AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPTOMETRY

1. AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPTOMETRY • FAAO is just the beginning • Become a Diplomate in the Cornea and Contact Lens Section • Rigorous but rewarding process • Have input on the education of your colleagues • Go to aaopt.org

2. WRITING AS AN EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE Ed Bennett OD, MSEd

3. WHY IS WRITTEN COMMUNICATION IMPORTANT? • How others perceive you is often based upon writing quality/professionalism • Written correspondence can easily be perceived as negative

4. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • You have control over your writing quality; take time, check quality and use resources; every note, email, letter, and paper will reflect you! • Review spelling, professionalism, word choice, grammar

5. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • There is a better word! • Consult attached list • This will minimize the use of slang and greatly assist in the quality of the written document

6. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • It will appear more professional to spell out all terms that you use. Examples would include the following: • Laboratory (not lab) • Contact lenses (not contacts) • Examination (not exam) • Technician (not tech) • Videotapes (not videos) • Visual acuities (not acuities)

7. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • Acronyms should not be used until they are initially spelled out. For example: • Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy (BIO) • Non-Contact Tonometry (NCT) • Jackson Cross Cylinder (JCC) Once the acronym (abbreviation) has been used once adjacent to the entire spelled out version, you can use it continuously throughout the manuscript.

8. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • Spell out numbers between one and nine; also spell out the number if it is used to begin a sentence. • For example: “We had 11 subjects, four of whom discontinued.”

9. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • If you are using quotes, remember that periods and commas should be placed inside quotation marks, semicolons and colons outside. • For example: Bennett said, “Written communication is important.” He also indicated that: “Please be aware of your written communication”; this is an important quality to always keep in mind.

10. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • If you use one dash to separate a thought, you must use a second one at the conclusion of the thought. For example: • “The process was successful - albeit somewhat biased - and well received by subjects.”

11. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • Remember that a semicolon separates two similar thoughts which could stand alone as sentences. For example: • “This clinical study had three groups; only one group was used as a control.”

12. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • A colon is often used to set off quotations: For example: Gas Permeable mean: “ • Review word position: remember that the adverb typically comes before the noun. For example: • “slightly pushed” instead of “pushed slightly” • “completely understand” instead of “understand completely”

13. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • Web locations: • http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/

14. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • Words commonly confused with each other (see Appendix) • Words commonly misspelled (in Appendix); examples includes:

15. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • INCORRECT CORRECT • Acknowledgement Acknowledgment • Afterwards Afterward • Alright All right • Analyse Analyze • Can not Cannot • Co-author Coauthor • Co-ordination Coordination

16. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION • INCORRECT CORRECT • Descernable Discernable • Labelled Labeled • Mid-point Midpoint • Post-test Posttest • Programing Programming • Re-unite Reunite • Sizeable Sizable • Wave length Wavelength

17. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: UNPROFESSIONAL Orthokeratology is a process along the lines of refractive surgery accept that a great deal of myopia is not reduced with contacts. On the other hand it is only a temporary reduction. It actually is at least 1 of 3 or more methods of myopia reduction. Unaided acuities of equal to 20/20 or better have occurred, however, it is mainly good with up to 3D of myopia. Clinical studies have showed that “orthokeratology reduces - on average, 1.62D of myopia”. Although this seems to be pretty successful, there is still an absence of evidence.

18. HOW TO IMPROVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: PROFESSIONAL • Orthokeratology is a process similar to refractive surgery with the exception that a high amount (or much) myopia is not reduced with contact lenses. Conversely, it is only a temporary reduction. It actually is, at minimum, one of three methods of myopia reduction. Unaided visual acuities equal to 20/20 or better have resulted; however, it is primarily effective with as much as three diopters (3D) of myopia. Clinical studies have demonstrated that “orthokeratology reduced - on average - 1.62D of myopia.” Although this appears to be quite successful, there is still an absence of evidence.

19. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION • Key factor is: WRITE, WRITE, WRITE • Write for paraoptometric journals, Optometric Management, Primary Care Optometry News, Contact lens Spectrum • Case reports for the Academy or journals • Literature reviews • Clinical studies

20. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY • INTRODUCTION • Historical literature leading up to the need for this study (benefits of GPs leading to myopia to myopia control leading to orthokeratology lens designs leading to need for new designs) • The intention/purpose of your study

21. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY METHODS • Number of subjects, location, age range & mean • Contact lens history • Refractive error and corneal curvature/topography • Patient selection/eligibility • Patient education/care • Techniques/follow-up procedures

22. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY • RESULTS • Most significant results first (how many subjects complete;, why they failed; unaided VA; myopia reduction, etc.) • Mention only the results, not ramifications • Refer to graphs and tables • If sponsored, they can help with data analysis

23. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY • DISCUSSION • Discuss significance, ramification of results. Compare these results with other similar studies CONCLUSIONS • One to five brief statements of most important conclusions and future research implications

24. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY • REFERENCES: • Typically not appropriate to use footnotes • Do not quote extensively from your references (if at all); it is preferable to summarize in your own words • List references in order that they appear • Do not use “ibid”; only use the the same reference if it pertains to a separate book chapter

25. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY • REFERENCES: • Example: It has been found that four zone orthokeratology lenses have reduced myopia by greater than 1.50D (1-4) Hom (4) found greater than 2D of reduction.

26. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION: CLINICAL STUDY • REFERENCES: • 1. Bennett ES. Orthokeratology is neat. Optom Vis Sci 2001;78(12):456-460. • Ruhl M. My experiences as an optometry student. In: Hepperman A. Optometry for Everyone, Philadelphia, Freedom Publ., 2002:124-129.

27. WRITING FOR PUBLICATION • Remember: Writing is one of those unspoken methods of reflecting how well you communicate; take pride in your writing; make strides to improve your ability to write. • Consider writing for publication once you are in practice.