OPTOM 263A/B : Essential Optics

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) / Semester Two (1205) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to optics relevant to optometry and necessary to understand the optical performance of the eye, the design of ophthalmic lens applications, and the principles of operation of clinical instrumentation. Topics include; the basic principles of physical optics, the principles of image formation by lenses and lens systems mirrors and prisms, optics of the eye, ocular ametropia and aberrations.

Course Overview

OPTOM 263 is designed especially to introduce the students to essential optics of the interaction of light with the human eye. Here you are taught basic properties of light and image formation in the human eye that would be essential for you throughout your professional life. At the end of OPTOM 263, you will have sufficient knowledge, to form a better understanding of the more detailed optometric imaging techniques provided in Part III. 

Course Requirements

Restriction: OPTOM 215, 262, 265 To complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM 263 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Optometry

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of image formation, and the sources of optical aberrations (Capability 1.1)
  2. Explain the basic processes of refraction and reflection, and be able to numerically problem solve using both the exact and paraxial interpretation (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)
  3. Describe the paraxial approximation and utilise it to perform problem solving using the thin, thick and general lens optics equations (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)
  4. Demonstrate how the information acquired and the skills learnt in optics can be used to explain the operation of common optical systems such as the simple magnifier and the telescope (Capability 1.3)
  5. Understand the nature of light and the usefulness of the concept of e-m waves, and be able to use the equations that describe light waves (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
  6. Understand the concepts of polarisation, coherence, superposition and interference of light waves and the optical applications that use these properties (Capability 2.2 and 3.1)
  7. Understand the importance of diffraction and how this imposes limits on optical systems including resolution limits (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
  8. Understand the principles behind a laser, the differences between laser light and light from other sources, and be able to explain the applications of lasers related to Optometry, in industry and for scientific research (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2)
  9. Understand the concepts of optical fibres and their advantages/drawbacks, which include understanding of graded index materials (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)
  10. Relate evolution of eyes to constraints in eye design. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Test 30% Individual Test
Laboratories 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Final Exam
Test
Laboratories

Course Contacts

Dr EHsan Vaghefi e.vaghefi@auckland.ac.nz

Dr Jason Turuwhenua j.turuwhenua@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard [30] point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect [50] hours of lectures, a [16] hour tutorial, [30] hours of reading and thinking about the content and [30] hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Digital 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.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 at 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.

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.

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.

Published on 28/02/2020 03:28 p.m.