Psychology Applied to Optometry

Psychology Applied to Optometry

Course Syllabus

1. Psychology and visual health2. Non-version communication3. The visual exam4. Performance of the visual exam5. Giving bad news6. Difficult patients and managing complaints

THEME 1: PSYCHOLOGY AND VISUAL HEALTH

STRUCTURE OF THE THEME:

1. The psychology of health2. The prevention of illness3. Biomedical model and

biopsychosocial model4. Psychological and social

aspects relative to vision


1. psychology of health

HEALTH AND ILLNESS:

• OMS (1964): state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It is not merely the absence of illness or ailment.

• ILLNESS: Deviation from the state of good health


• Behavior when ill: the global response of the individual to illness.

• Illness has a different meaning for every individual which can affect its evolution and even its appearance.


PSYCHOLOGY OF HEALTH:

• Field of psychology that interrelates the physical and behavioral aspects of health and illness

• Establishes recommendations for the interaction between healthcare professional and patient

• Tries to clarify and explain why certain damaging behaviors, such as smoking, continue


Basic suppositions of the Psychology of Health

• Certain behaviors increase the risk of contracting certain illnesses (behavior is a risk factor)

• The modification of certain behavior can reduce the probability of contracting certain illnesses

• Behavior can be changed relatively easily • Psychological interventions can be performed

effectively with a favorable cost-benefit analysis

THEME 1: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND VISUAL HEALTH

2. The prevention of illness

PREVENTION:

• PRIMARY: behavioral strategies to prevent the appearance of illnesses still absent

• SECONDARY: strategies to eliminate or control existing problems before they worsen

• TERTIARY: strategies to reduce the probability of relapse in already treated conditions


3. Biomedical model and biopsychosocial model

a) BIOMEDICAL MODEL: physiological and physical aspects of illnesses– Pathologist– Reductionist– Curative– Mind-body division– Biological diagnosis– “Segmented” patient– External treatment of patient– Distant doctor-patient relationship


b) Biopsychosocial (Engels, 1977)

• The line between health and

illness is unclear• Doctors strive to maintain

good health

BIOMEDICAL MODEL BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL

Avoid illness and postpone death Promote health and improve the quality of life

Prevent illness Reduce risk factors. Promote healthy lifestyles

Act on causes Act on risk factors

Only healthcare professionals and technicians intervene

Other sectors of the professional “community” intervene

Multidiscipline Transdicipline

Team work is desireable Teamwork is unavoidable

Diverse professional sectors and social participation are desireable

Diverse professional sectors and social participation are the base of the model

Doctor-patient relationship is adjective Doctor-patient relationship is fundamental

PARADIGMS OF THE TWO MODELS


EXAMPLE: treatement of a child with short-sightedness

BIOMEDICAL MODEL

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL

THEME 1: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND VISUAL HEALTH

BIOMEDICAL MODEL:

• Cuantification of the refractive state• Eye exam• Advice on the most adequate glasses and

lenses for the case


BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL:In addition to the previous tests:

– Knowledge of the child’s behavioral guidelines in the familiy environment and at school

• Posture while reading or writing• Illumination• Whether the child has learning disabilities or

relationship problems with friends or classmates– Explain the usefulness of following a program of

visual therapy– Direct the patient to other relevant professionals


4. Psychological and social aspects relative to vision

• Psychology: present in many university programs directed towards the science of health

• In optometry, psychology is important for:– Optometrist-patient relationship– Successful termination of treatment– Patient anxiety– Special groups: dislexic children, the elderly, people with

intellectual or aural disabilities


• Vision: coordinates the other senses • An important source of emotional expression


• Vision: coordinates the other senses • An important source of emotional expression


• Disconcertion upon failure of visual information

• Glasses or contact lenses: alterations to self-image


IMPLICATIONS FOR THE OPTOMETRIST:

• Stereotypes of those who wear glasses:– More intelligent– More honest– Less attractive (especially women)

• First time they realize they need glasses: rejection, disability

• Farsightedness: resistance• Children with glasses: beware!


• Poor vision, elderly people (visual degeneration). Potential recourse

• Stereotypical blind person: solitary, destitute, dependent, depressed. Sudden loss of vision results in depression in 5-15% of cases

Be careful with certain behaviors in front of blind people!

Psychology Applied to Optometry

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