Bilingualer Fachunterricht an berufsbildenden Schulen 

Unterrichtsmodul

Berufsfeld:  	Monoberuf

Beruf: 		Augenoptiker

Contact lenses

ACTION PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
LEONARDO DA VINCI
PROJEKT NO.: 2002 LA 112 628 BILVOC
Language Competence Through Bilingual Teaching at Vocational Colleges

Teaching Module

Date of production			09/2005

Subject:					optics technology		

Topic:					contact lenses

Title: 						contact lenses and exercises	

Target Group: 				optician students (second year)

Prior Knowledge:				basics of optics technology

Level of Language Skills:		waystage (A2)

Follow - Ups:		 		refraction

Objectives:	students gain experience on various types of contact lenses and their handling

Benefits:		students should be able to use the vocabulary given; they can speak and write about a certain topic concerning contact lenses

Teaching Module: contact lenses and exercises

Teaching Time
(experience)	Contents 
	Activities	Media 	Skills	
45 minutes

45 minutes

45 minutes

45 minutes

30 minutes

15 minutes

45 minutes

45 minutes

	introduction to the topic

soft lenses

hard lenses

gas permeable hard lenses and extended wear soft lenses

exercise 1

checking answers

exercise 2

presenting the advertisements

 	brainstorming/ revision
finding general facts

Individual work

group work

Individual work 

Individual work 

discussion

group work

practicing in groups and presenting 

	board, worksheets, dictionary, wordlist

transparency/ worksheets, wordlist, dictionary

board, worksheets, wordlist, dictionary

worksheet, wordlist

board, transparency and
worksheets

worksheets, transparency, board

worksheets, dictionaries, internet

notebook, beamer, transparency, board,…

	finding information and translating skills

using dictionaries, comprehension and summarizing skills

giving translations using dictionaries, note taking skills

finding and giving information

finding information, reading comprehension and summarizing skills

note taking skills

finding information, using searching machines like www. google.com

presentation skills

315 minutes					

Contact Lenses

1.	Introduction

If you look at advertisements for contact lenses or read customer information brochures about them you may find texts like that:
“Your eyes are the first thing people look at. They say more about you than words or actions ever can. So why hide them behind glasses?’’
“Contact lenses let your eyes shine through. Now wearing them has never been easier. We have developed new contact lenses that deliver levels of comfort and convenience unheard of just a few years ago.’’
Today there are contact lenses for just every individual need: for short sight, long sight and astigmatism, lenses you can wear overnight and lenses to change the colour of your eyes. There are even contact lenses that you simply throw away- to give you the ultimate in comfort and convenience.
Nowadays more and more people are wearing contact lenses in order to enjoy a more active life because glasses just do not provide adequate visual correction or the simple cosmetic appeal of not having to wear glasses. And each year their popularity continues to grow as more improvements are made in both design and cosmetic appeal. Now there is a contact lens to suit almost every type and condition of eye.

1.1.	What are contact lenses?

They are small light weight plastic discs which have been cut extremely thin and are curved so that they can be placed directly on the eye. Once there, they stay in position of their own accord where they provide an extra lens to help the wearer to focus. 

1.2.	Taking care

The key to successful wearing depends on the wearer. Contact lenses must be carefully cleaned after each wearing. But if you take the time to make the effort you can look forward to years of wear. The four types of contact lenses currently available have their own advantages and drawbacks and the optician can help you and advise in selecting the right one.

1.3.	Contact lenses-how they work

Contact lenses are placed directly on the surface of the eye where the ‘surface tension’ of the tears which regularly wash the eye hold them in place. The lens ‘sits’ on the cornea, which needs regular supply of oxygen to stay healthy. It gets this from the air and from the tear layer. Contact lenses interrupt the flow from the air. But with every blink a new supply of oxygen- containing tears washes behind the lens to `feed´ the cornea. Blinking is a natural and vital action for everyone and is important for comfortable wear of the lens.

1.4.	The eye examination

This may begin with a simple eye chart test to discover how far the eyes can focus on small objects. The eyes will not necessarily be identical. They will be tested individually using refined optical instruments which take precise measurements of the cornea’s curvature. These measurements determine the precise prescription for each lens that the optician then works out. The measurements can often be as fine as one millionth of a metre!

1.5.	Selecting the correct lens

After the examination the optician will know what lens will suit to the client best. The main factor will be the nature of the visual problem, but you will also need to consider the customer’s work and recreational activities.

2.	
Soft lenses

2.1.	Soft lenses-what are they

They are made from a plastic gel containing a high percentage of water. The combination of gel and water makes them very soft to wear and permits a certain amount of oxygen to pass through them direct to the cornea. They are bigger than hard lenses and may cover part of the white of the eye as well as the cornea.
Soft lenses tend to absorb the atmosphere around them so they may be unsuitable for certain work environments where you may be exposed to chemical fumes. 
On the other hand they are resilient and will not pop out on contact so they will be ideal for sports people or those with a rugged or very active job.

2.2.	Fitting

Because they are so soft they feel comfortable on the eye almost immediately. They can usually be fitted successfully after one or two visits. The optician will have a trial lens to try on and test immediately after the eye examination.

2.3.	Adaptation

Although most wearers adapt almost immediately to wearing this sort of lens, they must keep to the wearing schedule which the optician advises. Never allow them to dry out and , when not in use, keep them stored in the solution the optician recommends.

2.4.	Insertion

The optician will advise on how to insert and remove contact lenses but as a general procedure there is the following advice: 
-	wash and dry hands thoroughly
-	check lens for damage or particles
-	place lens on tip of finger, cup uppermost- make sure lens is not inside out- top curve up and not out
-	with middle finger pull down lower lid; look up so white of eye shows
-	place lens on white area; release lid and blink; lens will centre itself on the eye
2.5.	
Removal

Look up, with the index finger slide lens down to the white of the eye. Squeeze and lift off the lens between finger and thumb.

2.6.	Care and cleaning

Always clean and disinfect the lenses after use as bacteria can grow on them and cause eye infections. There are two methods of disinfecting :
-	After the lenses are cleaned and rinsed in the recommended solution, they are disinfected by soaking them in a special solution for several hours at room temperature. Before wearing rinse the lenses again.
-	Having cleaned the surface of the lenses, place them in their case with saline solution. The case is then placed in a small heating unit where the disinfecting process occurs, after which the lenses are ready to wear.

2.7.	Soft lenses-advantages and disadvantages

Advantages : 
- 	can be worn all day in comfort
-	are comfortable to wear from the start and remain so
-	will not pop out of the eye
-	remain centred on the eye 
-	foreign particles are less likely to lodge under the lens

Disadvantages : 
- 	more expensive than hard lenses
-	harder to clean 
-	must be replaced more frequently

3.	
Hard lenses

3.1.	Hard lenses-what are they

They are tiny, lightweight plastic discs that float on the layer of tears that bathe the cornea. Hard lenses are smaller than soft lenses and cover only a small part of the cornea. Because of their thinness and overall size they ‘centre’ well- that means they return to their correct position on the eye automatically after every movement. Each time you blink the tears wash behind the lens and so supply the cornea with oxygen. Because of their unique design, hard lenses can correct high amounts of corneal astigmatism and other vision problems.

3.2.	Fitting

The optician will select the type of hard lenses best suited to the customer. After the initial examination the lenses will be specially made. The optician will test the fit and vision and will instruct the client on the wearing schedule and on care and handling.

3.3.	Adaptation

The eyes will take a little time to adapt to wearing hard lenses and the customer will take a short time to become confident in handling them. The schedule will allow for increased wearing time each day and in 7 to 14 days the client will have the advantage of clear, all round vision, for up to 14 hours per day. 

3.4.	Insertion

-	Wash your hands ; inspect each lens for damage
-	With cup uppermost place the lens on the index finger and apply a few drops of wetting solution
-	Use the middle finger of the same hand to pull down the lower eye lid
-	Place the lens on the eye, release the lids and close the eye

3.5.	Removal

-	Use the finger to pull and stretch the outer corner of the eye lid towards the temples
-	Blink slowly and the lens will lift from the cornea

3.6.	Care and cleaning

Hard lenses are easier to maintain than soft lenses but must be cleaned before every insertion. The optician will recommend the correct solution to use and what schedule the customer should follow. After removing clean the lenses with a solution to eliminate mucus and other deposits. Rinse the cleaning solution off. Store the lenses in a soaking solution which helps to disinfect lenses and protect them.

3.7.	Hard lenses-advantages and disadvantages

Advantages : 
- 	longer lasting and more durable type of lens
-	less expensive
-	easier to look after
-	can provide better vision than soft lenses in some cases

Disadvantages : 
- 	take longer to get used to
-	subject to scratching if not handled correctly
-	dust and particles can get behind the lens

4.	
Gas permeable hard lenses

4.1.	Gas permeable hard lenses-what are they

These lenses are made from a special plastic similar to hard lenses, but which allows more oxygen through the lens. Therefore they can be worn for a longer time without risk of inflammation of the cornea. They are as durable as other hard lenses and you will not take as long to get used to them, even though they are slightly larger.

4.2.	Fitting and cleaning

In general gas or oxygen permeable lenses are fitted like any other lenses. Some lenses are required to be kept in solution when not being worn, as well as being regularly disinfected. The optician will advise about the specific cleaning and care requirements for the particular lenses.

5.	
Extended wear soft lenses

5.1.	Extended wear soft lenses- what are they

These are specifically designed soft lenses for continuous wear, 24 hours a day, over extended periods. They are made from a gel- like plastic which contains even more water than that used for conventional soft lenses. The molecular structure of the plastic permits oxygen to pass directly through the lens to nourish the cornea.

5.2.	Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages : 
- 	convenient- 24 hours a day wear for specified periods of time
-	comfort- very thin and flexible plastic
-	fitting- a boon for those encountering difficulty in handling contact lenses because of tremors, poor eye sight or arthritis, post operative patients and children- they need less handling

Disadvantages : 
- 	easily damaged during handling
-	deposits can be built on the lens
-	more costly- and will need replacement more often than conventional soft lenses

 

Vocabulary :

adequate	angemessen, ausreichend	
advertisement	Inserat, Werbung, Reklame	
appeal	Anziehungskraft, Wirkung, Reiz	
blink	Lidschlag, blinzeln, zwinkern	
chemical fumes	chemische Dämpfe	
confident	sicher, vertraut	
convenience	Bequemlichkeit, Annehmlichkeit	
corneal astigmatism	Hornhautastigmatismus	
cup	hier : Hohlseite	
curvature	Krümmung	
curved	gekrümmt	
damage	Schaden, Beschädigung	
deposit	Ablagerung	
environment	Umwelt, Umgebung, Milieu	
examination	Untersuchung	
experience	Erfahrung, Erlebnis	
eye chart	Sehprobentafel	
immediately	sofort, umgehend	
improvement	Verbesserung, Steigerung	
index finger	Zeigefinger	
initial examination	Erstuntersuchung	
light (weight)	leicht (im Gewicht)	
longer lasting	langlebiger	
measurement	Messung	
more durable	haltbarer	
mucus	Schleim	
overall size	Gesamtgröße	
oxygen	Sauerstoff	
percentage	Prozentsatz	
recreational activities	Freizeitaktivitäten	
removal	Entfernen, Herausnehmen	
resilient	elastisch, strapazierfähig	
rugged	rau, hart, robust	
saline solution	Kochsalzlösung	
schedule	Zeitplan, Ablaufplan	
soaking solution	Aufbewahrungslösung	
solution	Lösung, Flüssigkeit	
supply	Versorgung, versorgen	
surface tension	Oberflächenspannung	
tear layer	Tränenschicht	
temple	Schläfe	
the ultimate in ...	das Höchste an ..., der Gipfel an ...	
thorough	gründlich	
thumb 	Daumen	
tiny	winzig	
tip of finger	Fingerspitze	
to adapt to…	sich gewöhnen an …	
to apply	hier : verwenden	
to bathe	hier : befeuchten	
to disinfect	desinfizieren	
to lodge	hier : sich ansiedeln, hinkommen	
to make an effort	sich bemühen, anstrengen	
to pop out	herausfallen	
to provide	zur Verfügung stellen, liefern	
to release	loslassen	
to remain	bleiben	
to rinse	spülen, abspülen, ausspülen	
to soak in …	einweichen in …	
to squeeze	zusammendrücken	
to suit	geeignet sein, sich eignen	
trial lens	Probelinse	
unsuitable	ungeeignet, unpassend	
vital	lebenswichtig	
wetting solution	Benetzungslösung	

Exercises- Contact lenses

1. Answer the following tasks

Give a suitable definition for contact lenses.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Name four different kinds of contact lenses.

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How do contact lenses work?

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Find at least 5 arguments for using contact lenses.

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Explain two main differences between soft and hard lenses.

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Give a wearing schedule of contact lenses. Use four instructions.

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Find at least 8 questions that opticians are often asked about contact lenses.

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

2. Design a suitable layout for advertising contact lenses.              

		Exercises- Contact lenses

1.	Answer the following tasks

Give a suitable definition for contact lenses.

Contact lenses are small, lightweight plastic discs that can be placed directly on the eye. They are curved and have been cut extremely thin. They stay in position of their own accord and help the wearer to focus.

Name four different kinds of contact lenses.

There are four main kinds of contact lenses : hard lenses, soft lenses, gas permeable hard lenses and extended wear soft lenses.

How do contact lenses work?

They are placed directly on the surface of the eye. The surface tension of the tears holds them in place. Contact lenses ‘sit’ on the cornea (the clear part of the eye through which light enters the eyeball) and help the patient to focus.

Find at least 5 arguments for using contact lenses.

Contact lenses let your eyes shine through. People can look at your eyes directly. There are contact lenses for almost all individual needs (e.g. short sight, long sight, astigmatism, .....). For sports and general enjoyment they are the ideal way of maintaining clear and comfortable vision. Contact lenses improve your peripheral vision. Because they are worn directly on the eye you get clear all around vision. Contact lenses do not fog up when the temperature changes and they do not slide down your nose. Walking in the rain? No problem, you will be able to see clearly with no blurs or spots on the lenses.

Explain two main differences between soft and hard lenses.

Soft lenses are made from a plastic gel containing a high percentage of water. The combination of gel and water makes them very soft to wear and permits a certain amount of oxygen to pass through them directly to the cornea.
Hard lenses are plastic discs. They are smaller than soft lenses and cover only the cornea. They are more durable and can provide a better vision in some cases.
Wearers adapt to soft lenses almost immediately. They are more convenient than hard lenses. The eyes will take a longer time to get used to hard lenses. You must follow a strict schedule for increasing wearing times.

Give a wearing schedule of contact lenses. Use four instructions.

Before you can insert the lenses you have to wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Check the lenses for damage or particles. Then place the lens on tip of finger, cup uppermost. Pull down the lower lid with your middle finger and look up. Place the lens on the white area, release the lid and blink. The lens will centre itself.

Find at least 8 questions that opticians are often asked about contact lenses.

-	Will I always feel that I am wearing contact lenses?
-	Will other people see that I wear contact lenses?
-	What if I lose a lens?
-	Is there an age limit for wearing contact lenses?
-	What if I have an astigmatism?
-	How quickly will I adapt to them?
-	Can I still wear make-up?
-	What about playing sport?
-	Can lenses get lost in my eyes?
-	How much will contact lenses cost?
-	Should I keep my spectacles?

2. Design a suitable layout for advertising contact lenses.