Studied the courses and topics offered at schools of optometry and the total hours devoted to managed care. Responses from the 17 schools of optometry reveal significant variations in curricular coverage of managed care, although a core set of materials was found to exist that could be the basis for more standard curriculum. (SLD)

Due to criticism that optometrists are not adequately trained to use drugs for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, the course of study taken by optometry students was compared to that taken by medical students in terms of faculty capability, courses content, and relationship to career needs.

A survey of 16 optometry schools found 12 had a required course or portion of a required course dedicated to teaching ethics. Classroom hours varied from 0 to 60; the median was 7. Topics covered varied. Courses were usually offered in the first and third years. Faculty were typically, though not exclusively, optometrists. (MSE)