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Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a leading cause of blindness and visual disability in younger people. Optometrists have a major role in detecting RP and in reducing the visual disability associated with RP. This review summarises the literature relating to visual function in people with RP, with particular attention given to night‐blindness, visual acuity decrease and visual field contraction. The range of low vision aids available for people with RP is reviewed and suggestions given on aids that have been found to be most successful. Most importantly, this review overviews the range of services available to people with RP and emphasises how optometrists need to work with a network of professionals to ensure the best possible visual outcomes for people with RP. Particular mention is made of current findings relating to orientation and mobility training, driving, sensory substitution and adaptive technology. The modern optometrist needs to be aware of the multiple needs of people with RP and have the ability to link them with the professionals best able to help them.

0.5% proparacaine HCl is commonly used for topical anaesthesia in ultrasound pachometry prior to refractive surgery. This drug is known to alter corneal epithelial adhesion. Does 0.5% proparacaine result in an alteration in corneal thickness due to changes in the corneal epithelium? Corneal thickness was measured by optical pachometry at 30 sec intervals for 15 min under 3 experimental conditions; 1) 2 drops of artificial tears, 2) 1 drop of 0.5% proparacaine, 3) 2 drops of 0.5% proparacaine. Baseline measurements were recorded before each trial. No significant differences were found between the mean corneal thicknesses measured in the baseline, 2 drops of artificial tears and 1 drop of 0.5% proparacaine conditions. The mean corneal thickness in the 2 drops of 0.5% proparacaine condition was significantly greater than those measured in the other conditions. In particular the measured corneal thickness was significantly different from the baseline measurements 1 to 2 min after instillation of the 2 drops of 0.5% proparacaine. Exponential modelling of the corneal edema recovery function demonstrated that recovery to baseline corneal thickness occurred 7 to 8 min following the instillation of 2 drops of 0.5% proparacaine. The data of this study suggest that only 1 drop of 0.5% proparacaine should be used for topical anaesthesia prior to ultrasound pachometry. This recommendation may minimize the possibility of measuring artifactually large corneal thickness estimates, and thus reduce the possibility of corneal microperforation during refractive surgery.

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This study investigated whether there is a relationship between reading age and clinical optometric tests that have varying degrees of spatial loading in their design. Spatial loading in this context is the demand on the visual system to process information about the relative position and orientation of stimuli. A total of 112 children aged 8-11 years were assessed using saccadic eye movement and rapid naming tasks with varying spatial loads. All were subtests of Garzia's Developmental Eye Movement test and Liubinas' SeeRite Reading Diagnostic Programme. Variability in load was achieved by comparing rapid naming of numerals vs the spatially loaded letters p, d, b, q; and by comparing the speed of reading numerals presented in increasingly complex arrays. Reading Age was assessed independently and results were analysed by multiple logistic regression. Spatially loaded naming tasks performed at speed exposed a Spatial Loading Factor which clearly differentiates children at risk with reading.

While private hospitals provide an important access point for low vision services for children in urban India, little is known about this service delivery route. A cross sectional survey was done of consecutive records of 220 children presenting at a newly opened paediatric low vision centre in a private eye hospital in Hyderabad. On presentation, 49% of the children were classified as moderately visually impaired, 31% were severely visually impaired and 20% were blind. The four major causes of visual impairment were the hereditary/genetic conditions of congenital glaucoma, hereditary macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and albinism. Approach magnification was sufficient for required near tasks in all pre-school children and about 50% of school children. Provision of a distance refraction decreased the prevalence of severe visual impairment and blindness by 31%. The most commonly prescribed low vision devices were spectacles indicating a key role for optometry in the management of visual impairment in Indian children. Establishment of low vision clinics in existing Indian eye hospitals using associated optometric staff would be a cost effective method to minimise visual impairment in Indian children.

The central thickness of the left eyes of 1082 New Zealand students aged 5 to 20 years were measured using optical pachometry. No significant variation in corneal thickness was found with increasing age. The mean corneal thickness of the left eye was 540 +/- 25 microns. No significant differences in corneal thickness were found when the effects of sex or cultural groupings were examined. Corneal thickness appears to remain constant between the age of 5 and 20 years, irrespective of sex or cultural grouping.

Notes were the preferred learning tool of the optometry students at UNSW, suggesting that passive learning of content was the preferred learning style. It is hoped that the introduction of web-based learning environments may allow students and staff to reflect on their preferred teaching and learning styles. Web-based learning tools, such as WebCT, provide a powerful method to facilitate independent deeper learning in students with active learning styles. The current encouragement of student-based active learning methods should see increased use of independent learning platforms, such as WebCT, in optometry schools.