The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) has extended the application deadline for its 2025 Certificate in Advanced Contact Lenses (CACL).
Optometrists now have until 11 May to apply for this comprehensive specialty contact lens curriculum.
A release from the ACO said the course addresses both current and emerging needs in contact lens care, covering essential areas such as orthokeratology, mini-scleral, prosthetic, keratoconic, and post-graft lens fitting.
Delivered by a team of Australia’s leading contact lens educators, this course ensures that knowledge is practical, relevant, and immediately applicable to your practice.
A key element of all ACO certificate courses is a clinical placement module to support participants’ practical skill development under the guidance of an advanced contact lens specialist.
“This invaluable opportunity will help equip you with the stills to confidently fit advanced contact lenses in real-world settings and allow you to strengthen relationships with local specialists.”
Victoria-based optometrist Ms Kim Nguyen enrolled in the course in 2024 to enhance her confidence and expertise in specialty contact lenses.
“I’m fortunate to have a small but growing number of patients who trust and appreciate my efforts and choose to continue seeing me for their contact lens appointments,” she said.
“I wanted to do what’s best for them by improving my skills in specialty contact lens fits.
“The lectures, recommended resources, and writing case reports have encouraged me to be more proactive in researching studies. I’ve also learned to appreciate critically appraising each case I encounter, understanding the strength of evidence they provide. These skills extend beyond contact lens fitting and help in differentiating, diagnosing, and managing conditions that present in practice.
“Since completing the course, my confidence in interpreting topography maps and dealing with rigid corneal lenses and orthokeratology has grown. I’ve taken on more orthokeratology patients, fitting them independently, and I’ve been able to share what I’ve learned with colleagues and assist them in orthokeratology fittings … it [is] heartwarming to witness how successful specialty contact lens fits can be life-changing for our patients.”
Optometrists interested in expanding their contact lens expertise can learn more and apply at https://profession.aco.org.au/certificate-in-advanced-contact-lenses.
More reading
ACO announces certificate courses for 2025
ACO welcomes new board director and governance structure
ACO and RFDS celebrate a decade of rural eyecare services
