OPTOM 345A/B : Principles of Ocular Pharmacology

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) / Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

General principles of pharmacology. Pharmacodynamics. Drug absorption, distribution and metabolism. Mechanism of drug action at receptors. Drugs and their application on ophthalmic practice. The autonomic nervous system: anatomy and physiology. Mechanisms of action of ocular pharmaceutical agents. Principles of pharmacological treatment of ocular disease. Drug interactions. Legislation on use of ocular pharmaceutical agents by optometrists in New Zealand and internationally. Introduction to therapeutic agents in optometric practice. Scope of treatment. Shared care.

Course Overview

The course OPTOM345 AB Principles of Ocular Pharmacology is a basic course introducing students to the general actions of drugs in the body (in Semester 1), with a focus on ophthalmic drugs (in Semester 2).
The course consists of a series of lectures and 2 related Laboratory sessions. The Laboratory sessions allow students to use (under supervision) common diagnostic drugs for the first time. The course provides basic information on drugs that ae used in management of eye disease, that is developed in Part 4 courses.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: OPTOM 171 or 272 Restriction: OPTOM 245 To complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM 345 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Optometry

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic pharmacological concepts and principles, including pharmacokinetics, dose response, chemical transmission and the specific action of drugs in the various organ systems of the body. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms of action of ophthalmic diagnostic drugs and recognize the clinical indications for their use. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms of action of antiviral, antibiotic and anti-fungal drugs, drug interaction and the problems of delivering drugs to the eye. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  4. Understand and describe the mechanisms of action and clinical indications for the use of ocular therapeutic medications including, antiglaucoma drugs, antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatory agents and dry eye medications. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  5. Understand and explain the basis of microbial resistance and the ocular side effects of systemic drugs. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  6. Demonstrate an appreciation of the responsibilities of a healthcare professional in relation to pharmacovigilance. (Capability 5.1 and 6.1)
  7. Understand and describe the classification of medicines, written prescription requirements, abbreviations used on prescription forms and rules relating to issuing prescriptions. (Capability 5.1 and 6.1)
  8. Demonstrate a familiarity with the legal situation and the Acts that govern the use of drugs by Optometrists in New Zealand & Australia. (Capability 5.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 70% Individual Examination
Quizzes 15% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 15% Group Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Final Exam
Quizzes
Laboratories

Course Contacts

Dr John Phillips
Dr Joanne Lin

Workload Expectations

This course is a 15 point course spread over 2 semesters. Students are expected to spend ~6 hours per week involved in work associated with this course over the two semesters.

For this course, you can expect 38 hours of lectures, 4 hours of Laboratory work,  68 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 40 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 24/02/2020 11:04 a.m.