Optometry

Curriculum

• Optics, spectacle lenses, technology, and optical workshop

  You will gain knowledge about optics, how to calculate the power of a lens or an entire eye which is the foundation for understanding the treatment options for patients with eye conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

  Here you gain in-depth knowledge of spectacle lenses and frames and learn to advise patients based on their individual needs while ensuring quality. 

  A large part of this teaching takes place while you are in internship, and consists of learning how to measure spectacle lenses, fit spectacle lenses into a frame and adjust spectacles so that they fit the patient. 

• Biostatistics, epidemiology, and scientific methods

  Here you are introduced to scientific methods used in health science research, including various types of data, how to choose the appropriate statistical test, and how to interpret outcome from statistical software. Furthermore, you are introduced to qualitative research methods, epidemiology, various study designs, systematic search for scientific literature, and critical appraisal of literature.  

  These skills are brought to use both when assessing patient data and for the bachelor project to design, carry-out, analyse, and communicate results.

• Human Science

  You gain knowledge about the human body, including nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems, which is essential for understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other common diseases which may impact eye health. You gain knowledge about the disease patterns, risk factors, symptoms and signs, and prognosis of diseases both treated and untreated. Additionally, you gain knowledge about infectious diseases and hygiene which is essential when examining patients in the eye clinic.

• Legislation and trade

  During the internship your primary function is as a healthcare professional (optometrist), but you are also a salesperson, as your patients also buy glasses or contact lenses from you. During your internship, you learn how to exercise both roles professionally.   

  You must provide healthcare in accordance with evidence-based standards and be knowledgeable about legislation and regulation related to purchase, sale, warranty, and guarantee to provide optimum healthcare solution customised to every individual. You also need to know when and how to refer patient to other healthcare professionals such as general practitioners and ophthalmologists.

• Ocular pathology and pharmacology

  You learn about systemic and eye diseases which affect the anterior and posterior segment of the eye. You will gain knowledge about age-related conditions such as cataract, dystrophies of the optical media, retinal neurogenerative diseases such as age-related macular disease and retinitis pigmentosa. You will acquire the necessary clinical skills to diagnose these conditions, and gain knowledge of prognosis, and treatment options including how pharmacologic agents work, their impact on the decease, and the side-effects.

• Optometry

  Optometry is divided into refraction, binocular vision and low vision, and contact lenses and all three subgroups are included in both the theoretical semesters and in internship.

  Refraction is the foundation for the binocular vision and contact lenses, and it provides you with skill to determine the optical power of spectacle lenses for patient with farsightedness, near-sightedness, and/or astigmatism. Additionally, you gain knowledge about prevalence, clinical signs and symptoms, prognoses, and treatment alternative for these conditions. Furthermore, you gain insight about presbyopia and how to correct it with spectacle lenses.

   

  In binocular vision you learn how to examine, diagnose, and treat patients with disturbances that interfere with the coordination between the eyes, including optical solutions and oculomotor training.

   

  In contact lenses you learn how to examine patients for the eligibility for contact lenses, assess eye health and the impact of contact lenses on eye health, to determine the optimum type of contact lenses and how to modify prescription when required.

   

  In all three subgroups patient communication is essential for optimum outcome.

• Visual science

  Visual science consists of Anatomy and physiology of the eye and Visual optics.

   

  In Anatomy and physiology of the eye you will gain an in-depth understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the eye including the near reflex, the optic media, the retinal translation of light input to nervous impulses which are processed in the visual cortex. You will gain knowledge about the how the nervous system initiates and coordinates eye movement. Furthermore, you are introduced to visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and colour vision, and psychophysical methods used to assess these aspects of vision.

   

  In Visual optics you gain knowledge about physical geometrical optics which provide you with an understanding of how the shape and structure of spectacle lenses and optical components in the eye influence on vision. This provides you with an in-depth understanding on refraction anomalies and how to correct it with spectacle lenses and contact lenses. It further provides you with understanding of customised optical solution for patients with rare eye conditions such as high farsightedness in one eye.