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

Knowledge and understanding
1. describe visual development in children and factors influencing the development
2. explain and identify clinical manifestations of common eye diseases in children
3. describe the progression of diseases and treatment methods for common eye diseases in children

Competence and skills
4. apply principles of differential diagnosis based on symptomatology and/or ocular manifestations
5. use age-appropriate selection of examination methods based on the condition, situation, and individual, and perform them with high quality
6. explain examinations and treatments for children with binocular anomalies and children with untreated binocular disorders that may lead to amblyopia
7. confirm and/or dismiss suspicions of eye diseases and/or ocular manifestations that may affect the visual development in children and refer when necessary

Judgement and approach

8. reflect on the need for adapted approaches in the care of children or individuals with special conditions and provide examples of considerations that should be taken
9. from a global health perspective, understand and evaluate the occurrence and differences in visual and refractive development among individuals.

The course covers various topics to provide students with knowledge of investigating and managing visual development in children. The theoretical aspects of the course deepen understanding of development, diseases, refraction, and congenital conditions in children.

Furthermore, the course involves active work in prioritizing and tailoring tests, self-evaluation with mandatory quizzes, and clinical practice in examining children.

In the course, students reflect on ethics and equal opportunities, aiming to provide information in a comprehensible and respectful manner considering the child's age and mental capacity. Students also learn to assess and evaluate the appropriateness of conducting examinations that may cause discomfort or risks for the child.

The course is divided into the following three modules:

The course includes self-studies, written assignments, and active participation in clinical training (VIL) and seminars. 

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

The course is examined in the following way:

Module 1, Scientific development, examines aim 1,2,3,6,8,9
a) compulsory written assignments
b) compulsory attendance with active participation in seminar
The module is graded U (Fail) or G (Pass). The grade G requires fulfillment of compulsory course elements according to instructions.

Module 2, Clinical work, examines aim 1-8
a) continuous examination of clinical proficiencies and patient care during VIL, is graded U or G
The module is graded as examination a, U or G.

Module 3, Theoretical understanding, examines aim 1-7
a) written examination, is graded U, G or VG (Pass with distinction)
The module is graded 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, 2 and 3.
The grade VG on the entire course requires G on module 1 and 2, as well as VG on module 3.

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.

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

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

Teaching in English may occur.