OPTOM 272A/B : Visual Science 1: Structure and Function of the Visual System

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) / Semester Two (1255) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Anatomy and physiology of the eye and visual pathway. Topics include composition and structure of the tear film, neural processing in the visual cortex, aspects of visual function including spatial and temporal vision, motion perception and colour vision. Investigation of visual perception using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques.

Course Overview

This is a two-semester course that introduces you to the Anatomy and Physiology of the eye and visual pathway. Topics include details of ocular structure and function, neural processing in the visual cortex, aspects of visual function and Investigation of visual perception using psychophysical and electrophysiological techniques.
The general objectives of the course are:
1. To present the student with basic structural and functional concepts of the visual system.
2. To provide a general understanding of the foundation of vision.

Course Requirements

Restriction: OPTOM 151, 170, 171 To complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM 272 A and B

Course Contacts

Associate Professor Monica Acosta  m.acosta@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Optometry

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Research, analyse, and communicate material found the library database to retrieve publications relevant to the course (Capability 1, 4 and 6)
  2. Explain and use vocabulary relevant to optometry (Capability 3, 5 and 7)
  3. Explain the structure and function of the anatomy (e.g. skull, sinuses, meninges, vasculature, ocular adnexa etc) supporting normal function of the eye and brain (Capability 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Explain the structure and function of the oculomotor system (Capability 1, 2, 5 and 8)
  5. Explain the structure, function and development of the normal human eye and brain (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8)
  6. Explain the structure and function of the elements (cornea, lens, anterior chamber etc) controlling the refractive status of the eye (Capability 1, 2, 4 and 5)
  7. Explain the structure, function (e.g. photo transduction) and development of the retina (Capability 5 and 7)
  8. Explain how human visual abilities map onto the operation of different elements of the eye (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
  9. Explain the structure and function of the visual pathway within the brain (Capability 1, 3 and 5)
  10. Identify, formulate and refine your own competences (Capability 1, 3, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 30% Individual Coursework
Test - Semester 1 10% Individual Test
Test - Semester 2 10% Individual Test
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Coursework
Test - Semester 1
Test - Semester 2
Final Exam

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 3 hours of lectures and 3-4 hours of labs and tutorials, 7 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including lectures, group discussions, group assignments and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the semester 1 test and the final exam.
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.

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.

Based on the SET feedback, communication during Semester 2 will be more closely monitored, and lecture delivery will be enhanced. Dr. Acosta will resume coordination responsibilities in 2025.

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.

Published on 08/11/2024 01:48 p.m.