The impact of continuing professional development on ophthalmic dispensing of progressive addition lenses in the Asia–Pacific region

Abstract

Background: Discrepancies exist in optometric education, practice and regulation across the Asia–Pacific region and the competence of optometric practitioners in adopting new lens technologies may vary widely. Over the past 10-years, a continuing professional development program, Varilux Academy Asia–Pacific (VAAP), was implemented and conducted in countries across the Asia–Pacific region to improve practitioners' understanding of optometric fitting principles, with special emphasis on progressive addition lenses (PAL). The aim was to demonstrate the effectiveness of VAAP and to compare the competence of practitioners across the Asia–Pacific region in new lens fitting technologies.Methods: From 2002 to 2008, all VAAP participants from 12 countries across Asia–Pacific were invited to complete a pre‐ and a post‐program competency test and a post‐program survey.Results: A total of 5658 practitioners were trained, and 69.9 per cent (n = 3,957) of participants completed the pre‐ and post‐program competency test; 80.9 per cent (n = 4,580) of participants completed the post‐program survey. There was a significant improvement in competency after VAAP (mean change = 19.4 per cent ± 3.3, p < 0.01). Before VAAP was conducted the mean competency score was significantly lower in developing countries compared with developed countries (mean score of developed countries = 50.6 ± 10.3, mean score of developing countries = 45.0 ± 7.8, p < 0.05). After VAAP, these differences were not significant. Confidence in fitting PAL improved by 27.1 per cent. Most participants (91.6 per cent) intended to fit more PAL and 96.8 per cent of participants rated the program as excellent or good.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need for further continuing education of practitioners across the Asia–Pacific region. The results of the training course indicate that, across Asia–Pacific, continuing education courses in ophthalmic optics and dispensing encompassing modern lens design and best practice fitting principles are warranted.