2016_SUNY_Optometry_PRR

As currently structured, this material is divided into two courses: CVL I (2.50 lecture hours in spring, second year) and CVL II (2.00 hours lecture and 1.25 hours lab, spring, third year). The retirement of the long ‐ time course coordinator presents an opportunity to review these courses, a process that the Curriculum Committee understands is currently being undertaken by the department chairs and dean. The hours devoted to this material could be reconfigured into two courses, one focused primarily on pediatric optometry and human and visual development ( Pediatric Optometry ) and another course on special populations, including low vision and possibly geriatric care ( Special Populations ). The latter course would require a lab, but for the purposes of low vision, not more than 5 hours are required. If Special Populations is taught during the spring semester of the third year, the material in the low vision section should be taught early in the course, prior to Part I of the NBEO. Anomalies of Visual Sensorimotor Function Exit surveys reveal that graduating students believe there is too much instruction in vision therapy. Anomalies of Visual Sensorimotor Functions is the largest in the curriculum, currently consisting of 4.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of lab per week. This amounts to about 72 hours of lectures and 40 hours of labs (assuming 16 instructional weeks). One possibility would be to include low vision material in the third ‐ year fall course currently called Anomalies of Visual Sensorimotor Functions and rename the course Visual Rehabilitation . It should be noted that a preliminary survey by the Chair (based on review of curricula posted on program websites) reveals that UCB, TOSU and UH all appear to devote about the same amount of time to this topic as does SUNY. Visual Function: Sensory Motor II This course, which covers binocular vision, is taught in the spring semester of the second year. Exit surveys reveal that graduating students believe there is too much instruction in binocular vision. The course consists of 2.50 lecture and 2.00 lab hours per week. Additional analysis would need to be conducted to determine how these hours compare to those at peer institutions. Summer, Third ‐ Year With the removal of Neuroanatomy to the first year, time may be available during this period. As stated previously, inclusion of the new material should not increase total student instructional time over the 4 ‐ year curriculum. Clinical Training Absent clinical experience with the concepts learned in class and lab, the low vision curriculum will not be able to meet its learning objectives. The clinical experience should consist of:  Low vision patient care in the Primary Care Clinic under the supervision of doctors who are experienced in such care and familiar with the low vision curricular learning objectives and content of the low vision didactic curriculum No more than the total amount of time currently allotted to CVL I and CVL II (4.50 lecture and 1.25 lab) is required for the new courses. If fact, it may be possible to reduce the student contact hours.

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