General Optometry Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Optometry 655-422, 655-430, 655-442 and 655-462.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

On completion of this subject, students should have a comprehensive command of their knowledge of the disorders of vision and their clinical management; have developed a very high level of skill with optometric procedures and will be competent in the identification, diagnosis and resolution of patient visual problems. They will also be skilled in patient communication. The core of the subject is the examination and treatment of patients in the University of Melbourne EyeCare practice and other clinical sites both within Melbourne, rural Victoria, interstate and overseas throughout the prescribed clinical year. In addition students will attend ophthalmology placements both in private practice and in hospital settings in Melbourne. In addition, lectures, tutorials and workshops will provide detailed information on professional ethics, practice management and administration, general medicine with emphasis on those systemic diseases with ocular manifestations and on ophthalmic product information related to ophthalmic dispensing. Students are required to dispense as many of the spectacle prescriptions they write at the University EyeCare practice as possible as well as completing other dispensing assignments

Progressive assessment of clinical work throughout the year (40%); practical skills tests, written clinical reports (5 reports of 2000 words each) and oral examinations throughout the year (25%); a 3-hour written examination in the second semester examination period (35%). Satisfactory completion of all three components of assessment is necessary to pass the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject is only available to Bachelor of Optometry students.