OPB451 Visual Science 2

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Optometrists assess the visual function of their patients as part of an eye examination. This enables them to characterise a patient's vision, determine whether ocular or systemic diseases are present, and make recommendations regarding prescription options. A working knowledge of visual science forms the basis for understanding these measurement processes and thus underpins the principles of optometric practice.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Recognise the basic concepts underpinning the psychophysical principles of vision.
2. Evaluate visual functions and interpret and analyse resulting data collected.
3. Identify tests commonly used to evaluate human vision and characterise visual functions in eyes with and without disease.

Content

Learning Approaches

There will be a lecture scheduled weekly and a practical session scheduled throughout the semester. The practical program will provide you with experience of measurement techniques and phenomena discussed in lectures. The practical workshops will be conducted online or face-to-face depending on the content to provide a balance between flexible learning environments and hands-on experiences. Optional tutorials will be run as required.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Lecture sessions include review of previous lecture material for feedback on your understanding.

You will receive written feedback from academics on summative assessments. The assignments will be returned to you within 15 days of the date of submission with feedback as required.

The unit coordinator, lecturers, and tutors will be available during their lectures and practical sessions, or via e-mail to answer your questions.

Assessment

Overview

There are 3 summative assessment items in this unit.

Formative assessment will include class discussions during practical and lecture sessions. The unit coordinator will be available during their lectures and practical sessions, or via e-mail to answer your questions.

Satisfactory performance in each of the assessment items is a condition for passing this unit. This means that at least 50% must be obtained on the end of semester examination for a passing grade to be awarded.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practicals

The assessment will include short answer questions (20%) based on the theoretical and practical material covered during the practical classes.

Vision tests learnt in the practical classes are directly transferable to clinical settings, thereby enhancing your optometry career development and employability upon graduation. Additionally, digital skills acquired for data analysis (e.g., software proficiency) will be relevant in clinical and research settings, enabling efficient organisation and analysis of patient records and data. Trained vision scientists will guide you through the vision assessments during the practical sessions and also review your submissions.

Assessment: Mid-semester Practical Slide Assessment

One (1) hour mid semester practical slide assessment. It includes slides from the lecture and practical workshop materials and you will be required to complete short answer questions related to the slides (50 marks). One-minute working time is allocated for each mark.

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

End of semester theory paper. It is a two (2) hour examination covering both the lecture and practical materials and including essay style questions (120 total marks). You are expected to provide comprehensive and analytical answers.

Threshold Assessment:

For professional accreditation, students must be able to integrate foundational knowledge, such as vision assessment, 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. Students will not be eligible for a reattempt if their overall grade in the unit is a failing grade. 

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)

Goldstein EB. (1996). Sensation and Perception. Brooks/Cole.

Hart WA. (1992). Adler's Physiology of the Eye (9th ed.). Mosby Year Book.

Schwartz SH. (2004). Visual perception: a clinical orientation (3rd ed.). Appleton and Lange.
Birch J. (2001). Diagnosis of defective colour vision (2nd ed.). Butterworth Heinemann.

Risk Assessment Statement

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

Course Learning Outcomes

OP45 Bachelor of Vision Science

1. Apply scientific knowledge and core skills of vision science and optometry.
   Relates to: Examination (Theory)
2. Reflect and apply critical thinking, problem solving and analysis to generate optometric and vision science solutions in clinical and scientific settings.
   Relates to: Practicals, Mid-semester Practical Slide Assessment