Course Descriptions
VISC 5010 Fundamentals of Vision Science: Afferent System
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the anatomy/physiology of the human central nervous system as it relates to the sensation of vision. Testing parameters used in the afferent visual system examination will be discussed. Recent developments in perimetry, clinical psychophysics, and electrophysiology will be explored.
FORMAT: Lecture
VISC 5011 Fundamentals of Vision Science: Efferent System
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course is designed to provide the student with knowledge of eye movements and the neurological control of ocular motility. Through lecture, discussion, and assigned readings, the student will analyze and determine how abnormalities of ocular motility can be indicators of a disease process and its area of localization.
FORMAT: Lecture
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5010.03
VISC 5020 Physical and Visual Optics
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will analyze physical, optical and ophthalmic principles, with an emphasis on the measurement of light and on its behaviour in image formation. Visual optics in physical, schematic and human modalities will be investigated critically in experiment and clinical venues.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES: This course is a prerequisite for the Therapeutic and Psychosocial Aspects of Low Vision, Treatment of Visual Disorders, and Treatment of Ocular Motility disorders.
VISC 5031 Introduction to Research Theory and Practice for Vision Sciences
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Students will acquire theoretical and practical skills to conduct a research undertaking in vision science. Scope of human inquiry, methodologies of interpretative and critical investigation, sampling and data analysis will be discussed in the clinical visual health sciences environment. Basic skills in the application of computer-based tools (SPSS) will be developed.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: Online lectures and interactive student participation
VISC 5040 Neuropharmacology for Vision Science: Basic Concepts and Therapeutics
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will consider the general principles of pharmacology before exploring the interaction pharmacology agents with the central nervous system and ocular structures. Medications used in the evaluation and treatment of ophthalmic disorders, along with medications used to treat systemic disorders that may produce ocular side effects, will be emphasized.
FORMAT: Lecture
VISC 5200 Practicum I
CREDIT HOURS: 6
This practicum period of 14 weeks following the first two semesters of study provides the student with the opportunity to participate in direct ophthalmic patient care. The student will consolidate the concepts, theories and skills previously learned while providing supervised vision care for clients in a clinic setting.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: Clinical Practicum
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5210.03,
VISC 5211.03 and
VISC 5230.03
VISC 5210 Clinical Foundations of Ophthalmic Medical Technology
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will introduce the student to the complexities of analysis of the visual system. This will be achieved through clinical scenarios in which the student will be required to engage in direct patient care, including sensory visual evaluation, physical ocular assessment, and biomedical application of ophthalmic instrumentation.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5010.03 to be taken concurrently
VISC 5211 Clinical Foundations of Orthoptics
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will introduce the student to the wonders of binocular vision in its normal presentation and also the intricacies of its abnormalities. Integral to the course material will be the analysis of responses of the binocular system to various clinical challenges.
FORMAT:
COREQUISITES:
VISC 5010.03
PREREQUISITES: This course is a prerequisite for Practicum I
VISC 5222 Advanced Ophthalmic Technology for Clinical Vision Science
CREDIT HOURS: 6
This course provides knowledge on advanced ophthalmic diagnostic techniques and preliminary data analysis used to detect ophthalmic disorders. It furthers a systematic approach to instrumentation selection and performance, and will equip students with the ability to recognize and solve inconsistencies in results occurring due to instrumentation, examiner or patient errors.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5210.03
VISC 5230 Extraocular Motility Disorders
CREDIT HOURS: 3
Extraocular motility disorders and their treatment form the foundation for the understanding of ocular misalignment. In this course, anomalies of eye movement will be analyzed and the etiology will be reviewed. Emphasis, though, will be placed on the clinical presentation, formulation of diagnosis, and patient prognosis of anomalous extraocular motility.
FORMAT: Lecture
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5010.03 to be taken concurrently
VISC 5240 Therapeutic and Psychosocial Aspects of Low Vision
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course encompasses a broad spectrum of visual impairments. The pathphysiological basis, clinical manifestations, and treatment modalities of visual loss will be addressed.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5020.03
VISC 5300 VISC: Practicum II
CREDIT HOURS: 6
This intensive practicum period of 22 weeks follows the completion of all course work. During this practicum students will have the opportunity to fully synthesize their academic and clinic knowledge. Upon completion students will be prepared to sit the orthoptic and ophthalmic medical technologist certification exams.
FORMAT: Other (explain in comments)
FORMAT COMMENTS: Clinical Practicum
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5200.06 and
VISC 5330.03
VISC 5310 Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease
CREDIT HOURS: 3
The eye is a window through which manifestations of neurological, vascular infectious, inflammatory, and general systemic disease can be evaluated. This course will explore the signs and symptoms of ocular dysfunction as precursors, indicators and consequences of systemic disease that must be evaluated for optimal healthcare.
FORMAT: Lecture
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5011.03
VISC 5330 Treatment of Ocular Motility Disorders
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will examine and discuss the management of ocular motility anomalies. An overview of historical and current treatment modalities both surgical and non-surgical will be discussed. Emphasis will be given to the determination and application of appropriate management plans in case scenarios.
FORMAT: Lecture
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5020.03 and
VISC 5230.03
VISC 5340 Treatment of Visual Disorders
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course introduces a variety of therapeutic approaches to visual disorders with an in depth examination of historical and current methods of treating amblyopia and other developmental anomalies of the visual system. The treatment of acquired anomalies as well as routine spectacle and surgical treatment of refractive disorder will be covered.
FORMAT:
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5240.03 and
VISC 5020.03
VISC 5350 Topics of Vision Care
CREDIT HOURS: 3
This course will provide students with an opportunity to explore in depth topics of interest in the ophthalmic field. The students will then have a sound knowledge base of potential areas of research and detailed knowledge of the field in which his/her thesis work will likely be undertaken.
FORMAT: Seminar
PREREQUISITES:
VISC 5210.03 and
VISC 5222.06.
VISC 9000 MSc Thesis
CREDIT HOURS: 0