Preclinical Optometry (OPTO90024)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
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Note: This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Doctor of Optometry.
This subject provides training in the optometric procedures for the examination of the eyes and introduces common vision and ocular disorders. On completion of the subject, students will be able to investigate a patient’s visual problems, make a diagnosis, and plan an appropriate course of management for common conditions. Topics include: refractive anomalies of the eye, including explanations of the origin and development of refractive anomalies and the approaches used to detect and correct refractive errors; anomalies of accommodation, including presbyopia; anomalies of ocular motility and binocular vision, including their clinical assessment and management; and the detection and basis of disorders of the visual pathway. Practical sessions introduce students to taking and recording a routine patient history, investigating an ocular complaint, completing a comprehensive refractive examination, performing a routine screen to detect overt visual dysfunction. Additionally, students will work in small groups to link themes in basic vision science with clinical practice.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- identify and assess the structure and function of the normal human eye and visual system;
- describe the signs and symptoms of common ocular and visual system dysfunction;
- conduct a basic clinical ocular examination using key ophthalmic equipment and skills according to current best-practice standards; and
- reflect on how cultural background and history (including that of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples) influences and shapes one's worldview and the practitioner/patient relationship.
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: 4 March 2025