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In Korea, the demand of eyeglasses has been increased year by year since spectacles arrived here through both China and Japan around 400 hundred years ago. According to a Gallup poll released on May 1985, 22.2% of Korean people in total wears eyeglasses. It means that two or three of ten Korean peoples wear eyeglasses. However, there are no college to educate professional Ophthlmic Opticians or professional dispensing opticians who have good knowledge and skills in processing, adjusting and fitting of eyeglasses for the patient. As the result the lack of dispensing opticians has become a current social problem in vision care field in Korea. In 1984, due to the greatest shortage of professional dispensing opticians, the ophthalmic dispensing department in Taegu Health Junior College has been newly established to meet national demand of dispensing opticians. It is the first a1lege in its kind of education through Korean educational history. The purpose of this study is to provide accredited educational program that meet or exceed the minimum standards in ophthalmic dispersing program. Due regard has been paid to the program that minimum standards must not be too low, neither must they be too high, so that they would be unobtainable. Ophthalmic dispensers are broadly defined as those individuals who adjust and fit corrective eyewear as prescribed by the ophthalmologist or optometrist. Namely, dispensing opticians are qualified to fit and supply spectacles. The minimal length of the educational program for the ophthalmic dispensing program is two academic years. Upon completion of the program the students should be able to; (1) Discuss prescription eye-wear and other patient related information with the refractionist. (2) Demonstrate knowledge of the normal eye structure, function and pathology. (3) Demonstrate practical ability in objective and subjective refraction by ophthalmic instruments. (4) Determine effective power of spectacles by subjective methods. (5) Assist the patient in selection of proper frames a d lenses. (6) Demonstrate anatomical and optical fitting of prescription eye-wear to the face. (7) Apply the rules and regulations for ophthalmic laboratory work and ophthalmic dispensing. (8) Understand the function of ophthalmic and Optical instruments. (9) Utilize and maintain ophthalmic and optical instruments to its full potential. (10) Prepare ophthalmic laboratory job order. (11) Neutralize and verify eye-wear prescriptions. (12) Analyze and interpret accuracy of prescript ion. (13) Dispense contact lenses, and low vision aids, if appropriate. (14) Deliver prescription eye-wear and instruct patient in use and care. (15) Respond to patient complaint. (16) Provide follow-up service to the patient including periodic eye-wear adjustment, repair, lens and frame replacement. (17) Assist in the business related area including record maintenance, frame and lens inventory, supply and equipment maintenance. The following syllabus of professional education will require a two year’s full-time course ; approximately less than 2,000 hours at the rate of 30 hours a week for a period of 32 weeks a year. Subjects for professional education in Ophthalmic dispensing are ; A. Essential subjects ; (1) Geometrical optics and physical optics (2) Ophthalmic optics (3) Fundamental ophthalmology (4) Ophthalmic frames and lenses (5) Ophthalmic dispensing and practicum (6) Ocular anatomy and physiology (7) Contact lens and fitting practicum (8) Ophthalmic and Optical instrument (9) Refraction practice-objective and subjective measurement of visual acuity (10) Office management (11) On-the-job training (12) Relevant laws effecting the practice of ophthalmic dispensing (13) English conversation for the opticians B. Option1 subjects; (1) Physics (2) Chemistry (3) Anatomy and physiologg (4) Introduction of computer programming (5) Professional ethics (6) Public health (7) Visual optics (8) Applied psychologg
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