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Integrated Ophthalmic Sciences (OPTO90027)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 75On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Year Long
Holly Chinnery
Overview
Availability | Year Long |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Note: This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Doctor of Optometry.
This subject recognises that a scientific understanding of vision derives from an inherently multidisciplinary foundation, knitting together threads from many core fields including optics, mathematics, biochemistry, anatomy, histology, physiology, medicine and psychology. It broadly conceptualises this diverse collection of subject content into three tightly interwoven streams: the first of these is optics relating to vision, the second is biological systems underpinning vision, and the third is visual function itself, which emerges only by appreciating and exploring the various degrees of overlap among the other streams.
By following both the classical and modern research literature, students will explore in depth the interactions between light and biological tissues and consider how optical theory can be plied to provide visual optical instrumentation allowing exploration of the parameters and fitness of the eye. They will appreciate how the anatomy, biochemistry and physiology of the visual organ and its neural radiations place constraints on the rich information presented to higher brain centres, and how optical imperfections can be quantified and rectified to improve sight. By examining the detailed anatomy of the orbit and its contents, including the extra-ocular muscles and their actions, students will understand how binocular visual functions depend both on the hardware of orbital mechanics as well as the interpretative and control systems of distinct brain areas. The subject reinforces experimental approaches used to measure sensory modalities to gain an understanding of how each anatomical and physiological feature of the eye-brain system is critical for functions serving normal visual perception.
While the scope of this subject is a complete understanding of the normal human visual system, the subject draws heavily on comparative anatomy and physiology, describing how human eyes are at the same time both similar and dissimilar to those of other species regarding general structure and resulting functional attributes such as the perception of colour, motion perception, and our spatial vision sense. Congenital and acquired visual anomalies will also be used throughout the course to highlight the astonishing confluence of coordinated growth and maintained activity required of normal visual function while also illustrating visual dysfunction as a precursor to more detailed study in later (clinical) subjects.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- explain the structure and function of the normal human visual system and its physical, chemical and biological foundations;
- quantitatively describe light and its passage through optical systems (including ophthalmic instruments, ophthalmic lenses and the eye), and quantitatively assess the nature and quality of optical images;
- describe the anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and genetics of the visual system and associated structures at all stages of the lifecycle;
- describe the basic psychophysical measurement methods, including key elements of stimulus presentation;
- describe how stimulus parameters (eccentricity, size, duration, colour) and adaptation state of the observer affect vision;
- explain the fundamental sensory processes of vision, including: intensity discrimination, dark adaptation, spatial vision, contrast sensitivity, temporal vision and colour vision;
- illustrate how original clinical research, fundamental research, and experimental models are used in optometry and vision sciences to inform how the eye-brain system is critical for functions serving normal visual perception;
- illustrate how a complete understanding of vision requires integration of knowledge from optics, biological systems and visual functions; and
- link abnormal structure and function to key ocular and visual system diseases.
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to new problems;
- communicate clearly in written and oral forms;
- work as part of a team to address a common goal;
- manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work;
- show a respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of scholarship;
- articulate the interpretation of data in written form;
- integrate knowledge from different domains;
- value the collection and recording of accurate and complete data; and
- reflect upon and identify deficiencies in knowledge, skills and attitudes and consider strategies to address those deficiencies.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
OPTO90024 | Preclinical Optometry | Year Long (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
3 x 20‐min Group Oral Presentations
| Throughout the Sem 1 teaching period | 5% |
3 x 1-hr Competency Examinations
| Sem 1 examination period | N/A |
3 x 2‐hr Written Examinations (stream)
| Sem 1 examination period | 40% |
3 x 35‐min Group Oral Presentations
| Throughout the Sem 2 teaching period | 5% |
3 x 1-hr Competency Examinations
| Sem 2 examination period | N/A |
2 x 3‐hr Written Examinations (integrative)
| Sem 2 examination period | 40% |
Practical Reports
| Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Year Long
Principal coordinator Holly Chinnery Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours First Semester: Six 1-hour lectures per week, four 1-hour seminar workshops per week; 6 hours of practical work per week. Second Semester: Three 1-hour lectures per week; four 1-hour seminar workshops per week. Plus attendance at the Doctor of Optometry Student Conference Total time commitment 900 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 May 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Year Long contact information
Holly Chinnery
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A reading list will be provided.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Doctor of Optometry
Last updated: 31 January 2024