OPTOM 416A/B : Clinical Optometry

Medical and Health Sciences

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

Course Prescription

Facilitates the transition from student to professional optometrist. Topics addressed include: structuring the routine optometric examination in a clinical setting, diagnosis and management of disorders of the visual system, case analysis, myopia control, visual ergonomics, vision screening, and visual standards. This course culminates in students examining and managing clients in the public University Clinics under supervision.

Course Overview

The aim of this clinical course is to support students to refine and efficiently sequence their optometric skills in order to perform a comprehensive eye examination and to prepare them for more advanced clinical practice within Part V of the degree.  Students will be taught, and encouraged to practice effective communication skills, cultural safety and ethical behaviour.   In addition, students will attain a higher understanding of methodologies used in clinical optometry, enhance case analysis, diagnose and manage disorders of the visual system in a clinical setting.  Didactic teaching, laboratory classes and clinical rotations comprising ‘simulated’ and ‘real’ patients will guide the student on the presentation, differential diagnosis and management options of presenting visual problems or impairments.  

Course Requirements

Restriction: OPTOM 312, 415 To complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM 416 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
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. Interpret and sequence the eye and vision examination procedures introduced during OPTOM 316 into an efficient and accurate clinical routine within a comprehensive eye examination (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
  2. Demonstrate the principles of case analysis in the context of the management of refractive anomalies and pathology of the eye (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 5.1 and 5.2)
  3. Demonstrate clinical reasoning and reflective learning skills to work independently through a feedback / action cycle (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  4. Demonstrate and apply effective communication skills and exhibit personal and professional integrity (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  5. Discuss the importance of cultural competency in healthcare and demonstrate cultural safety in practice (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  6. Recognise family violence in practice and identify sources for referral and support for those who have/are experiencing family violence (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  7. Explain the use of root cause analysis as a tool to analyse adverse events and improve safety and quality in healthcare (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1)
  8. Identify and use a variety of advanced investigative techniques used in optometry and interpret their findings (Capability 2.1, 2.2 and 3.1)
  9. Verify, prescribe, fabricate and dispense optical appliances in theory and in practice and appropriately handover patients to the dispensing team (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
  10. Identify and discuss the principles underlying the design of the visual environment and the external factors that affect the comfort, safety and performance of people working at everyday tasks (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 3.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Practical Individual Coursework
Workshops Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Presentation 30% Individual Coursework
Portfolio 15% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 35% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Practical
Workshops
Test
Presentation
Portfolio
Final Exam
Note that to complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM416 A (Semester 1) and B (Semester 2) 

The course Canvas page has detailed information on assessment processes and minimum pass rates.


Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in the course website located in the University’s learning platform CANVAS which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Course Contacts

Course Director & Course Coordinator: Bhavini Solanki s.bhavini@auckland.ac.nz 

Workload Expectations

This course is a double semester 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 2 hours of lectures, 4-8 hours of labs /clinic, 1 hour of reading and thinking about the content and 1 hour of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week.

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 20/12/2019 08:54 a.m.