Functional and Developmental Disorders of Vision (10289.1)

Required texts

1. Schwartz, S H. Visual Perception: A Clinical Orientation. 5th Edition. 2017. McGraw-Hill Education.
2. Scheiman, M & Wick, B. Clinical Management of Binocular Vision: Heterophoria, Accommodation and Eye movement Disorders. 5th Edition. 2019. Walters-Kluwer
3. Millodot, M. Dictionary of Optometry and Vision Science. 8th Edition. 2019. Elsevier.

These books are available as an e-book and for loan at the library.

Optometry entry-level competency in Australia

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cxo.12216

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Late penalties will be applied (see below).

The following conditions will apply to late submissions without an approved extension:

• Mark adjustment: 5% of the maximum mark available for the assessment task will be deducted for each day late up until seven days late. For example, an essay awarded 60% (60/100) submitted 2 days late will receive a mark adjustment of 5% per day, therefore, the adjusted maximum mark for that item will be 50% (50/100).
• Similarly, if the weighting is used then a piece of work worth 50% of the unit which received 30/50 would be reduced by 2.5 marks per day (i.e. 5% of 50) and would therefore receive a maximum adjusted mark of 25/50 if late by two days.
• Submissions received more than 7 days after the prescribed date and time will not be accepted for marking, a mark of zero (0) will be awarded for the item.
• For the purposes of these penalties, all days of the week count, including weekends and public holidays, even when the University may be closed.
• The minimum possible mark for late submission is zero.
• For clarification, one (1) minute past the specified due date and time is considered a late submission.

It is students' responsibility to be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of Canvas and URKUND). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well enabling adequate time to submit assessments prior to the deadline, in order to avoid a mark adjustment. More details can be found in the Assessment Procedures.

Students are not permitted to use generative Artificial Intelligence in any assessments.

Special assessment requirements

The Unit Convener reserves the right to question students orally on any of their submitted work.

Eligibility for second attempt at a hurdle assessment: Students who fail hurdle assessment (final theory exam) with a mark of 45% to 49% inclusive will be offered a second attempt at each hurdle only if it is possible for the student to achieve an aggregate mark of 50% by passing the hurdles. Hence, if passing the hurdle(s) will not allow the student to pass the unit, then no second attempt is offered. 

The highest mark for an assessment a student can achieve on a repeat hurdle assessment (Second attempt) is 50%

Note: Attendance at all lectures is expected and 100% participation is required in all practical sessions. Students are required to submit an absence form (available via the unit's UC Learn Canvas site) and appropriate documentary evidence for every practical session absence. The Unit Convener will assess your application; however, this will not guarantee that your application will be successful.

Supplementary assessment

There are no supplementary assessments for this unit. 

Extensions to assignments, placements, deferred intra-semester tests and examinations

Students can apply for an extension to the due date for submission/completion of an assessment item on the grounds of illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances (specific details are found through the Assessment Policy and Procedures). Extensions must be applied for before the due date as outlined above. For illness on the day of the assessment, the Assignment Extension form with relevant documentation must be lodged to the Unit Convener within three days of the scheduled exam, test, assignment, placement or assessment submission.

It should be noted that such documentation will be considered but will not guarantee that the extension application will be successful. The Unit Convener will decide whether to grant an extension and the length or availability of the extension.

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per examination/test/ placement (on the grounds of illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances as per UC policies) unless otherwise approved. Students must make themselves available for deferred exams and tests which will be scheduled by the unit convenor no later than the Friday of Week 13. Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer a deferred intra semester exam, test or placement. Any student unable to undertake the deferred intra semester exam, test, assignment or placement will receive a mark of zero or fail grade for the assessment task.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Optometry Board of Australia entry-level competencies for optometrists (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cxo.12216). Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendances is expected at all lectures and 100% participation is required in all tutorials, practicals, laboratories and presentations. Please note that not all learning material covered in lectures, e.g. worked examples of problems or discussion in small groups, will be captured by the lecture recording software. Students are required to attend for the entire time scheduled for tutorials, practicals, laboratories and presentations. Students who are late by more than 15 minutes without an adequate documented reason will be regarded as absent; students who leave before the end, unless all assigned work has been completed to the satisfaction of the lecturer or tutor will be regarded as absent from the tutorial. It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash) it may be recommended that you schedule this unit for a future semester. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in failure of the associated assessment piece. For inability to attend a scheduled laboratory session, an ‘Absence from Laboratory' form (available on UCLearn Canvas) with supporting documentation must be submitted to the Unit Convener.  Consideration will be given for illness; however evidence such as a medical certificate will be required. The final decision will be at the discretion of the Unit Convener.

Contact details for the Unit Convenor and the Faculty of Health Administration Office are given in Section 1.

Students are required to cooperate in (including laboratory classes, group work, presentations) where students may be asked to practice optometry and vision science skills on each other, so each student is the patient/participant and practitioner in turn and in approximately equal duration. By both conducting the clinical procedures and participating in the tests, you will gain an insight and empathy into the issues associated with testing visual function, both from the point of view of both an optometrist/researcher and patient/participant. During classes you will be required to demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict. Any action or omission that affects safety or is deemed disrespectful to your patients, fellow students or the teaching staff can result in failure of a patient assessment task regardless of the aggregate mark for the assessment.

Required IT skills

The use of UCLearn Canvas, library searching skills, word and data processing (Microsoft Office Suite) and electronic presentation skills are necessary for this unit.

In-unit costs

Students are expected to purchase their own non-programmable scientific calculator. Students may wish to print electronically provided material for their own study and/or assignments.

Students must bring their own personal computer to all tutorial and laboratory classes.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Academic Misconduct & Contract Cheating

Contract cheating

Contract cheating (academic outsourcing / ghost-writing) is a form of academic misconduct in which students submit written or creative work which has been drafted or produced by someone else and claim authorship for it.  It includes (but is not limited to) using a third party, offering their services for commercial or other benefits, to complete (either partially or fully) an assignment or other assessment items on behalf of the student.  

You are at risk of contract cheating if you ask someone to:

• complete an assignment for you
• substantially edit your assignment
• do your university work for you, with or without compensation
• check test or quiz answers
• sit a test or quiz for you
• provide someone with your UC login details

You may also be at risk of contract cheating if you provide information to people or organisations outside UC, such as:

• assignment questions and briefs
• lecture notes
• marking rubrics and marking guides

UC considers contract cheating serious misconduct which may attract suspension or exclusion from the university.  Furthermore, we, as your education provider, have mandatory reporting responsibilities under National Law.  We are required to notify the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if we believe that a registered health practitioner (including those with student registration) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct including signature departure from accepted professional standards.  Contract cheating may also result in UC submitting a mandatory notification to AHPRA.

You can learn more about contract cheating in the Academic Integrity Module - which is a compulsory module that provides information about a range of issues including plagiarism and contract cheating.  UC provides a range of services to support student learning - further information regarding Study Skills, Studiosity and Medical & Counselling services are available in your unit's Canvas site.

Professional Obligations

Pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, optometry practitioners (registered optometrists) and education providers have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Optometry Board of Australia in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm.

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications in relation to students, if the provider reasonably believes:

1. a student enrolled with the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm; or

2. a student for whom the provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification in relation to a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

All concerns raised within the Discipline of Optometry or by clinical preceptors will be reviewed by the Head of Discipline and the Course Convener before any reporting action is taken.

These professional obligations are taken seriously by staff and the University.  Students should be aware of their obligations under student registration.

For further information, please refer to: https://www.optometryboard.gov.au/policies-codes-guidelines/guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx

Professionalism

Students are required to cooperate in laboratory classes, workshops or remediation sessions where students may be asked to practice optometry skills on each other, with each student as the patient and practitioner in turn and in approximately equal duration. By both conducting the clinical procedures and participating in the tests, you will gain an insight and empathy into the issues associated with testing visual function, both from the point of view of both an optometrist and patient.

This course aims to develop your professional and communication skills in preparation for your journey towards being a health professional. During classes and placements, you will be required to demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict. Any action or omission that affects the safety of your patient or peers or is deemed disrespectful to your patients, fellow students or the teaching staff can result in failure of a patient assessment task regardless of the aggregate mark for the assessment. Virtual classes have additional requirements where you will further develop communication skills in the virtual environment. While in a virtual environment, students are required to present themselves and communicate with peers, staff and invited speakers in a professional way. Hence, the default for all virtual classes is for all student web cameras to be turned on during virtual classes. Instructors may require students to interact either verbally, through polls or the shared chat function. Students who do not participate in this way can be marked as absent for the class. Students who need guidance on expected behaviors and participation may consult with the Unit Convenor and/or Study Skills. Instructors may request that cameras are turned off under certain circumstances.

• Semester 1, 2025, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (224382)
• Semester 1, 2024, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (218091)
• Semester 1, 2023, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (212597)
• Semester 1, 2022, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (207067)
• Semester 1, 2021, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (200817)
• Semester 1, 2020, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (194172)
• Semester 1, 2019, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (173958)