This course provides fundamental knowledge of normal human structure and function through lectures and guided laboratory activities. Students are given an overview of the entire human body, with an emphasis on head and neck anatomy in the laboratory activities. Three-dimensional relationships on head and neck structures are reinforced by reviewing prosected cadaver specimens, images, and models.

Credits: 3.5

This course focuses on the structure function relationships of the eye in regard to biomolecules, metabolism, and cell biology.

Credits: 1.5

This course will introduce first year optometry, dental, pharmacy, and medical students to the fundamental principles of effective communication in the health care setting. The course emphasizes the principles and elements of interpersonal, nonverbal, motivational communication, barriers to effective communication, including cultural awareness.

Credits: 1

Changes in our healthcare delivery system are creating a growing demand for health professionals with skills in collaboration and teamwork. This course will describe the roles and responsibilities of the various healthcare disciplines. It will also provide students, from different health professions, the opportunity to interact with one another as well as simulated patients. This collaboration will promote communication using a team-based approach to the maintenance of health and management of disease.

Credits: 1

This course will provide students, working in interprofessional teams, opportunities to learn and provide integrated, patient-centered care in the development of therapeutic care plans using a team-based approach. Active learning techniques, interprofessional learning, and clinical simulation will be used to enhance the education of learners to effectively engage in problem solving and communication activities that address current health related issues in the care of humans, animals, and the environment.

Prerequisites: CORED 1599K Interprofessional Education I

Credits: 1

This course is designed to provide a basic knowledge of clinical microbiology so that students can understand the interaction between the host and pathogenic microorganisms. Emphases include the rational management, prevention, and control of infectious diseases.

Credits: 1.5

This course presents basic aspects of the body’s defense mechanisms. Current advances in immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis are emphasized. The role the immune system plays in rejection of organ transplants, autoimmunity, and hypersensitivity are also discussed.

Credits: 2

These courses are the first three in the Clinical Optometry sequence introducing the theory and procedures of comprehensive eye examinations. This includes instrumentation, examination methods and protocols, psychophysical techniques, appropriate patient communication, and recording of findings of various examination techniques commonly used in preliminary testing and visual function. Students are introduced to and participate in patient care and community vision screening during this sequence.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1510 Clinical Optometry I, 3.5 credits: nonePrerequisite for OPTOD 1520 Clinical OptometryII, 3 credits: OPTOD 1510 Clinical Optometry IPrerequisite for OPTOD 1530 Clinical Optometry III, 3 credits: OPTOD 1520 Clinical Optometry

Credits:

This course introduces students to ethical theories and principles and how to apply them to situations they may encounter in healthcare. Students will learn about ethical issues involving topics such as technology, confidentiality, and professional relationships. Ethical standards expected of them as graduate students and as optometrists will be discussed.

Credits: 1

This course surveys the profession of optometry up to present day, provides basic planning strategies for personal, professional, and financial goals to prepare for a career in optometry. Optometric career choices, modes and scope of optometric practice, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the various paths are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the steps that should be initiated to prepare for a career as a professional.

Credits: 1

These courses monitor and evaluate student optometrists’ relationships and professional conduct with faculty, staff, other students, and patients. The course grading philosophy assumes a professional behavioral norm in which all personal interactions and patient encounters are handled appropriately and professionally.

Credits: Each course 0.5

This course presents the basis of monocular vision and includes light and dark adaptation, spatial and temporal resolution, and color vision. Students will learn about striate and extra-striate cortex, and also gross electrical potentials and photometry. This will help students to understand different electrodiagnostic and imaging techniques such as visual evoked potentials (VEP) and MRI. Furthermore, they will learn about different psychophysical methods (e.g., signal detection theory). In addition, an overview of human visual development will also be discussed.

Credits: 2

The course sequence provides an introduction to the qualitative and quantitative characterization of the behavior of light and optical systems as related to optometry.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1540 Optics I, 4 credits: nonePrerequisite for OPTOD 1541 Optics II, 4 credits: OPTOD 1540 Optics IPrerequisite for OPTOD 1542 Optics III, 2 credits: OPTOD 1541 Optics II

Credits: OPTOD 1540, 4 credits, OPTOD 1541, 4 credits, OPTOD 1542, 2

This course presents an introduction to neuroanatomy and neurophysiology from a visual perspective. Discussion of the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and specific visual pathway information from low order to high order processing are included. Students will learn how to apply their neuroanatomy and neurophysiology knowledge to dysfunctions and diseases of nervous system pathways.

Credits: 3.5

This course sequence enters into detailed discussion of microscopic and gross ocular anatomy. It describes the physiology and pathophysiology of the ocular tissues and units of the eye. Students will gain an understanding of the interrelationships between ocular histology and physiology with pharmacology and pathophysiology.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1561 Ocular Anatomy & Physiology I, 3.5 credits: nonePrerequisite for OPTOD 1562 Ocular Anatomy & Physiology II, 2 credits: OPTOD 1561 Ocular Anatomy & Physiology I

Credits:

This course will present an overview of basic concepts of binocular vision such as the geometry of the binocular projection, the concepts of fusion, binocular summation, retinal correspondence, the horopter, stereopsis, fixation disparity, rivalry and aniseikonia. These concepts will be helpful to understand binocular vision related issues such as convergence insufficiency (CI).

Credits: 3

This course discusses the functional classes of eye movements including, fixational, saccadic, pursuit, vestibular, optokinetic, and vergence. Neural anatomy and physiology of eye movements will be discussed as well as systems governing accommodation and pupillary responses corresponding to eye movements. Students will learn how disruptions in the neural or muscular systems may lead to clinically significant disorders such as nystagmus, strabismus, and other abnormal eye movements.

Credits: 2

The course will present the diagnosis and management of heterophoric, accommodative, and eye movement disorders. Advanced clinical testing and interpretation of findings will be discussed for proper diagnosis of these conditions. Students will gain an understanding of different treatment options including lenses, prisms, and vision therapy. Additionally, optometric therapies for enhancement of sports-related visual skills will also be introduced.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1621 Ocular Motility

Credits: 4

This course sequence covers signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, clinical course, differential diagnosis, treatment, and management of ocular diseases of the anterior and posterior segment of the eye and ocular adnexa.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1630 Ocular Disease I, 3 credits: nonePrerequisite for OPTOD 1631 Ocular Disease II, 3 credits: OPTOD 1630 Ocular Disease IPrerequisite for OPTOD 1632 Ocular Disease III, 3 credits: OPTOD 1631 Ocular Disease IIPrerequisite for OPTOD 1733 Ocular Disease IV, 2 credits: OPTOD 1632 Ocular Disease IIIPrerequisite for OPTOD 1734 Ocular Disease V, 2 credits: OPTOD 1733 Ocular Disease IV

Credits:

This course prepares the optometry student to perform ophthalmic surgical procedures of the anterior segment of the eye (biopsy, chalazion injections, incisions, and curettage). Topics will include pertinent medical-legal issues and informed consent, pharmacology of local anesthesia, surgical instruments, emergency surgical procedures, asepsis, infection control, and biohazard disposal. Post-operative wound care and complications will also be discussed.

Prerequisites: OPTOD 1562 Ocular Anatomy & Physiology II and OPTOD 1630 Ocular Disease I

Credits: 1.5

This course sequence focuses on the pharmacology of diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Specific topics include pharmacokinetics of the eye, use of autonomic agents, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious agents, and agents used to treat glaucoma. In addition, ocular effects of systemic medications will be presented.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1635 Ocular Therapeutics I, 1 credit: nonePrerequisite for OPTOD 1636 Ocular Therapeutics II, 1 credit: OPTOD 1635 Ocular Therapeutics IPrerequisite for OPTOD 1637 Ocular Therapeutics III, 3 credits: OPTOD 1636 Ocular Therapeutics II

Credits:

These courses are the last three in the Clinical Optometry sequence introducing theory and procedures of comprehensive eye examinations. This includes instrumentation, examination methods and protocols, psychophysical techniques, appropriate patient communication, and recording of various examination techniques regarding ocular health. Students participate in patient care and community vision screening during this sequence.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1640 Clinical Optometry IV: OPTOD 1530 Clinical Optometry IIIPrerequisite for OPTOD 1650 Clinical Optometry V: OPTOD 1640 Clinical Optometry IVPrerequisite for OPTOD 1660 Clinical Optometry VI: OPTOD 1650 Clinical Optometry V

Credits: Each course 3

This course sequence covers the study of the physical and optical characteristics of ophthalmic lenses and prisms; the design and application of single vision, multifocal, occupational and progressive lenses; the benefits and applications of ophthalmic lens materials, absorptive lenses, and lens treatments; and the proper measurement and fitting of ophthalmic lenses and frames.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1643 Ophthalmic Optics I: OPTOD 1543 Visual OpticsPrerequisite for OPTOD 1644 Ophthalmic Optics II: OPTOD 1643 Ophthalmic Optics I

Credits: Each course 4

This course sequence includes a discussion of the theory and practice of contact lens design and contact lens fitting methodologies. Areas of discussion include corneal topography, design of materials, fabrication and modification of contact lenses, fitting and evaluation methodologies, and procedures. This course sequence will also explore advanced contact lens applications for high and irregular astigmatism, keratoconus, presbyopia, post-surgical and irregular corneas, corneal reshaping, and ocular prosthetics.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1648 Contact Lens I: nonePrerequisite for OPTOD 1649 Contact Lens II: OPTOD 1648 Contact Lens IPrerequisite for OPTOD 1750 Contact Lens III: OPTOD 1649 Contact Lens II

Credits: Each course 3

The objective of this course is to assess and verify the student’s level of competency in patient care skills. The course is designed to refine clinical procedures and culminates in a comprehensive clinical skills proficiency examination.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1650 Clinical Optometry V

Credits: 0.5

The intent of this course is to prepare students to conduct the Capstone Research Project. This course covers the principles of research design, application of biostatistical methods, and literature search tools. The students will learn basic rules and common practices for planning, conducting, and completing a basic or clinical research study.

Credits: 1

The intent of this course is to guide students through the study-design phase of the project. This course will include conducting a literature search(es) and designing the Capstone Project. The Capstone projects can be focused on basic research, clinical research, or literature reviews. If an extensive literature review is proposed for the Capstone project, prior approval from the Capstone Committee is required.

Credits: 1

The benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to vision care are emphasized in this course. It involves advanced history taking and aspects of a physical examination. This course introduces the procedures for evaluating the head and neck, while covering various systems of the body (dermatology, pulmonology, rheumatology, and neurology). Suturing, wound maintenance, and injections (ocular, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous) are also included.

Credits: 2.5

This course provides an introduction to behavioral and psychiatric disorders and behavioral medicine. The course is offered from a holistic perspective with an emphasis on compassionate inter-professional and optometric care. In addition, medical treatment is discussed with a basic overview of potential optometric drug interactions and side effects relevant to optometry and with reference to the One Health Initiative.

Credits: 1

This course emphasizes interpersonal skills, communication, and professionalism as part of patient care. Ethical professional practice as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion are discussed. Legal aspects of optometry, and billing and coding are reviewed. Exercises necessary for entering modes of practice are implemented. Job securing strategies, contract negotiations and business plan development and creation are covered. After the course, students are able to enter their preferred practice modality with skills to be successful

Credits: 2

This course focuses on the adaptation of eye care for the pediatric and special needs patient including examination techniques, treatment, and management. Normal visual development will be discussed as well as the potential implications of congenital and genetic disorders on the visual system. Ocular pathologies affecting these populations including diagnostic procedures and appropriate treatment strategies will also be addressed.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1623 Non-Strabismic Disorders of Accommodation, Binocular Vision & Eye Movements

Credits: 2.5

This course introduces strabismus and amblyopia, including appropriate testing and diagnosis. Clinical classifications and characteristics of strabismus and amblyopia will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the clinical interpretation of findings and specialized techniques necessary for proper evaluation.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1724 Pediatric Optometry

Credits: 3.5

This course introduces clinical applications for the prevention, treatment, and management of strabismus and amblyopia. It presents clinical methods to ameliorate deficits in visual development and binocular functions caused by sensory and motor anomalies. Theory and reasoning for treatment and management will be discussed.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1725 Diagnosis of Strabismus & Amblyopia

Credits: 2.5

This course focuses on visual information processing testing and its use in identifying reading and learning deficits. Application of these findings will be discussed with respect to an academic environment including the optometrist’s role as part of an interprofessional team and management of learning disorders. Time will be spent introducing the optometrist’s role in testing brain injuries and the associated visual therapy.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1726 Treatment & Management of Strabismus & Amblyopia

Credits: 3

This course is designed to augment the basic education on specialty test indications and their results. This course will explore image acquisition, interpretation, clinical correlates, and their application to patient care.

Credits: 1

This course is a comprehensive introduction to the ophthalmic application of lasers. Topics will include indications, perioperative management, complications, and patient education for laser vision correction and therapeutic medical lasers, as well as pertinent medical-legal issues and informed consent. Physical principles of lasers, mechanisms of damage, and American National Standards Institute standards pertaining to laser safety will also be included. Hands-on learning will be incorporated throughout lab exercises.

Credits: 1

This course is an introduction to the epidemiology of ocular anomalies, public and community health planning and care, and the role of the optometrist in community health promotion.

Credits: 2

The student will provide primary eye care services in the Primary Care and Specialty Services (cornea and contact lenses, ocular disease, pediatric optometry, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, sports vision, and ocular prosthetics) at the Midwestern University Eye Institute or at selected external clinical sites. This course series focuses on progressive competence in the diagnosis, treatment and management of visual dysfunctions and ocular conditions. Students will participate in case based clinical seminars as well.

Prerequisites: Prerequisites for OPTOD 1770 Clinical Services I: OPTOD 1660 Clinical Optometry VI and OPTOD 1661 Clinical Services ProficiencyPrerequisite for OPTOD 1771 Clinical Services II: OPTOD 1770 Clinical Services IPrerequisite for OPTOD 1772 Clinical Services III: OPTOD 1771 Clinical Services IIPrerequisites for OPTOD 1773 Clinical Services IV: OPTOD 1772 Clinical Services III and OPTOD 1774 Specialty Clinical Services Proficiency

Credits: Each course 6

The objective of this course is to assess and verify the student’s proficiency in specialty services skills required for clinical rotations during the fourth year of professional patient care. It culminates in a clinical skills proficiency examination.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1771 Clinical Services II

Credits: 0.5

The intent of this course is to guide students through the data collection and the initial analysis phase of the project. Students will complete their data collection and perform statistical data analysis on their results. At the end of this course, students will be required to prepare an abstract summarizing their data.

Credits: 1

The intent of this course is to provide guidance to the students for the organization and presentation of the results of their projects. In this final course of the Capstone Project series, students will be required to prepare their project for presentation. Students will create and formally present a poster at the Midwestern University Kenneth Suarez Research day or a similar event.

Credits: 2

This course provides an overview of the strategies used in the field of low vision rehabilitation to manage and treat patients with chronic vision impairments. Skills necessary to perform basic low vision examinations will be reviewed. Common optical, non-optical, and assistive/adaptive technologies used to develop rehabilitation plans will be introduced. Special topics including geriatric populations, traumatic brain injury, and psychosocial factors associated with vision loss will be discussed. The laboratory component will provide hands-on experience with low vision devices.

Credits: 3

This course presents the ocular, visual, systemic and neurologic manifestations of neuro-ophthalmic disorders and disease. The diagnosis and management is presented and includes but is not limited to components of the neuro-ophthalmic exam, neuroimaging and specialty testing.

Prerequisite: OPTOD 1550 Visual Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology

Credits: 2

This course is based on case presentations from the Midwestern University Eye Institute or from optometric literature. Students will be trained in clinical diagnosis and treatment and management of patients using evidence-based clinical protocols.

Credits: 2

This course is based on case presentations from the Midwestern University Eye Institute or from optometric literature. It will present the diagnostic and treatment strategies for ocular and visual conditions within both primary and specialty care.

Credits: 2

The fourth professional year is designed to promote continued development of the student's emerging clinical problem-solving abilities. This is a series of full-time clinical rotations or externships. Direct patient care in individualized supervised clinical experiences is the focus. Students will provide eye care services in the Primary Care and Specialty Services (cornea and contact lenses, ocular disease, pediatric optometry, low vision rehabilitation, electro-diagnosis, vision therapy, sports vision and ocular prosthetics) at the Midwestern University Eye Institute or at selected external rotation sites. Clinical decision making will be enhanced through challenging patient care problems that highlight or emphasize differential diagnosis, management decisions, referral decisions and follow-up, and newer techniques and procedures for diagnosis and management. This course comprises patient care experiences and a seminar series presented weekly during each fourth year clinical rotation in the Eye Institute.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for OPTOD 1800 Clinical Services V: OPTOD 1773 Clinical Services IVPrerequisite for OPTOD 1810 Clinical Services VI: OPTOD 1800 Clinical Services VPrerequisite for OPTOD 1820 Clinical Services VII: OPTOD 1810 Clinical Services VIPrerequisite for OPTOD 1830 Clinical Services VIII: OPTOD 1820 Clinical Services VII

Credits: Each course 18

This course focuses on the basic concepts and principles of pathology by analyzing the basic inherent mechanisms that underlie all disease processes. Students will develop an understanding of the processes of cellular injury and adaptation, inflammation and repair, neoplasia, hemodynamic disorders and basic laboratory values and analysis. This course stresses the cellular, genetic, pathophysiologic and molecular alterations which underlie all disease processes and emphasizes their dynamic nature. The histology of different organ systems will be covered looking at both normal and diseased tissues.

Credits: 2.5

This course is a continuum of PATHD 1501. The causes and pathophysiologic mechanisms of disease pertaining to specific organ systems are emphasized along with their anatomic, histologic and physiologic alterations. The relationships between specific organ system diseases and their systemic implications are also emphasized.

Credits: 2.5

This course sequence includes coverage of the pharmacologic actions of the major classes of drugs acting on the autonomic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, immune and central nervous systems. Other topics that are covered include the chemotherapy of microbial, parasitic and neoplastic diseases; drugs acting on blood and blood-forming organs, hormones and hormone antagonists, principles of toxicology, vitamins, and drugs causing birth defects.

Prerequisites: Prerequisite for PHARD 1641 Pharmacology I, 3 credits: nonePrerequisite for PHARD 1642 Pharmacology II, 2 credits: PHARD 1641 Pharmacology I

Credits:

This course provides core knowledge of physiology in order to understand normal function and to acquire the ability to analyze and interpret the immediate and long-term compensatory responses to common disease states of excitable cells, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Basic and applied terminology as well as the basic morphology of systems are discussed, and the relationship between anatomy and function of the systems considered is included.

Credits: 3

This course provides core knowledge of physiology in order to understand normal function and to acquire the ability to analyze and interpret the immediate and long-term compensatory responses to common disease states of respiratory, renal, acid-base, endocrine, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems. Basic and applied terminology as well as the basic morphology of systems are discussed, and the relationship between anatomy and function of the systems considered is included.

Credits: 3