26. Orthoptics

The Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences is a professional preparation course for students who aim to practise as an orthoptist or in a related area. It is designed to produce graduates with high level clinical and problem solving skills and who are aware of current research and developments in a broad range of conditions associated with the eye and visual pathways.

Graduates can work in a wide variety of settings that include treatment of people who have trouble using their eyes together as a pair, specialised assessments as part of a medical team managing people with many different disorders of the eye, screening programs to detect vision problems, especially in children and the elderly, and research programs.

Admission requirements

A UAI of 80 or above is needed for admission to the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences course. The general admission requirements in Chapter 3 apply.

Students are required to maintain a credit average until the end of Year 2 to remain enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences course.

Course outline

The course outline for the Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Clinical Vision Sciences is presented in Tables 26.1 and 26.2. Undergraduate unit of study descriptions and a list of faculty electives are found in Chapter 19. Postgraduate units of study are described in Chapter 32.

Table 26.1: 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: Pass course; full-time, 4 years
Year 3 (last offered in 2009)
Semester 1
HSBH3004 Health, Ethics and the Law	6		Semester 1
ORTH5044 Professional Practice A	6	offered sem 1 for SH124/SH131, offered sem 2 for SC110	Semester 1 Semester 2
ORTH5045 Professional Practice B	6	offered sem 1 for SH124/SH131, offered sem 2 for SC110	Semester 1 Semester 2
Senior BHS elective [6] (see elective list after Table 26.2)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BIOS3063 Project Design and Management	6		Semester 2
ORTH5050 Ocular Pathology	6		Semester 2
ORTH5052 Current Topics in CVS	6		Semester 2
Research elective [6] (see note)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Year 4 (first offered in 2010)
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
Note
Elective choices should be discussed with the program coordinator. A list of undergraduate faculty electives can be found in Chapter 19.

Table 26.2: 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: Pass course; full-time, 4 years
Year 1
Semester 1
HSBH1006 Foundations of Health Science	6		Semester 1
HSBH1007 Health Science and Research	6		Semester 1
PSYC1001 Psychology 1001	6		Semester 1 Summer Main
Junior Biology elective [6]
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
HSBH1008 Health Determinants and Interventions	6		Semester 2
HSBH1009 Health Care Resources and Systems	6		Semester 2
Electives [12] (see note 1 below)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Year 2 (first offered in 2009)
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 (first offered in 2010)
Semester 1
ORTH5044 Professional Practice A [6]
ORTH5045 Professional Practice B [6]
HSBH3004 Health, Ethics and the Law [6]
Senior BHS elective [6] (see list below)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
ORTH5050 Ocular Pathology [6]
ORTH5052 Current Topics [6]
HSBH3007 Management and Project Design [6]
Research elective [6] (see note 1 below)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Year 4 (first offered in 2011)
Semester 1
ORTH5029 Management of Refractive Error [6]
ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders [6]
ORTH5046 Neuro Optics [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 (see note 2)
HSBH3001 Health and Indigenous Populations	6		Semester 2
HSBH3003 Health Service Stategy and Policy	6		Semester 2
HSBH3006 Research Methods in Health	6	P HSBH1007 Health Science and Research or equivalent	Semester 1
HSBH3009 International Health Project	6		Semester 2
Notes
1. Elective choices should be discussed with the course coordinator. A list of undergraduate faculty research electives can be found in Chapter 19.
2. More senior BHS units of study will be offered in 2010.

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, physiology and psychology, 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 26.2 and 26.3. Unit of study descriptions and a list of faculty electives are found in Chapter 32.

Table 26.3: 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 3 (last offered in 2009)
Semester 1
ORTH5030 Paediatrics	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 Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 1
ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders	6	P ORTH5040 Binocular Vision and ORTH5043 Concomitant Strabismus	Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 12 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
ORTH5034 Advanced Orthoptic Practice	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 Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
ORTH5035 Professional Experience 2A	4	P ORTH5022 Binocular Vision and Strabismus A, ORTH5025 Binocular Vision and Strabismus B, ORTH5024 Professional Experience 1A, ORTH5027 Professional Experience 1B, ORTH5028 Professional Experience 1C, ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Errors, ORTH5030 Paediatrics, ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders Note: Department permission required for enrolment	Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 10 CREDIT POINTS
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	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 2
ORTH5037 Professional Experience 2C	4	P ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Error, ORTH5032 Geriatrics, ORTH5031 Eye Movement Disorders C ORTH5035 Professional Experience 2A, ORTH5036 Professional Experience 2B 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 26.4: 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	Not available for Doctor of Health Science students. This unit of study is suitable for postgraduate coursework students who do not intend to progress to a research degree	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
ORTH5042 Anterior Seg & Ocular Surface Disorders	6		Semester 2
ORTH5043 Concomitant Strabismus	6		Semester 2
ORTH5044 Professional Practice A	6	offered sem 1 for SH124/SH131, offered sem 2 for SC110	Semester 1 Semester 2
ORTH5045 Professional Practice B	6	offered sem 1 for SH124/SH131, offered sem 2 for SC110	Semester 1 Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Year 2 (first offered in 2009)
Semester 1
ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Error	6	Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2, Department permission required for enrolment in semester 2. This unit is a pre-requisite of ORTH5048 Professional Practice C and ORTH5049 Professional Practice D	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	P ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Errors	Semester 2
ORTH5049 Professional Practice D	6	P ORTH5029 Clinical Management of Refractive Error	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.