MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science / Course details

This unit will provide participants with an understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of low-vision, and with a detailed knowledge of the rehabilitation strategies that are used, and how these are organised. Visual impairment as a disability will also be used to explore issues around equality, discrimination, exclusion and accessibility. Visual impairment will be used as the context in which to explore and evaluate basic, clinical and translational research.

By the end of the unit, students will have a detailed understanding of the following topics:

• What is low vision - impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction. Using the ICF. Taking a case history; CBS; registration and certification; impact on px and family; equality, accessibility and inclusion (the societal model of disability).
• How are LV Services organised in the UK? The multi-disciplinary context: Education and employment; Charities and commercial organisations; The Falls Service; Depression and mental health.
• Measuring visual performance (including videos); Cortical Visual Impairment.
  Incidence and aetiology of VI: in the UK and a global perspective.
• Management of central field loss (EV and PRL); Management of peripheral field loss.
• Lighting, contrast and glare; environmental and inclusive design; accessibility (part 2).
  Defining Magnification; predicting mag; acuity and contrast reserve; electronic magnification.
• Optical magnifiers: Plus lens magnifiers: spec-mounted, hand and stand: Telescopes.
  Measuring success: development and psychometric evaluation of PROMS.
  Sensory substitution.

• Online asynchronous lectures
• Online synchronous discussion groups
• Blended learning to include videos, directed reading, quizzes, discussion boards, case studies (all e-learning).

Students should be able to / should have:

• an understanding of the terminology used to describe low vision and visual impairment
• an understanding of the epidemiology and demography of low vision in the UK
• an understanding of low vision certification and registration for individuals
• an understanding of the impact of low vision, including emotional impact, on an individual and their community
• an understanding of the different impact that chronic and acute eye conditions have on the individual
• understand the different types and degree of visual impairment, how they are measured, and their functional consequences
• understand the principles underlying the different methods of vision enhancement, including optical and electronic magnification, and aids for field loss
• understand the importance of sensory substitution
• understand the organisation of the multidisciplinary care pathways for low vision service provision in the UK, and the certification/registration process
• describe how the effectiveness of low vision rehabilitation can be evaluated, and critically appraise the research literature.

Students should be able to:

• critically analyse and express complex ideas
• problem solve.

Students should be able to:

• design, plan and report an experiment.

Students should have:

• communication and presentation skills
• critical analysis skills
• an ability to reflect.

Feedback is provided in line with University policy,

This list consists mostly of general sources. Papers which relate to specific topics will be available on Blackboard.

• Low Vision Rehabilitation Caring for the Whole Person, edited by DC Fletcher, American Academy of Ophthalmology Ophthalmology Monographs. 1999
• Primary Low Vision Care, R Nowakowski, Appleton & Lange, 1994
• Low Vision: Principles and Practice, CM Dickinson, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998
• Optometry A-Z, edited by N Efron, Elsevier, 2006
• Low Vision Manual, edited by J Jackson and J Wolffsohn, Elsevier, 2006
• Eye Essentials: Low Vision Assessment J Macnaughton, Elsevier, 2005
• Low Vision: The Essential Guide for Ophthalmologists A Sinclair, B Ryan, H Robertson. Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, London, 2008
• Prescribing magnifiers for those with visual impairment, Chris Dickinson, Optometry Today, 26th Jan 2007 pp. 40-46
• Optical Aids for Low Vision, CM Dickinson, Chapter 10 pp. 183-228 In Vision and Visual Dysfunction Vol 1
• Visual Optics and Instrumentation, Ed WN Charman, Macmillan, 1991
• Managing Low Vision Patients – beyond magnifiers, Chris Dickinson, Optometry Today, 9th March 2007 pp. 56-60
• Remediation and Management of Low Vision RG Cole and BP Rosenthal Mosby-YearBook Inc 1996
• Functional Assessment of Low Vision, BP Rosenthal and RG Cole, Mosby-Year Book Inc, 1996
• The Art and Practice of Low Vision, PB Freeman and RT Jose, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1991
• Understanding Low Vision, RT Jose, American Foundation for the Blind, 1983
• Framework for a Multidisciplinary Approach to Low Vision College of Optometrists 2001