The OD Curriculum
Berkeley Optometry makes a major contribution to the field of health care by training skilled practitioners through a curriculum that is continuously updated to reflect the latest in research and clinical training. We are dedicated to keeping pace with the expanding field of optometry and the profession's move toward a more extensive health science model of primary care.
As you look through the course descriptions in our Curriculum, you will see the depth and range of study and training offered by our Optometry program. One exciting and effective approach is introducing our students to clinical education from the first day.
For example, Optometry 200A (Clinical Examination of the Visual System; Fall semester) is taught in the first semester of the program, when you will learn how to take case histories, perform preliminary examinations of the eye, and measure refractive error. By the spring of your first year, Optometry 200B (Clinical Examination of the Visual System; Spring semester) will introduce you to advanced examination techniques. These clinical procedures will be complemented by course work in biology, optics, and pharmacology. We have found that this early introduction to the clinical examination, combined with basic science courses, makes the learning of optometry interesting and relevant. Please look at our curriculum and see for yourself how we integrate clinical and basic science from the beginning.
First-Year Curriculum
- Optometry 200A: Clinical Examination of the Visual System Two hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Fundamentals of the optometric examination. Case history, visual acuities, objective and subjective methods of determining refractive status. Basic examination of anterior ocular structures and the ocular fundus, perimetry. (5 units)
- Vision Science 203A: Geometrical Optics Three hours of lecture, one 2-hour laboratory, and one 1-hour discussion per week. Geometrical methods applied to the optics of lenses, mirrors, and prisms. Thin lens eye models, magnification, astigmatism, prism properties of lenses, thick lenses. (4 units)
- Vision Science 205: Visual Perception and Sensitivity Three and one-half hours of lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Psychophysical basis for clinical tests in acuity, perimetry, and color vision. The visual stimulus and photometry. Visual receptors. Psychophysical method and visual threshold. Light sensitivity. Contrast sensitivity. Light and dark adaptation. Temporal and spatial properties of visual function. Color vision and abnormalities. Changes with age and disease. Visual illusion. Basis for advanced diagnostic procedures. (4.5 units)
- Vision Science 206A: Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye Four hours of lecture for seven and one-half weeks. This course focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the eyeball. Overview of the gross anatomy of the eye followed by eye-relevant cellular and molecular biology. Cellular and molecular details of structure and function of each of the various non-neural components. (2 units)
- Vision Science 206D. Neuroanatomy/Neurophysiology of the Eye & Visual System Four hours of lecture for seven and one-half weeks. Prerequisites: 206A (must be taken concurrently). Formerly half of 206A. Structure and function of the neurosensory retina, photoreceptors, RPE including blood supply. Current concepts of etiology and management of major retinal conditions. Overview of diagnostic techniques in retinal imaging, electrophysiologic testing and new genetic approaches. Structure and function of the early visual pathway including retinal ganglion cells, optic nerves, lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex. Pupillary responses. Specialization in the visual cortex. (2 units)
Second-Year Curriculum
- Optometry 200C. Clinical Examination of the Visual System Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: 200B. Case analysis of refractive, accommodative, and binocular anomalies. Pediatric examination techniques. Advanced methods of examining the peripheral ocular fundus, anterior chamber angle evaluation. (4 units)
- Optometry 222A. Optics of Ophthalmic Lenses Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Vision Science 203A and Vision Science 203B. Optical and physical characteristics of ophthalmic lenses, to include spheric and aspheric surface of single and multifocal lens designs, and ophthalmic prisms. Lens power measurement methods, lens thickness power relationships and considerations in designing prescription eyewear. Characteristics of absorptive lenses, ophthalmic coatings, lens materials, and their role in ocular protection. (4 units)
- Optometry 226A. Systemic Pharmacology Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Prerequisites: Vision Science 206D. Basic pharmacology, terminology, and concepts (both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic) and pharmacotheraphy of medical conditions commonly encountered in clinical optometric practice (including cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, infection and inflammatory conditions, as well as central nervous system disorders). (2.5 units)
- Optometry 236A. Systemic Disease and Its Ocular Manifestations Two hours of lecture and two hours of discussion per week. Prerequisites: 200D. The pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, and clinical management of systemic and ocular diseases will be discussed through a combination of lecture and problem-based learning approaches. Disease processes will be emphasized and include cellular injury and repair, inflammation, infection, degeneration, and neoplasia. Neurologic, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, and congenital disease and their relative ocular manifestations will be presented. (3 units)
- Optometry 270B. Eyecare Business and Professional Management II One hour of lecture per week. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisites: 270A. Patient scheduling, patient communication, systems design and office flow, accounting and finance in an optometric setting, fee computation techniques. (1 unit)
- Vision Science 215. Infant Vision Two hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: Vision Science 206B. Development of the eye and the visual system. Normal development of the eye, retina, and central visual pathways. Effects of visual deprivation. Assessment of optical and visual function in human infants. Refraction and refractive error in infants and children. Development of visuomotor function, spatial vision, color vision, binocular vision, and depth perception. (2 units)
Third-Year Curriculum
- Optometry 241. Advanced Management & Rehabilitation of Sensory/Motor Anomalies Two and one-half hours of lecture and eight 2-hour laboratories per week. Prerequisite: Optometry 240. Advanced diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of strabismus, neurologic oculomotor disorders, amblyopia, and other associated sensory anomalies. Assessment and management of developmental and acquired visual perceptual disorders in relationship to learning disabilities. Design and implementation of treatment programs. (3 units)
- Optometry 246. Diagnosis and Treatment of Anterior Segment Ocular Disease Prerequisite: Optometry 236. Four hours of lecture per week. This course series consists of the pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, and clinical management of systemic and ocular disease through a combination of lectures and problem-based learning approaches. Disease processes will be emphasized and include cellular injury and repair, inflammation, infection, degeneration, and neoplasia. Neurologic, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, and congenital disease and their relative ocular manifestations will be presented. The basic principles of pharmacology will be followed by overviews of drugs used to treat diseases of each system. The role of the optometrist in the health care system will be emphasized. (4 units)
- Optometry 251. Low Vision Two and one-half hours of lecture per week. Epidemiology and etiology of low vision. Optical principles of low vision aids. Optometric examination and treatment of the low vision patient. Interdisciplinary rehabilitation resources, counseling, and referral. (2.5 units)
- Optometry 430B. Optometry Clinic Two hours of seminar per week and a minimum of 18 hours of clinic per week. Prerequisites: 430A. Examination of patients in a primary care setting, prescribing of optometric therapy, management of emergency procedures, and vision screenings of children and adults. (9 units)
- Optometry 435. Advanced Procedures in Ocular Disease Diagnosis 1 hour of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Opt 200D. Instrumentation, techniques, and principles for examination, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular disease. Introduction to optometric informatics related to ocular disease. (2 units)
Fourth-Year Curriculum
- Optometry 440B. Advanced Optometry Clinic Two hours of seminar per week and a minimum of 22 hours of clinic per week. Prerequisites: 440A and 441A. Examination of patients in a primary care setting. Diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, patient management and follow-up. (9 units)
- Optometry 441B. Specialty Clinics Minimum of 15 to 20 hours of clinic per week. Prerequisites: Optometry 440A and Optometry 441A. Examination, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and/or management of patients in specialty clinics; ocular disease, contact lenses, binocular vision, ophthalmic optics, and environmental and occupational vision. (7 units)
- Optometry 450A. Grand Rounds and Seminar Two hours of discussion per week. Must be taken on a passed/not passed basis. Prerequisite: Optometry 430C. Presentation of clinical cases demonstrating basic and advanced optometric care, including diagnosis, treatment, and patient management. (2 units)