Pediatric optometry, 7.5 credits

Degree of Bachelor of Science in Optometry about 180 credits and professional status qualification as optician with contact lens qualification. Or Nurse degree of at least 180 credits, professional status qualification as nurse and 60 credits supplementation within eye care.

Knowledge in Swedish and English equivalent Swedish B/ Swedish 3 and English A/ English 6 (with lowest grade Passed).

Students who have failed their VIL (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 opportunity only after completion of an individual action plan.

After the course, the student should be able to
1) describe the vision development of children and use examination methodology in relation to the age and mental capacity of the child
2) take care of (examine, treat optometrically, and refer) children with eye diseases and other medical conditions affecting the eyes
3) take care of (examine, treat optometrically, and refer) children that run risk to develop or that have binocular disturbances
4) describe and carry out additional tests of children with reading and writing disabilities.

The course contains the following parts: visual development, eye diseases and ocular manifestations, examination methodology, binocular vision, children and contact lenses, vision dimness technique and children and screening. Apart from this, the course also covers diagnostic medication and its use during examination of children.

The course is divided into the following two modules:

Includes submission and passed written assignments and completed clinical work.

Comprises a theoretical understanding and application of the subject-specific contents of the course.

The course contains VIL (clinical training) , self-studies, theoretical overview and demonstrations. The theoretical overview is made through different tuition forms (case methodology, lectures etc). The students are given a possibility to train practical skills but must take a great responsibility themselves.

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

The course is examined in the following way:

Module 1, Written assignments and clinical work, examines aim 1-4
a) written assignments, each graded U (Fail) or G (Pass)
b) compulsory attendance and active participation in VIL (clinical training)
The module is graded U or G.
The grade G requires G on all written assignments as well as fulfillment of compulsory course elements.

Module 2, Theoretical understanding, examines aim 1-4
a) written examination, is graded U, G or VG (Pass with distinction)
The module is given the same grade as the written examination, U, G or VG.

Course grade
The entire course is graded U, G or VG. 
The grade G on the entire course requires G on module 1 and 2.
The grade VG requires G on module 1 and VG on module 2.
 
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.

Guidelines in case of failure of VIL
The examiner may, with immediate effect, interrupt a student's VIL (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.

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.

The course is cancelled and was offered for the last time in the spring semester of 2024. Examination will be provided until the spring of 2026 for students who have not completed the course. As from the fall of 2026, examination will be provided according to guidelines in the syllabus that applies at the time in question.

Course evaluation takes place according to guidelines established by Karolinska Institutet.

Teaching in English may occur.