OPB654 Ocular Pharmacology

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Optometrists have achieved a legislative framework that enables them to use pharmaceutical agents both in the examination of the eye and in the treatment of eye disease. This unit relates pharmacological principles to the eye and ocular conditions. You will gain an understanding of how pharmaceutical agents are used to examine the eye and to treat eye diseases.

You will develop knowledge of ocular pharmacology, an area of pharmacology that informs the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of ocular pathology. You will learn how to safely use and apply diagnostic agents utilised in the ocular examination. You will improve your ability to source relevant information, critically assess clinical trial studies, and enhance your communication skills by analyzing a case scenario and giving a presentation.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Safely and appropriately use ocular diagnostic agents.
2. Explain and apply essential pharmacological principles and terminology to the eye.
3. Compare and contrast the mechanisms of drugs used in either ocular diagnosis or therapy.
4. Collaborate effectively with peers and in teams to digitally research and resolve clinical problems.
5. Communicate in an adaptive and professional manner when advising patients, collaborating with team members, and presenting to academics and peers.

Content

Learning Approaches

There will be a series of face-to-face lectures, online materials, and practical activities related to the use of diagnostic ocular agents. Students will develop knowledge of ocular pharmacology, a particular area of pharmacology that informs the diagnosis of and therapeutic treatment of ocular pathology. Students will enhance their teamwork skills during the group practical tasks and the case-based scenario assessment. Students' ability to source, assess and present clinically relevant material will be developed.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Quizzes to allow students to review their own learning will be provided using online interactive computer applications. Students can use these quizzes to review the information presented and gain feedback on their understanding of the lecture materials. Feedback will be provided from the academic teaching team regarding the assessment in the unit, with opportunity for individual feedback, and general discussion of the assessment outcomes. Summative feedback on practical skills assessment will be provided. Summative feedback on the case scenario assessment task will be provided using Turnitin. Individual performance feedback will be provided on the end-of-semester examination using Canvas and collective class feedback based on topic themes provided.

Assessment

Overview

You will be given the opportunity to ask questions in lecture and practical sessions. Online quizzes will allow students to review their own learning.

Your summative assessment consists of three main tasks.

Throughout the semester you will attend four practical sessions. You will, with a small group of fellow students, lead one practical session. You will work collaboratively and use your organisational and teamwork skills to guide fellow students through the activities that need to be completed. Optometrists often work in a team situation and delegate tasks to practice staff; this is an important skill to develop. In completing this task, you should take on the role of an optometrist in managing your team. To reinforce your learning during the practical session you will complete a short quiz on the tasks that were completed.

In the second assessment task you will be given a therapeutic case scenario, your task is to determine the best treatment plan and how to communicate this to the patient. You will work with your team to research the condition, find evidence on appropriate treatments, their relative efficacy and safety, and develop the best course of action. You will submit this as a group written report and give a short presentation to fellow students, both to improve your verbal communication and presentations skills and as a peer learning exercise. In considering your communication strategy you will consider how to encourage adherence to the suggested management. You will individually reflect on how you contributed to the team, how your team works skills are developing and your academic contribution to this task.

The third assessment task will be held in the central exam period at the end of semester. This written exam will assess the depth of your understanding of the ocular pharmacology of both diagnostic and therapeutic agents and drug 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.

Satisfactory performance in the end of semester exam 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. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

None of these assessment tasks meet the criteria for the automatic 48 hr extension.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Practical

The assessment will include leading one practical session and answering questions related to the practical.

Assessment: Group Assignment

The group task is to analyse an optometric therapeutic case i.e., a patient with an eye condition seeking your advice and treatment. Your task as a group will be to determine the best treatment plan and what advice you need to provide the patient about the treatment you are planning to prescribe. You will need to show your understanding of how to choose the best treatment for the patient and how to communicate this in a concise and easily understandable way. The task includes a short-written report and presentation to the class.

Report length 750 (+/- 10%) words + references + 5 slides for use in the presentations + 200 (+/- 10%) word individual reflection.  10-minute group oral presentation.

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

This will involve a written examination encompassing your understanding of pharmacologic principles applied to the eye, mechanisms of ocular drugs, their effects, side effects and application. The exam paper includes multiple choice questions (MCQ) and short answer questions (SAQ).

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance on the end-semester exam 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. The Faculty Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Fraunfelder, Frederick T., 1934- author.; Fraunfelder, F. W. (Frederick W.), author.; Chambers, Wiley A., author.; Jensvold-Vetsch, Bree, editor.; W; author (2021). Drug-induced ocular side effects. Seventh edition. 2015.(8th ed).  London : Elsevier/Saunders

Jimmy D Bartlett, Siret D Jaanus (Eds.). (2008) Clinical ocular pharmacology (5th ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier

Ohia, Sunny E.; Sharif, N. A. (Najam Arfeen) (Eds.). (2022). Handbook of basic and clinical ocular pharmacology and therapeutics. London : Academic Press.

Onofrey, Bruce E.; Skorin, Leonid, Jr.;  Holdeman, Nicky R.; (Eds.). (2020). Ocular therapeutics handbook : a clinical manual. Third Edition. 2011.(4th ed.).  Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Roy, Fraunfelder, Fraunfelder (2008). Roy and Fraunfelder's current ocular therapy (6th ed.). Elsevier Saunders New York

Velpandian, Thirumurthy. editor. Pharmacology(Ed) (2016). Pharmacology of Ocular Therapeutics. 1st(1st ed. 2016.)  Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Adis

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

4: Diagnosis and Management

1. 
   Relates to: Group Assignment
2. 
   Relates to: Practical, Group Assignment, Examination (Theory)

Course Learning Outcomes

OP45 Bachelor of Vision Science

1. Theoretical knowledge in optometry and vision science, introductory clinical and technical skills
   Relates to: Examination (Theory)
2. Apply critical thinking and knowledge of vision science, ocular anatomy and clinical methods to generate solutions in clinical and scientific settings
   Relates to: Group Assignment
3. Apply clinical or technical skills to conduct a safe and effective assessment, data collection, experimental protocol
   Relates to: Practical
4. Articulate knowledge and problem solving to specialist and non specialist audiences through oral and written formats to standards expected by the profession
   Relates to: Group Assignment