This course will be over the internet. Length: 4 days over two weekends. Continuing Education Credits: 28 hours. Prerequisite: VT/Learning Related Visual Problems For: Optometrists and Vision Therapists
This course has limited registration. Our highly interactive, small group presentations and hands-on activities will provide the experience you need for the confidence you desire. This course offers free follow-up case consultation.
Dr. John Abbondanza, OD
Dr. Abbondanza graduated from Milford High School and from Boston College (Go Eagles!) with a degree in Psychology. He graduated with honors in the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society from the New England College of Optometry, where he was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor of Optometry in 1991. He is a past President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, where he was the youngest President in the almost 100-year history of the organization. Dr. John has also served on the Suffolk Superior Court Medical Malpractice Tribunal. He lectures extensively to optometrists, educators, occupational therapists, and other groups on how Behavioral Optometry helps people in their daily lives. Dr. John is also certified in Corneal Refractive Therapy, where contact lenses are used to reshape the cornea as an alternative to eyeglasses or LASIK. He is in private practice at Vision Care Specialists in Southborough with a specialization in vision related learning problems.
4 Days
28 hours
VT/Learning Related Visual Problems
Optometrists and Therapists
Over the internet
June 1 - 2, 2024 part 1
June 8 - 9, 2024 part 2
This course supplements the core Visual Dysfunctions course with testing and therapy activities to diagnose and treat patients with strabismus and amblyopia.
For whatever reasons, strabismus and amblyopia have a reputation for being difficult to understand and treat.
The Clinical Curriculum approach stems from the understanding of Chaos and Complexity Theory which states, “That which appears to be complex, most often can be explained very simply. That which appears so simple, most often is actually very complex.” You will learn how specific disruptions occurring at critical times in normal infant development can result in strabismus or amblyopia.
How and why do amblyopia and strabismus develop? What percentage of strabismus and amblyopia are functionally related? How can the development of amblyopia or strabismus be beneficial to the person at a specified point in time and why is this behavior not beneficial in the long run? Once the mechanism of the development of strabismus and amblyopia is understood, treating the conditions is easier.
Supplemental testing will be discussed in reference to gaining insights into the behaviors of strabismics and amblyopes. Among these tests are the following:
The following will be covered in depth:
This course gives you the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to start successfully treating amblyopia and strabismus cases immediately upon your return to your office.
Dr. John Abbondanza, OD
Instructor and Chair of the Education Committee
Dr. Abbondanza graduated from Milford High School and from Boston College (Go Eagles!) with a degree in Psychology. He graduated with honors in the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society from the New England College of Optometry, where he was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor of Optometry in 1991. He is a past President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, where he was the youngest President in the almost 100-year history of the organization. Dr. John has also served on the Suffolk Superior Court Medical Malpractice Tribunal. He lectures extensively to optometrists, educators, occupational therapists, and other groups on how Behavioral Optometry helps people in their daily lives. Dr. John is also certified in Corneal Refractive Therapy, where contact lenses are used to reshape the cornea as an alternative to eyeglasses or LASIK. He is in private practice at Vision Care Specialists in Southborough with a specialization in vision related learning problems.
Dr. John is a 30-year member of the American Optometric Association and a clinical associate of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), which is the national organization of Behavioral Optometrists. He is board certified in Vision Therapy as a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). Dr. John serves on the Northeast Regional Congress of Optometrists Committee where he was recently appointed Chair of their Clinical Seminar. He is also on the Budget Committee of the COVD and is the Massachusetts Chairman of the OEP. Additionally, Dr. John is the Massachusetts leader of the national InfantSEE program.
Course will run 11am to 7pm daily and will end at 5pm on last day
For additional detail please call:
410 561 3791
Or email:
sherice.gainey@oepf.org
line.vreven@oepf.org
For additional educational opportunities please
contact:
line.vreven@oepf.org
We are not offering any cancellation fee at this time only voucher towards future courses with a valid cancellation reason.
The Evolution of a Model and A Model of Vision (Read The Evolution of a Model first.) are included to introduce you to our approach to teaching. These two papers describe the process for much of what comes in the courses and we hope you understand that we instructors evolve in our thinking much like we hope you will. We hope to take you on a compressed journey through the evolution of our thinking. We will begin an area by showing you where we were at one time in our development. Then we present the unanswered questions that became the foundation for looking at things in a different way. We will then present our understandings now and include new information for where we might go in the future.
The Evolution of a Model was presented at the Skeffington Symposium in Washington DC in the early 1980’s. This paper charts the development of Paul Harris’ model of vision from what he assimilated from his years at SUNY (1975-79) until the time of the writing of the paper. Much of the change came as a result of a presentation by Dr. Robert A. Kraskin and involvement in the Washington DC based OEPF study group, the Institute for Behavioral Optometry. A Model of Vision was initially presented at the Skeffington Symposium in Washington DC and then adapted for the JOVD.
**Retaking a course (A&S, VT1,VT2,VT3) previously attended. Must be able to provide proof of completion if asked.