OPTOM 216A/B : Introduction to Optometry
Medical and Health Sciences
2025 Semester One (1253) / Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Course Contacts
- Dr Philip Turnbull, p.turnbull@auckland.ac.nz
- Zaria Bradley, z.burden@auckland.ac.nz
Capabilities Developed in this Course
Capability 1: | People and Place |
Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
Capability 6: | Communication |
Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Describe and demonstrate appropriate techniques for assessing visual function. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
- Describe and apply the optical principles used to collect clinically-relevant data on the structure and function of the eye. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Understand and perform objective refraction techniques (Capability 3 and 5)
- Understand and apply patient-clinician communication principles to obtain a case history. (Capability 1, 6, 7 and 8)
- Understand, recognise and explain abnormalities of neurological, oculomotor, and binocular function. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
- Understand and explain the principal mechanisms of medical image modalities, the advantages and limitations of each method, and the importance of multi-modal imaging in optometry. (Capability 3 and 4)
- Describe and explain the legislative framework, and the ethical and cultural considerations for practicing Optometry in NZ and Australia. (Capability 1, 3, 6 and 8)
- Demonstrate an ability to collaborate with peers to make evidence based decisions through problem based learning (Capability 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Assessments
Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
---|---|---|
Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
Test | 20% | Individual Test |
Laboratories | 30% | Individual Coursework |
Presentation | 10% | Group Coursework |
4 types | 100% |
Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
Final Exam | ||||||||||
Test | ||||||||||
Laboratories | ||||||||||
Presentation |
Workload Expectations
Following University guidelines, a 30 point course represents about 300 hours of study.
During a typical teaching week there will be 3 hours of lectures, 1 hour of tutorials, and 2 hours of labs. For the 24 teaching weeks over both semesters, this totals to 144 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 300 hours of study, that leaves a total of 156 hours across both semesters for independent study, e.g. reading, preparing for labs, group presentations, assessments, and the exam.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including lectures, labs, and tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including, but online collaboration tools may be used.
Attendance on campus is required for the labs, tests, and exams.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
- Clinical procedures in primary eye care by David B. Elliott.
- Optical devices in ophthalmology and optometry : technology, design principles and clinical applications by Michael Kaschke, Karl-Heinz Donnerhacke, Michael Stefan Rill, and Simone Benjamin.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.