Course syllabus for Measurement and treatment of common binocular problems

Mäta och behandla vanliga samsynsproblem

Specific entry requirements

Passed results of at least 55 credits from The Optometry programme's semester 1 and 2 and at least 45 credits from semester 3 and 4.

Students who have failed their VIL/VFU (clinical training opportunity) after demonstrating serious deficiencies in understanding, skill, or professional attitude, and done this to the degree that client or patient safety or client/ patient/ employer trust for the healthcare has been jeopardised, will qualify for a new VIL/VFU opportunity only after completion of an individual action plan.

Outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to

1. detect, measure and treat common vision problems
2. describe the most common binocular vision disorders and prevalence and norms
3. apply methods to examine binocular functions
4. account for visual rehabilitation for various types of binocular vision disorders, and have knowledge of binocular vision training, both classic and digital
5. demonstrate knowledge of which binocular vision measurements are important before and during myopia treatment
6. prescribe prisms for minor strabismus
7. demonstrate knowledge of cyclorefraction
8. demonstrate knowledge of the disciplinary research
9. collaborate with relevant healthcare providers regarding terminology, referrals, treatment and follow-up (IPL)

Content

Course content and structure

• Theoretical and practical review of measurements of binocular functions before school screening
• Screening of students in primary school
• Evaluation and follow-up after school screening
• Diagnostics and treatment of binocular vision disorder
• Relevant research of binocular vision, regarding the occurrence and treatment of binocular vision dirsorder

The course gives the student good knowledge of how the orthoptist works and how to write relevant referrals, and it highlights how opticians and orthoptists can work together for the benefit of the patient.

The course illustrates the workflow of how to discover, measure and treat the most common binocular vision problems, which are different types of accommodation and convergence problems, as well as less latent strabismus.

The school screening provides an opportunity to practice measurements of binocular vision, and to evaluate how common binocular visual disorders are in a regular school class. Furthermore, it also provides an opportunity to practice cyclorefraction.

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures, exercises and screening of students at a primary school.

Some course elements are compulsory, see heading "Examination".

Examination

The course is examined in the following way:

a) continuous examination of clinical proficiencies and patient care in connection with VIL, is graded U (Fail) or G (Pass)
b) compulsory quiz
c) compulsory written assignment

The course is graded U or G. The grade G requires G on examination a, as well as fulfillment of compulsory course elements according to instructions.

Absence from or unfullfillment of compulsory course element
The examiner decides whether, and if so how, absence from or unfulfillment of compulsory course elements can be made up for. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in or fulfilled compulsory course elements, or compensated for any absence/ failure to fulfill in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from or unfulfillment of a compulsory course element may imply that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Limited access to VIL (clinical training opportunity)
Regarding VIL, the number of times a student has the right to participate/go through the course and thus be assessed on the same is not limited. However, participation in VIL will only be offered on the condition that there is a place available in the course.

Guidelines in case of failure of VIL/VFU
The examiner may, with immediate effect, interrupt a student's clinical placement (or equivalent) if the student demonstrates such serious deficiencies in knowledge, skills or attitude that patient safety or patient confidence in healthcare is at risk. If a clinical placement is interrupted in this way the student is deemed to have failed that element and to have used up one clinical placement opportunity. In such cases, an individual action plan should be set up stating which activities and tests are required before the student is qualified for a new clinical placement on the course. The number of times a student has the right to undergo activities and knowledge checks according to the individual action plan is limited to two times.

Possibility of exception from the course syllabus' regulations on examination
If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected knowledge, skills and attitudes may not be changed, removed or reduced.

Transitional provisions

If the course is cancelled or goes through substantial changes, information about interim regulations will be stated here.

Other directives

Course evaluation takes place according to guidelines established by Karolinska Institutet. Compilation of the students' answers in course questionnaires and the course coordinator's analysis of these are published on KI's public course web.

Some teaching may be in English.

Literature and other teaching aids

• Scheiman, Mitchell; Wick, Bruce; Steinman, Barbara A., Clinical management of binocular vision: heterophoric, accommodative, and eye movement disorders, Fifth edition : Philadelphia, PA : Wolters Kluwer, [2020] - ix, 723 pages ISBN: 9781496399731, LIBRIS-ID: 0c2sjhr1x9bq65pq
• Evans, Bruce J. W.; Pickwell, David.t Binocular vision anomalies, Pickwell's binocular vision anomalies, 5. ed. /b Bruce J.W. Evans : Edinburgh ;a New York : Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, 2007 - 454 s. ISBN: 978-0-7506-8897-0, LIBRIS-ID: 10659509,
• Rutstein, Robert P., Anomalies of binocular vision: diagnosis & management, Daum, Kent Michael, St. Louis ; b Mosby, c cop. 1998 : Mosby, cop. 1998 - xv, 368 s. ISBN: 0-8016-6916-2, LIBRIS-ID: 5674465,
• Scheiman, Mitchell; Wick, Bruce; Steinman, Barbara A., Clinical management of binocular vision: heterophoric, accommodative, and eye movement disorders, Fifth edition : Philadelphia, PA : Wolters Kluwer, [2020] - ix, 723 pages ISBN: 9781496399731, LIBRIS-ID: 0c2sjhr1x9bq65pq