Among the faculty of Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, it is perceived that optometry students often enter their clinical assignments with poor clinical judgment. To address this, "Understanding the Cranial Nerves"--an online-self paced instructional intervention of approximately two hours' duration--was developed. In…

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)

A simulation of the decreased visual acuity of individuals with amblyopia is used in one optometry program to help students understand how amblyopia patients see. Students act as patient, then as doctor, proceeding through clinical diagnosis. (MSE)

Describes the innovative content and structure of an introductory course on clinical patient care at the Illinois College of Optometry. Critiques its success based on student grades and feedback, concluding that it was successful in imparting skills of data analysis but had minimal impact on students' ability to empathize with patients. (EV)

Considerations to be made in designing an optometry curriculum for treating patients with eye diseases are reviewed, including the scope of practice and specific areas of instruction in the biomedical, basic vision, and clinical vision sciences. (MSE)

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)

Aspects of laboratory preparation necessary for undergraduate or graduate optometric training in the use of therapeutic drugs are discussed, including glaucoma therapy, anterior segment techniques, posterior segment, and systemic procedures. (MSE)

A model for a geriatric optometry curriculum that defines key content areas and addresses the values essential for effective practice and basic therapeutic modalities used in treatment regimens with older adults is outlined. (MSE)

Design issues in development of InSight software for optometric education include choice of hardware, identification of audience, definition of scope and limitations of content, selection of user interface and programing environment, obtaining user feedback, and software distribution. Pedagogical issues include practicality and improvement on…

A national survey of schools of optometry suggests that acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) needs to be more thoroughly addressed in some curricula. Suggestions are made for curriculum development in the areas of public health, basic coursework, immunology, clinical medicine, psychology, ocular manifestations, and contact lenses. (MSE)

Research on professionals' interpersonal skills is reviewed as a basis for selecting material for inclusion in an optometry program. Specific recommendations are made about skills necessary for enhancing patient relationships, obtaining information from patients, and providing information to patients. (MSE)

The rationale and development of the University of Houston College of Optometry's revised practice management curriculum are discussed, and the curriculum is outlined. It focuses on development of competence in communications, data management, ethics, practice management, and public health practice. (MSE)

The design and evaluation of an optometry practice management course at Hong Kong Polytechnic are described. The course includes lectures and small group projects on specific ethics and management topics. A survey of participants found they preferred group projects, with elements of peer teaching and seminar approaches, to traditional lectures.…

These lesson plans and study guides for a secondary/postsecondary level course in optometry comprise one of a number of military-developed curriculum packages selected for adaptation to vocational instruction and curriculum development in a civilian setting. The purpose stated for the 128-hour course is to train students in basic ocular anatomy…