• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 2007

We have studied the problems associated with increasing number of ophthalmic optics students every year. The main problems are surplus supply of the optometrist and poor working condition. Thus all parties concerned who aim to solve the numerical unbalance of optometrist must have the common policy in sight. And we have to make a long-term plan and permanent organization for medical technician to establish supply and demand of medical technician with exact policy. To solve this unbalance of optometrist numbers, we have to establish an exact job category, reform the specialized education course, estimate the practical technique of national licensing examination for Korean optometrist, and innovate the contents and methods of reeducation.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was investigated consumers' and optometrists' perception about spectacle frame in Busan and Ulsan to find on the right progress direction for conversion of spectacle frame into medical devices. Methods: 137 consumers surveyed in Busan and Ulsan and 100 optometrist surveyed in 'Busan continuing education of optometrist' filled in a questionnaire, then we compared and analyzed the results. Results: The 79% (108 people) of consumers and 94% (94 people) of optometrists agreed to conversion into medical devices of spectacle frame. The reason was shown that the consumer expected to improve the optometrist reliability and the optometrist expected to improve the optometrist professionalism. While, the 21% (29 people) consumer and 6% (6 people) optometrist opposed to conversion of spectacle frame into medical devices. The reason was revealed that the consumers were concerned about increase of medical insurance cost and the optometrists were concerned about that the spectacle frames can also be sold by medical device stores, not only by optical shops. Conclusions: The result of the survey was shown that the most of consumers and optometrists in Busan and Ulsan agreed on perception toward a conversion of spectacle frame into medical devices. But, we are considered that consumers' and optometrists' active attention and support are needed, with sequential implementation reflecting the concerns for this.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.413-428
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate students and optometrist opinion of the usefulness of different subjects of optometry curriculum.This date will then be used as base-line data during a process of curriculum development Methods: 292 of ophthalmic optic's students and 123 of optometrists were surveyed in the usefulness of curriculum (five-point scale) followed by statistical analysis of the results. Results: Optometrists gave a higher average score for curriculum usefulness (3.89) than the students (3.71). The subject which showed the highest usefulness for the student was optometry (4.55) but clinical practice was the highest for the optometrist (4.48). There was significant differences (p<.05) on optics, ophthalmology, basic science, optometrist related subject and foreign language but optometry and contact lenses showed high usefulness in common without significant difference. The usefulness of subject for the student showed significant difference according to gender, grade, age, and desired working place and has demonstrated significant difference depend on gender, age, scholarship, total working experience as an optometrist, workplace, and position for optometrists as well. Conclusions: It is necessary to continue research for the development of standard and bench-marked curriculum for ophthalmic optics and also the curriculum, which reflecting the usefulness and needs obtained from ophthalmic optics' students and optometrists need to be developed.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.527-536
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• 2015

Purpose: In this paper, we have dealt with problems and improvement of korean optician system. Methods: Using the relevant material of korean optician system and international optometrist system, provides the theoretical basis of the need for regulatory changes optician. Results: The people with refractive errors are increasing, 67% of refractive error test is made from optical shop and korean optician are sufficient trained, many opticians are in charge of the refractive error test at the ophthalmic hospital. We have confirmed that current law does not reflect adequately the nature of optician's work. Conclusions: Since current capacity of the Korean opticians and education system ready to provide health services for people, therefore an korean optician must redefine the law to fit the reality.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.287-296
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze, medical institutions wanted to investigate what caused the shortage of opticians' manpower and suggest solutions. This study was conducted on 31 opticians (11 male and 20 female) working at medical institutions through a self-reporting method survey. Through the survey, basic information of the subjects and the information and satisfaction level of the medical institution on duty were investigated and analyzed. There were many people who had a license for optometrist but did not do optometrist work, and the married people were less satisfied with their work and the proportion of people who did not do optometrist work was higher. The cause of these problems was salary. Opticians who needed higher salaries for marriage and other reasons were able to increase their salaries by adding other tasks in their own areas. This unsatisfactory salary at medical institutions has led to a shortage of optometrists at ophthalmic clinics.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2014

Purpose: In this study, we have compared and analyzed customers' and optometrists' notions regarding franchise optical shops and independent optical shops, so that this research proposes a new direction for the optical industry. Methods: A survey was conducted on 152 customer who visited optical shop and 50 optometrist in Ulsan. Results: With regard to franchise optical shop, customers answered as advantages the well-organized system and service, while as disadvantages high prices and lack of communication. The advantages of independent optical shop, on the other hand, were good communication, fair prices, professionalism, while the disdvantages were lack of service, poor interiors, old-fashioned trends. Optometrists answered that advantages of franchise optical shop were service, system, communication, and successive education, while the disadavantages were monotonous interiors, excessive events, and lack of communication. Optometrists also answered that advantages of independent optical shop were service, and communication, while the disadvantages were poor system, lack of events, poor interiors. Conclusions: We could conclude that it is reasonable for optometrists to consider the advantages of their competitors in order to enhance their communication skills and professionalism, which will promote a healthy competition between them.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.457-469
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to evaluate students and optometrist in the importance and difficulty of work capability, and the educational needs for optometric duty in order to use them as basic data for the improvement of the curriculum. Methods: 292 ophthalmic optic's college students and 123 optometrists were surveyed in the importance and difficulty of work capability, and the educational needs for the optometric duty, and data was statistically analyzed for the results. Results: The mean of the importance of work capability was higher for the optometrists (3.61) than for the students (3.51) and glasses dispensing was the highest for both students and optometrists. The mean of the difficulty of work capability was higher for the students (2.75) than for the optometrists (2.67), which was the highest in refraction for the students and in prescription for the optometrists. The mean of educational needs was higher for the optometrists (3.53) than for the students (3.45), which was the highest in glasses dispensing for the students and highest in refraction for the optometrists. There were significant differences in some tasks in between the students by gender, grade and desired working place, while between the optometrists by gender, age, work experience, working place and working area (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is necessary to improve a curriculum of the Department of Opthalmic Optics, and develop a standard curriculum reflected the importance and the difficulty of work capability, and the educational needs regarding to optometric duty.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1502-1510
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• 2021

Purpose. To investigate on the awareness of consumers on the expertise of optometrists. Methods. Data were collected and analyzed through an online questionnaire targeting 63 consumers (42 consumers over the age of 10 who wore glasses, and 21 students in the Department of Optometry). Result. As a consideration when choosing an optometrist, consumers considered the variety of products (15 persons(23.8%)), expertise such as optometry and fitting, kindness and credibility (11 persons(17.5%)). Students in the Department of Optometry of each selected expertise such as optometry and fitting, kindness and credibility (5 persons(7.9%)) and the results were high. In addition, about the main tasks of optometrists, 20 consumers (31.7%) and 9 students (14.3%)(SD 14.5±5.5) answered that they were medical technicians specializing in vision health. And the service satisfaction of the optometrist (5 point scale) was evaluated as 3.77 points for the consumers and 3.76 points for students(SD 3.77±0.01), and the reliability (5 point scale) for the consumers was 3.42 points and students 3.53 points (SD 3.48±0.06). In terms of expertise (5 point scale), the consumers scored 3.47 points and current students 3.58 points (SD 3.53±0.06). Conclusion. As a result of the study on consumer awareness of the expertise of optometrists, there was no significant difference in the perceptions of the reliability, service, and expertise of optometrists in the opinion of the consumers and students of the Department of Optometry. In terms of reliability and expertise, students in the Department of Optometry were evaluated somewhat higher than the consumers. Therefore, in order for consumers to be able to trust the expertise of optometrists in the future, it is necessary to take pride in being a medical technician specializing in vision health, and to actively promote and make efforts to inform consumers that optometrists are experts recognized by the state.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.25-30
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• 2008

Purpose: In this paper, we have analyzed the problems of the Oh's report which is used to the basic data for supply and demand of medical technicians and studied a proposal for improvement to control system and supply and demand of korean optometrists. Methods: We have analyzed errors of Oh's report including supply and demand for medical technicians and management policy, expecting number for future optician, inaccurate estimation by limited data (employment rate, retirement rate, mortality rate) and an incorrect method of measurement for future supply and demand. Results: Oh's report showed the 18% error for estimation of supply which exclude the irregular entrance students. The estimation of supply was calculated by graduation rate 62.6% (college and University of Technology are 78.9% and 85.98% respectively), employment rate 65.8% (the average employment between 2002 and 2007 is 73.96%) and retirement rate is 2.3% (the retirement of pharmacists is 1.3%) but it showed the significant differences to objective data. For estimate the suitable ratio of optometrists to the population, the ratio use of medical facilities by an age group was used, and suggested spectacle wearers 1,280 persons (populations 2,928 persons) per optometrist but the different from reference of Germany (4,706 persons), America (1,789 persons) and Korea (1,825 persons/an optometrist) are applied to estimation on supply. This report applied the low employment rate and argued that maintain the present situation, but claimed that utilize unemployment persons. The above result has induced double weighting effect on estimation of supply. Conclusions: To solve the related problems of supply and demand, we have to make a search for exact data and optimum application model, have to take an example of nation similar job category as Germany and the research result of the job satisfaction into consideration. After we get the integrated research result, we must carried out the policy with fairness and balance for the estimation of supply and demand. Therefore exact research is required prior to beginning policy establishment, government and related group have to make a clear long-term plan and permanent organization for medical technician to establish supply and demand of medical technician.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.7-17
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• 2007

There has been an increase in rigid gas permeable contact lens prescription by the optometrists in Korea since 1995. Therefore, the aim of our study was to find out which equipment is needed for adequate RGP contact lens prescription and the level of the clinical knowledge that they have and the level of education for the patient, to seize about the extended lens education programmes for the Korean optometrist. Also, we tried to figure out the problem that they had in the RGP contact lens prescription, to develope the educational programs for students and to improve legal uncertainties, through this research. The result came out with the following through questionnaires of 400 male and female opticians who is in clinical field. The distributions of respondents are 270 male (67.5%), 130 female (32.5%), and 356 optometry major (89%). We found out the optometry-majored people had faster clinical lens prescriptions (p=0.000), 72.5% of opticians prescribe the RGP-Lenses, and 27.5% do not because of laking in experience (P=0.000). They responded that they need slit-lamp, button lamp, fluorescein dry paper, and etc,for prescription or fitting test. In regular-check-up (Follow-up), the result came out very low by 83% of respondents who are not getting it regularly. And 83.5% (334 people) of them wanted to have those Extended Educational Programs and also the Clinical Education Programs.