program for Optometric assistants

See below for details on each session, listed by day and time.

Congress Continuing Education Credits

Continuing education credits will be offered for each session in the program dedicated to Optometric Assistants (OAs) at the CAO 2023 Congress. Participants can use these credits to fulfill the Canadian Certified Optometric Assistant (CCOA) program or other continuing education requirements.

Each participant will receive a certificate with CE credits for attended sessions. 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Sessions in the OA stream will be presented in French, with simultaneous interpretation in English.

Friday, July 7, 2023
6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
 
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Sponsored Session
Details to come
Breakfast provided

Sponsored Session
Details to come
Breakfast provided

Sponsored Session
Details to come
Breakfast provided

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Learning objectives:

1. Identify computer vision syndrome
2. Determine who is most susceptible to computer vision syndrome
3. Identify and refer candidate patients with computer vision symptoms
4. Manage the symptoms

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

9:35 AM - 10:35 AM

Learning objectives:

1. Manage day-to-day changes in the workplace on both a personal and team level;
2.Learn how to motivate yourself and your team members;
3. Find solutions to excel in management

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

10:35 AM - 11:00 AM
 
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Optometric clinics play a huge role in eye health, as such, the role of optometric clinics in emergency care continues to grow at an accelerated rate. This has been amplified by the pressure in hospital emergency rooms and the reluctance of patients to go to hospitals. It is essential that optometric assistants and optometrists collaborate and communicate appropriately in order to provide high quality care.

The objectives of this course will be to:

1. Cover the most common ocular emergencies seen in clinics
2. Discuss the level of urgency of different types of consultations
3. Determine how to schedule emergencies to be more efficient in the office
4. Review questions to ask when triaging emergencies and provide a sample triage sheet
5. Explore the types of ocular emergencies that are compatible with a remote consultation
6. Establish strategies to build a good reputation for urgent care and increase the volume of emergency eye care visits
7. Take time to answer questions and have an open discussion about emergencies

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

OPTOFAIR is the only national tradeshow dedicated to the optometric profession. It provides a dynamic forum for optometric professionals to meet with suppliers and partners from across Canada and more. Please visit the Who's Exhibiting page or Optofair for more information.

 

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Upon completion of this training, you will be able to:

1. Collaborate more effectively with the optometrist when referring a patient for cataract surgery
2. Better inform the patient on the content and duration of pre- and post-operative examinations
3. Better answer patients' questions about new intraocular lens products

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

Upon completion of this training, you will be able to:

1. Better inform patients about LASER refractive surgery
2. Better understand the benefits and risks of different types of LASER refractive surgery (LASIK or surface ablation)
3. Collaborate more effectively with the optometrist when referring a patient for LASER refractive surgery

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

Saturday, July 8, 2023
6:30 AM - 3:00 PM
 
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Learning Objectives:

1. What is low vision and what eye diseases cause it?
2. What is low vision care and how does it help people with vision loss?
3. What is a low vision device and how does it help people with vision loss?
4. What happens during a low vision exam?

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

Breakfast provided

8:15 AM - 9:15 AM

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how your company strategically fits into your market.
2. Learn to assess where you excel and where you lag behind your competitors.
3. Determine if you are satisfied with your market position or if and how you want to improve it.

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Learning objectives:

1. Discover what a certified optometrist assistant can bring to your business.
2. How to compete with online shopping in your store and at the same time build customer loyalty.
3. How to combine fashionable frame trends with prescription requirements.

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
 
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Learning objectives:

1. Effectively relate the patient's prescription to the appropriate lens technology level.
2. Establish the patient's level of satisfaction with their current prescription ophthalmic lenses and determine how to proceed in the patient's best interest.
3. Have a practical understanding of the difference between spherical, toric, aspheric and atoric spectacle lenses.

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

12:15 PM - 2:15 PM
 
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Learning objectives:

1. Know what this disease is
2. Know the risk factors
3. Know the diagnostic tests
4. Know the different treatments
5. Be able to assist the optometrist in the management of patients suffering from dry eye

Session presented in French with simultaneous interpretation available in English 

6:00 PM - 11:59 PM

Join us for the closing dinner party to enjoy the Québec City Convention Centre’s creative cuisine and taste menus showcasing Québec products!  Fine palates and avid foodies will have the opportunity to mingle freely around different food stations and discover unique artists’ awe-inspiring acrobatics stunts and interactions.

After dinner, get ready for an unforgettable experience with ground-breaking comedy musical acrobatic variety show that combines mind-blowing stunts with electrifying music mashups. The Painchaud family will deliver jaw-dropping acts with a show boasting an array of music that will have the entire audience tapping their toes to the beat. The live music features a multitude of instruments, each skillfully played by one of the four talented members of the group. Their high-energy performance brings people together through the power of music, creating an evening that is sure to be remembered for years to come. Don't miss it!