OPB550 Diseases of the Eye 5

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

A critical part of any eye examination is an assessment of ocular health. Optometrists are primary health care practitioners, and by far the majority of patients who require an eye examination consult an optometrist. Therefore, optometrists are at the forefront of the fight against eye disease, and they also play a major role in the detection of general or systemic diseases that cause ocular signs and symptoms. Extensive coverage of the topic of eye diseases therefore forms a major part of optometric studies. This unit builds on prior learning in disease processes, ocular anatomy and physiology, and visual science.

OPB550 focuses on building knowledge of diseases influencing the anterior eye.  Knowledge from this unit will be highly relevant to future units in the Master of Optometry (OP85) course involving clinical optometric practice and therapeutic management of eye disease.

This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Analyse and interpret clinical information to determine, detect and evaluate signs and symptoms of eye diseases and ocular conditions;
2. Apply knowledge to differentially diagnose eye diseases and ocular conditions secondary to systemic conditions;
3. Demonstrate knowledge of management plans for eye diseases and ocular conditions secondary to systemic conditions.

Content

Learning Approaches

There will be a series of lectures and tutorials each week. Interactive discussions, formulated around case based presentations are used throughout lectures and tutorials to support the lecture material and the acquisition of critical thinking skills. Clinical signs and symptoms are discussed, and differential diagnosis of conditions emphasised. Clinical investigative techniques are outlined, and management options in optometric practice discussed.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be provided opportunities for self-assessment of your understanding of the unit materials through the case-based examples and interactive quizzes during lectures and tutorials. Feedback will be provided from the academic teaching team regarding the assessment in the unit, with opportunity for one on one feedback, and general discussion of the assessment outcomes in class.

Assessment

Overview

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. The Faculty of Health Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

Case based scenarios will be used to assess student performance in the evaluation of signs, symptoms, differential diagnoses, formulation of diagnosis and management plans for presentations of eye disease and ocular conditions related to systemic conditions.

Threshold Assessment:

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. The Faculty Threshold Assessment Policy will apply where student performance in an assessment item is unsatisfactory.

Assessment: End of Semester Theory Exam

End-of semester theory examination. This will include knowledge based questions and questions requiring the integration of knowledge to solve clinically related case based problems in diseases of the eye.

Threshold Assessment:

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. 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

Reference book(s)

Bruce, A. S., Loughnan, M. S., (2003). Anterior Eye Disease and Therapeutics A-Z Oxford; N.Y.: Butterworth- Heinemann.

Kunimoto, D. Y., et al. (Eds). (2004). The Wills Eye Manual (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott & Co.

Salmon, J. F., Kanski, J.J. (2020). Kanski's clinical ophthalmology : a systematic approach (9th ed.). Edinburgh : Elsevier

Spalton, D. J., Hitching, R. A., & Hunter, P. A. (1994). Atlas of Clinical Ophthalmology (2nd ed.). London: Gower.

Yanoff, M., Duker, J.S. (Eds). 2018. Ophthalmology (5th Ed). Mosby-Elsevier

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: Problem Solving Task

4: Diagnosis and Management

1. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task
2. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, End of Semester Theory Exam

Course Learning Outcomes

OP45 Bachelor of Vision Science

1. Theoretical knowledge in optometry and vision science, introductory clinical and technical skills
   Relates to: End of Semester Theory Exam
2. Apply critical thinking and knowledge of vision science, ocular anatomy and clinical methods to generate solutions in clinical and scientific settings
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task
3. Articulate knowledge and problem solving to specialist and non specialist audiences through oral and written formats to standards expected by the profession
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task