This module introduces the students to the essential components of the routine optometric examination and develops the students’ clinical skills in these clinical procedures. An understanding of the science underlying the clinical techniques will be gained, as will an understanding of the factors affecting the results of clinical procedures and thus their effectiveness. Alternative strategies will be discussed and clinical decision making and problem solving skills based on results will begin to be developed. These will be reinforced and further developed in the Clinical Practice modules in stages 3 and 4. The aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of both the theory and practical expertise in clinical techniques forming the core components of the optometric examination, prior to entering clinical practice subjects in stages 3 and 4.
- Case history, communicating with patients.
- Headaches and blurred vision.
- Clinical visual acuity measures.
- Preliminary (entrance) screening tests.
- Cover test, near point of convergence, motility, pupillary reflexes, confrontation visual field testing.
- Monocular subjective refraction.
- Spherical, refraction in astigmatism, verifying monocular endpoints; Binocular balancing and binocular endpoints Bi-ocular and binocular refraction, Control of accommodation, Pinhole and stenopaeic slit.
- Accommodation.
- Clinical considerations, hyperopia, total and available accommodation, presbyopia and near additions, near subjective refraction and astigmatism at near.
- Slit lamp biomicroscopy.
- Examination methods for anterior eye.
- Ophthalmoscopy.
- Image formation in emmetropia and ametropia, magnification and field of view, clinical applications.
- Tonometry.
- Referral letters.
- Practice security.
- Record keeping.
- The CORU Optical Registration Board Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Optometrists
- The CORU Standards of Proficiency for Optometrists covered wholly or in part by this module are in the following domains: 2. Communication, 3. Collaborative Practice and Teamworking, 4. Safety and Quality and 5. Professional Knowledge and Skills
Lectures, practicals, computer-based learning, readings and self-directed learning
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 60 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 40 |