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A contact lens is a thin, curved lens placed on the surface of your eye usually used for the optical correction.

Since contact lenses are medical devices and are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, they also have some therapeutic, diagnostic, cosmetic and prosthetic uses and are also majorly used for visual rehabilitation in various conditions like Keratoconus, Steven Johnson’s syndrome, Sjogren syndrome, Pediatric Aphakia, etc.

Broadly, there are two types of contact lenses: soft and rigid. Though contact lenses seem to be a modern addition in the eye care industry, they are actually used all over the world since the 19th century! Some of the latest addition to it is the One-Day Daily Disposable contact lenses, contact lenses to the control myopia progression, transition contact lenses in which the lenses darken slightly to compensate for the increased sunlight, contact lenses which monitor diabetes, etc.

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Bharati Vidyapeeth School of Optometry, Pune provides both theory and practical aspects of contact lens education including the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the anterior segment, various anterior segment diagnostic tests, tests and ocular measurements performed before fitting the contact lenses, soft and rigid contact lens fitting, Optics and Designs of various contact lenses, various contact lens materials, care, maintenance and handling and complications of contact lenses and also fitting of specialty contact lenses such as Toric contact lenses, Multifocal contact lenses, Rose K lenses, Scleral lenses and Orthokeratology contact lenses.

Extensive practical sessions are conducted where all the students get opportunity to learn and practice all types of contact lenses.Frequent seminars and lectures are organized where industrial expert personnel from different companies like Bausch and Lomb, Cooper Vision, Alcon, Johnson and Johnson, Purecon, etc., who have exposure to the market and troubleshooting, visit the college and enlighten the students with current market brands, availabilities and case studies, which keeps the students updated. A wide variety of contact lens brands are made available to the students to practice.

Seminars and Hands-on workshop are arranged where Practitioners with clinical experience involved in contact lens practice discuss various fitting pearls, troubleshooting and case series with the students.

Certificate programs such as ‘Master Mind In-Campus’ by Bausch and Lomb are also carried every year in the college.

Students also get the opportunity to appear for the International standard Student Trail Exam conducted by IACLE (International Association of Contact Lens Educators), Australia. The exam assesses their level of contact lens knowledge and identifies areas where knowledge may be lacking. As a result, students are guided to where further study and practice are required.