On 18 December, the Laboratory of Medical Optics and the Methodological Centre for Accreditation of Optometrists opened in the main building of Voronezh State University. The laboratory was organised by the optics shops Tochka Zreniya, Voronezh State University, Voronezh Regional Ophthalmological Hospital, Department of Health of the Voronezh Region, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Voronezh Region.
The Laboratory of Medical Optics is the first of a kind in Russia to be opened at a university. The VSU Rector Dmitry Endovitsky spoke at the opening of the Laboratory:
This is a unique event. Currently, certified optometrists are in very high demand in Russia. The university provides an opportunity for the practical training of specialists in this field as well as their accreditation. In order to strengthen its position with the Ministry of Health, it was decided to open not only a Laboratory of Medical Optics, but also an accreditation centre.
The VSU Rector noted that the laboratory’s office is well-equipped for training specialists using the equipment typical for an optician’s office. The equipment allows conducting research in the field of medical optics aimed at the improvement of both vision correction systems and the methods and techniques used for the selection of vision correction products. Students from the Department of Optics and Spectroscopy of the Faculty of Physics of VSU as well as those studying Physics or Photonics and Optical Informatics will be able to practice at the laboratory.
“The creation of the Laboratory of Medical Optics and the Centre for Accreditation of Optometrists is important not only for our region but also for the whole country. I consider it my duty to thank Stanislav Slautinsky, Head of the Tochka Zreniya company, who pays great attention to the quality of training of optometrists. I hope that today’s occasion is the first important practical step towards creating a higher education programme for medical opticians on the initiative of VSU,” said Oleg Ovchinnikov, Dean of the Faculty of Physics and Head of the Department of Optics and Spectroscopy.
