21. Orthoptics
Master of Orthoptics
Orthoptists are allied health professionals and key members of the medical eye care team who prevent, manage and research disorders of the eye and vision systems. They have particular expertise in the assessment and treatment of binocular vision (use of the two eyes as a pair).
Orthoptists support patients who have visual problems associated with conditions such as stroke and head injury, work with partially sighted people and treat children with lazy eyes.
Orthoptists assist in the assessment of patients with eye diseases and are skilled in many of the exacting diagnostic procedures related to disorders of the eye and visual system such as testing peripheral vision, ultrasonography, biometry, assisting in minor surgery and client instruction in the use of contact lenses.
The program aims to prepare graduates for registration with the Australian Orthoptic Board to be able to practice in Australia and may be completed on a full-time basis over two years or a part-time basis over four years.
Admission requirements
- Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree in a field other than orthoptics.
- If the prior bachelor's degree includes general human anatomy and physiology, the student will be eligible for admission without further study.
Students applying for the program who do not meet the admission criteria will be required to complete specific units of study on a non-award basis, prescribed by the academic unit. Students are advised to contact the academic adviser as early as possible to discuss eligibility: phone +61 2 9351 9251.
Course outline
The course outline for the Master of Orthoptics is presented in Table 21.1 and 21.2. Unit of study descriptions and a list of faculty electives are found in Chapter 26.
Table 21.1: Master of Orthoptics
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course code SC110: Credit points for award: 96 | |||
| On-campus or off-campus: full-time, minimum 4 semesters; part-time, minimum 8 semesters | |||
Part-time mode |
|||
Year 4 (last offered in 2010) |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| ORTH5032 Geriatrics |
6 | P ORTH5023 Ocular Pathology A, ORTH5026 Ocular Pathology B, ORTH5024 Professional Experience 1A, ORTH5027 Professional Experience 1B, ORTH5028 Professional Experience 1C, ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Errors Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| ORTH5033 Professional Development |
6 | A Broad body of knowledge and clinical experience in orthoptics and ophthalmology, from completing earlier units of study P BACH5268 Developing a Research Project or BACH5341 Research & Inquiry in Health Professions Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 1 |
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 12 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| ORTH5036 Professional Experience 2B |
4 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| ORTH5037 Professional Experience 2C |
4 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| ORTH5038 Research Project |
6 | P ORTH5022 Binocular Vision and Strabismus A, ORTH5025 Binocular Vision and Strabismus B, ORTH5023 Ocular Pathology A, ORTH5026 Ocular Pathology B, ORTH5024 Professional Experience 1A, ORTH5027 Professional Experience 1B, ORTH5028 Professional Experience 1C, ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Errors, BACH5268 Developing a Research Project or BACH5341 Research & Inquiry in Health Professions, ORTH5033 Professional Development C ORTH5035 Professional Experience 2A and ORTH5036 Professional Experience 2B or ORTH5037 Professional Experience 2C Note: Department permission required for enrolment |
Semester 2 |
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 14 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Notes |
|||
| ORTH5019 Special Study A is the recommended research elective unit of study. | |||
| Part-time students may enrol in units of study that total no more than 17 credit points per semester. Selection of the units of study must take into account prerequisites between semesters and years. Students wishing to enrol in part-time mode must first discuss this with an academic adviser of the Master of Orthoptics. | |||
Table 21.2: Master of Orthoptics
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course code SC110: Credit points for award: 96 | |||
| On-campus: full-time, minimum 4 semesters; part-time, minimum 8 semesters | |||
Full-time mode |
|||
Year 1 |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| BACH5341 Research & Inquiry in Health Professions |
6 | N BACH3126 Research Project Development, BACH4047 Developing a Research Project, BACH5268 Developing a Research Project, DHSC7002 Research & Inquiry in Health Professions, DHSC7005 Developing a Research Project |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5039 The Eye and Visual Systems |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH5040 Binocular Vision |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH5041 Introduction to Professional Practice |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Error |
6 |
Offered sem 1 for SH124/SH131, offered sem 2 for SC110. |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5042 Anterior Seg & Ocular Surface Disorders |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5043 Concomitant Strabismus |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5045 Professional Practice B |
6 |
Offered Semester 1 for SH124/SH131, offered Semester 2 for SC110 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Year 2 |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders |
6 | P ORTH5040 Binocular Vision and ORTH5043 Concomitant Strabismus |
Semester 1 |
| ORTH5044 Professional Practice A |
6 | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5046 Neuro Orthoptics |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH5047 Research Project 1 |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| ORTH5048 Professional Practice C |
6 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1, |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5049 Professional Practice D |
6 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1, |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5050 Ocular Pathology |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5051 Research Project 2 |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Part-time mode |
|||
| Part-time students may enrol in units of study that total no more than 17 credit points per semester. Selection of the units of study must take into account prerequisites between semesters and years. Students wishing to enrol in part-time mode must first discuss this with an academic adviser of the Master of Orthoptics. | |||
Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences
Note: There will be no further intakes to the combined Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences. Students wishing to pursue a career in Orthoptics should first complete a three-year generalist degree such as the Bachelor of Health Sciences before progressing to the Master of Orthoptics.
Table 21.3: Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course code SH124/SC151: Pass course; full-time, 4 years | |||
Year 4 (last offered in 2010) |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Error |
6 |
Offered sem 1 for SH124/SH131, offered sem 2 for SC110. |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders |
6 | P ORTH5040 Binocular Vision and ORTH5043 Concomitant Strabismus |
Semester 1 |
| ORTH5046 Neuro Orthoptics |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH5047 Research Project 1 |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| ORTH5048 Professional Practice C |
6 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1, |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5049 Professional Practice D |
6 |
Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1, |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| ORTH5051 Research Project 2 |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5053 Advanced Professional Studies |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Table 21.4: Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course code SH131/SC151: Pass course; full-time, 4 years | |||
Year 2 (last offered in 2010) |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| BIOS1155 Structure, Function and Disease A |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH2059 The Eye and Vision |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH5040 Binocular Vision |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| ORTH5041 Introduction to Professional Practice |
6 | Semester 1 |
|
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| BIOS1158 Structure, Function and Disease B |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH2060 Disability and Vision Impairment |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5042 Anterior Seg & Ocular Surface Disorders |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5043 Concomitant Strabismus |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Year 3 (offered in 2010 and 2011 only) |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| ORTH5044 Professional Practice A |
6 | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5045 Professional Practice B |
6 |
Offered Semester 1 for SH124/SH131, offered Semester 2 for SC110 |
Semester 1 Semester 2 |
| HSBH3004 Health, Ethics and the Law |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 1 |
| Senior BHS elective [6] (see list below) | |||
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| ORTH5050 Ocular Pathology |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| ORTH5052 Current Topics in CVS |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| Senior BHS elective [6] (see list below) | |||
| Research elective [6] | |||
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Year 4 (offered in 2011 and 2012 only) |
|||
Semester 1 |
|||
| ORTH5029 Management of Refractive Error [6] | |||
| ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders [6] | |||
| ORTH5046 Neuro Orthoptics [6] | |||
| ORTH5047 Research Project 1 [6] | |||
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| ORTH5048 Professional Practice C [6] | |||
| ORTH5049 Professional Practice D [6] | |||
| ORTH5051 Research Project 2 [6] | |||
| ORTH5053 Advanced Professional Studies [6] | |||
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Senior BHS units of study |
|||
| HSBH3001 Health and Indigenous Populations |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 2 |
| HSBH3002 Health Information Science |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 1 |
| HSBH3003 Health Service Strategy and Policy |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 2 |
| HSBH3005 Evidence Based Health Care |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 2 |
| HSBH3006 Research Methods in Health |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems N Intermediate Statistics (BACH4043, BACH4055, BACH5253) |
Semester 1 |
| HSBH3009 International Health Project |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 2 |
| HSBH3010 Health and Lifelong Disability |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 2 |
| HSBH3011 Rural Health |
6 | P HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science, HSBH1007 Health Science and Research, HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions, HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems |
Semester 1 |