Course Objectives

• This subject deals with the basic components & scope of optometry, national and international associations of optometry, various optometric instrumentations, visual acuity charts, basics of retinoscopy and other refraction devices.

Course Outcomes

• At the end of the course students will be thorough in the following aspects:
  • Understand what is optometry as a profession and its scope in future
  • Awareness on terms used in optometry
  • Understand the purpose of different instruments used in optometry
  • Able to test visual acuity of people
  • Able to handle retinoscope comfortably
  • Understand the concept of vision screening
  

Course Syllabus

MODULE-I (1 hour)
History & Basic principles of optometry

MODULE-II (1 hour)
Optometry terminology
Components and Scope of Optometry

MODULE-III (1 hour)
Associations & groups for Optometry profession (state, national & international)

MODULE-IV (4 hours)
Components of visual assessment
Visual functions

Practice: Visual function assessment in the laboratory (2 hours)

MODULE-V (3 hours)
Introduction to optometry instruments
Vision Screening

Practice: Exploring different instrumentation in the laboratory (1.5 hours)

MODULE-VI (6 hours)
Visual acuity charts & Optotypes
Construction & testing standards
Trail box

Practice: Visual acuity testing of participants in the laboratory (2 hours)
Exploring the components of trail box in the laboratory (1 hour)

Workshop: Construction of visual acuity charts (1.5 hours)

MODULE-VII (6.5 hours)
Basics of Retinoscope
Optometers
Autorefractometers

Practice: Exploring retinoscopy methods and reflex characteristics in the laboratory (4 hours)

Session Plan

Session 1

History of optometry

Basic principles of optometry

Session 2

Optometry terminology

Components/Branches of optometry

Scope of optometry as a career

Session 3

State associations & groups for Optometry profession

National associations & groups for Optometry profession

International associations & groups for Optometry profession

Session 3

Basic components of visual assessment

Visual functions

Practice: Visual function assessment in the laboratory

Session 4

Introduction to optometry instruments

Practice: Exploring different instrumentation in the laboratory

Session 5

Vision Screening

Session 6

Introduction to different visual acuity charts & Optotypes

Visual acuity testing standards

Workshop: Visual acuity chart Construction
Practice: Visual acuity testing of participants in the laboratory

Session 7

Trail frame and trail box
Practice: Exploring the components of trail box in the laboratory

Phoropter - purpose, parts

Session 8

Retinoscope - types, parts & optics
Priniciple charecteristics of Retinoscopy
Practice: Exploring retinoscopy methods and reflex characteristics in the laboratory

Optometers and autorefractometers

Text books

1. Primary Care Optometry: Anomalies of Refraction and Binocular Vision, Book by Theodore P. Grosvenor
2. Borish's Clinical Refraction 2nd Editio, Book by William Benjamin