Functional Disorders of Vision

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Successful completion of all second year level subjects.

This subject gives a detailed account of the nature, origins, course, treatment and prognosis of the congenital and developmental disorders of vision and provides training in the clinical optometric procedures for the examination of the eyes and for the treatment of visual disorders. On completion of the subject students will be able to investigate patients' visual problems, make a diagnosis and plan an appropriate course of management. Topics include refractive anomalies of the eye including explanations of the origin and development of refractive errors and methods of refraction; anomalies of accommodation including presbyopia; the anomalies of ocular motility and binocular vision including their clinical assessment and treatment; disorders of the light sense; and strategies of problem solving, history taking and case assessment. There is a series of lectures on the disorders of higher visual function and a series of lectures on clinical assessment of colour vision disorders which are given in Semester 2. Practical sessions introduce students to the methods for determination of refraction, assessment and treatment of disorders of ocular motility and binocular coordination, and the detection of ocular disease. Students are required to complete weekly assignments to develop their clinical skills. In the latter part of semester 2, students undertake clinical practice and the examination of patients.

A 3-hour written examination in the first semester examination period (40%); a 3-hour written examination in the second semester examination period (40%); clinical practice assignments during second semester (20%). Satisfactory completion of the clinical practice assessment is necessary to pass the subject.

Hurdle Requirement: a 1-hour practical examination in clinical methods is held at the end of the first semester, which must be passed in order to proceed with clinical practice in the second semester.

M Scheiman and B Wick, Clinical Management of Binocular Vision , Philadelphia Lippincott, 1994

D B Elliot, Clinical Procedures of Primary Eye Care 3rd edn, Butterworth Heinemann, 2007

A G Bennett and R B Rabbetts, Clinical Visual Optics 3rd edn, Butterworths, 1998

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject is only available to Bachelor of Optometry students.

Special requirements: Students should have an approved direct ophthalmoscope and retinoscope, gonioprism, binocular indirect ophthalmoscope, two fundus lenses, epilation forceps, two white coats, pre-focused pen torch or transilluminator, inter-pupillary rule, a set of optical screwdrivers, cover paddle, phoria card and a set of four flippers (lenses and prisms). Students are strongly advised to purchase their own equipment which they will continue to use in 4th and 5th year and after graduation. However, those students who do not have their own equipment will be able to borrow equipment for classes. Students are required to conform to prescribed dress and conduct requirements when assigned to all clinical duties with patients.