OPB352 Ocular Anatomy and Physiology 1

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Optometric practice covers a range of functional vision measurements. An understanding of ocular anatomy and physiology is required to interpret such measurements, as well as to understand ocular disease processes. Optometrists are considered vision experts and this course will provide you with essential knowledge on the eye and vision. This fundamental knowledge is required early in the optometry course.

This unit builds on prior knowledge of cellular structure, anatomy and physiology from the first year of the optometry program.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe and apply detailed knowledge of the structure and functions of the anterior eye.
2. Discriminate between normal and abnormal ocular anatomy and function.
3. Describe and perform basic ocular tests that are used to assess anterior eye structure and function.
4. Demonstrate an introductory level of important generic skills such as effectively working in groups, information retrieval and communication and presentation skills.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit, you will learn by engaging in both lectures and practical workshops.  A formal lecture series will provide you with the theoretical understanding of the basic aspects of anatomy and physiology of the anterior eye.  This theoretical knowledge will be reinforced and extended for you in a practical program. Practical workshops will reinforce material presented in lectures. Practical tasks, clinical tools and skills, and computer-based activities will be used.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will gain feedback in this unit by participating in weekly interactive lectures, where you can self-assess your understanding of the material with quizzes.  Feedback will also be provided by the teaching staff of the unit for assessment items via both one-on-one feedback if requested or in class or online for general discussion of feedback.  The feedback that you receive during semester will assist your preparation for the final invigilated assessment and in Ocular Anatomy and Physiology 2 (OPB452).    

Assessment

Overview

There are three main assessments in this unit.

Assessment 1 is a practical assessment.  During the unit, you will attend 4 practical workshops and the first assessment task is conducted during these sessions, within weeks 3-11. This assessment is a practical assessment of peer-to-peer teaching and learning. The first phase of this assessment is as the teacher.  With a small group of fellow students, you will lead one practical session. You will work collaboratively and use your organisational and teamwork skills to research and learn about the tasks of the practical session, and then guide fellow students through the activities that need to be completed. In completing this task, you should take on the role of an optometrist in managing your team. The second phase of this assessment is as the learner.  For the three practicals that you are not running the session, you will actively participate in the practicals and complete a workbook under the guidance of the peer-teachers to reinforce your learning during the practical session. Optometrists often work closely with, and share knowledge and training with colleagues, and the ability to work collaboratively and engage in peer learning is an important skill to develop.

The second assessment task provides the opportunity for you to show the practical skills you have developed in identifying ocular structures and related physiological processes. In completing this task, you should take on the role of an optometrist in showing your high-level understanding of the eye.

The third assessment task will be held in the central exam period at the end of semester and will assess the depth of your understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the eye, a particular discipline area that informs the detection of pathology and understanding of potential mechanisms for ocular treatments.

Detailed information on each of these assessments is provided on the Canvas site. To assist your exam preparation a session that includes sample questions and how to tackle answering these questions is provided. Assessment items 2 and 3 are threshold assessments, where you are required to complete each assessment to a satisfactory level to pass the unit.

As part of Australian Optometry Core Competencies, optometrists are expected to integrate foundational knowledge such as ocular anatomy and physiology into their decision-making processes. Satisfactory performance in structure identification slide assessment and the end-of-semester examination is required for a passing grade to be awarded. This means that at least 50% must be obtained in the final exam. 

None of the assessment tasks in this unit meet the criteria for the automatic 48 hr extension.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practical participation assessment

The assessment will include giving a group presentation for one practical exercise and as an individual, complete a workbook to record your participation in the student-led practical sessions.

Assessment: Structure identification slide assessment

Assesses ability to detect, describe and differentiate ocular structures using images presented as slides..

Threshold Assessment:

For professional accreditation, students must be able to integrate foundational knowledge, such as Ocular Anatomy and Physiology, consistent with the Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry.  To pass this unit students must show satisfactory performance on this assessment item which is a mark =>50%. Students will be eligible for one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when their achieved mark is 40-49% for this assessment item. Students are advised to seek feedback on their performance from the unit coordinator prior to the reattempt. 

Assessment: Final examination (written)

End of semester examination, which includes short and long answer, and multiple-choice questions.

Threshold Assessment:

For professional accreditation, students must be able to integrate foundational knowledge, such as Ocular Anatomy and Physiology, consistent with the Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry.  To pass this unit students must show satisfactory performance on this assessment item which is a mark =>50%. Students will be eligible for one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when their achieved mark is 40-49% for this assessment item. Students are advised to seek feedback on their performance from the unit coordinator prior to the reattempt. 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Remington LA, Goodwin, D. (2022) Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System (4th Ed) St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier

Reference book(s)

Bron AJ, Tripathi RC, Tripathi BF (2001) Wolff's Anatomy of the Eye and Orbit (8th ed) Chapman and Hall, London, Arnold

Kaufman PL, Alm A (2011 (library E book) Adler's Physiology of the Eye: Clinical Application
(11th ed) Mosby Year Book, St Louis

Oyster CW (1999) The Human Eye Sinauer

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Entry-Level Competency Standards for Optometry 2014

1: Professional Responsibilities

1. 
   Relates to: Practical participation assessment , Structure identification slide assessment, Final examination (written)

3: Patient Examination

1. 
   Relates to: Practical participation assessment , Structure identification slide assessment

Course Learning Outcomes

OP45 Bachelor of Vision Science

1. Reflect and apply critical thinking, problem solving and analysis to generate optometric and vision science solutions in clinical and scientific settings.
   Relates to: Practical participation assessment , Structure identification slide assessment, Final examination (written)
2. Conduct effective ethical, culturally safe, and evidence-based clinical and technical ocular assessments that include data collection and experimental protocols.
   Relates to: Practical participation assessment