Optometry in Moldova –
A dream came true
Posted by hjelpmoldova on Mar 27, 2014
On 11th March 2014, the first of four 11-week university course in optometry started in Moldova. The course is the first in this field in Moldova.
-This course is a big step forward for our country in improving the methods of checking and corrections of refractive errors! says Tatiana Ghidirimshi, Doctor of ophthalmology, Director Low Vision Centre and participant in the first course ever of optometry in Moldova.
-Tatiana, are you happy with the course?
-I would like to tell everybody that I am very, very happy! This course is one of my dreams for improving my knowledge for my practice! It is so interesting and useful because I have never attended any course in optometry before, and we need it so much for our activity at the centre!
-Is the content new for you as well, already being a specialist and Doctor of ophthalmology?
-Of course, for me many things are known because I met Hans Bjorn many years ago and he has taught me a lot! But after this course, it will be easier, says Tatiana, who also mentions that she is very proud of the teachers; Hans Bjørn from Norway and Michael and Stefanie from Brian Holden Vision Institute in Australia.
-What will be the benefit of the course, for you and the other doctors?
-After this course, I will be more sure in prescribing astigmatism correction! Today I asked some of the Moldovian doctors “what is the importance of this course?”, and they said that it is very useful and important both for them and their low vision patients. It is so nice that at the course they can practice; on each other and on patients with refractive errors. Thanks to “the Help Moldova Organization”, we have the best equipment available, like visual acuity tests, retinoscopy, phoropter etc.
-This is the first course of its kind ever in Moldova. What is the importance of this for ophthalmology in general in your country?
-The course is very important, because this knowledge is fundamental for ophthalmology. Especially it is very important for doctor ophthalmologists from our country because we do not have optometrists. It means that ophthalmologists must check visual acuity, do retinoscopy and must do correct correction of refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia).
Hans Bjørn Bakketeig says that everybody; students, instructors, professors and rector of the Medical University are very happy with the course. Discussions about future development of optometry education at university level in Moldova are already in progress, he states.
Kåre Ness/Tatiana Ghidirimshi