
Course Advisors: Dr. Meenakshi S, Dr. Jameel Rizwana H
Course Incharge: Amit Bhowmick , Sushmitha A D

Activity plan for One Year:

One month Orientation / Observation in General OPD
Two Months observation in Pediatric outpatient services (with Pediatric Ophthalmologist/ Pediatric Optometrist) (two weeks dedicated to community eye care)
One month Observation in Special clinics of Low vision and Contact lens
Two Months observation in Binocular Vision / Vision therapy/Neuro-Optometry clinic
Two Months Independent postings in Pediatric OPD
Four months Independent Postings split between Binocular Vision/ Vision Therapy/ Neuro-Optometry Clinic

Routine Commitments

Attending Didactic lectures
Reading assignments
Attending Paediatric Grand rounds, Binocular vision Special interest group (SIG) discussions & Optometry Grand rounds.
Case report writing
Journal reading
Submitting of Publishable paper (case series/case report or literature review) to the in-house journal

Lecture topics

1. Strabismus
2. Amblyopia
3. Eye movements
4. Accommodation & Vergence interactions
5. Sensory and Motor evaluation
6. Diagnosis of accommodation, Vergence and oculomotor anomalies
7. Visual information processing and visual perceptual disorders
8. Vision therapy techniques
9. Special clinical conditions (example Nystagmus, Acquired brain injury, Learning disability etc)
10. Vision screening for binocular vision anomalies
11. Special children vision assessment
12. Neuro-Optometric assessment
13. Hands on training on Binocular vision assessment, developing protocols for management and administration of Vision therapy
14. Case analysis

Recommended study references

• Course modules
• Scheiman M, Wick B. Clinical Management of Binocular Vision – Heterophoric, Accommodative, and eye movement disorders, 2nd edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002.
• Press L J. Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy. St. Louis: Mosby, 1997.
• Clinical Practice guidelines of AOA on
• Care of the patient with Accommodative and Vergence dysfunction (CPG – 18)
• Care of the patient with amblyopia (CPG – 4)
• Care of the patient with strabismus (CPG – 12)
• Care of the patient with learning disability (CPG 20)
• Care of the patient with pediatric eye and vision examination (CPG 2)