Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 220)
Optometry subject : Next:655-210 | Prev:655-101 | Search | Help
Coordinator: Professor B L Cole.
Prerequisite: Biology 600-141 and 600-142 (Before 1996: Biology 600-101); Chemistry 610-120 or 610-140; Physics 640-120, 640-140 or 640-160.
Corequisite: Physiology 536-206
Contact: 78 lectures (three a week) and 26 x 3-hour practical classes.
Timetable: Double semester.
Objectives:
On completion of this subject students will:
- have a thorough understanding of the capabilities of the human visual system;
- be familiar with the classical theories of visual function;
- have a systematic understanding of the physiological processes underlying vision and a general understanding of the theoretical models that explain visual function and the processing of visual information by the visual pathways and visual cortex;
- understand the control of oculo-motor behaviour;
- have a general understanding of the processes of post-natal development;
- understand the physiological and biochemical mechanisms that maintain the integrity of the eye;
- have the skills to measure a range of visual functions and understand classical visual psychophysical methodology.
Content:
Human visual functions Specification of the stimulus; the radiometric and photometric quantities. The light sense: spectral luminous efficiency; absolute threshold and quantum effects; light and dark adaptation: increment thresholds. Temporal resolution; flicker and transient stimulation. The form sense: visual acuity and the contrast sensitivity function. The colour sense: the trivariance of vision and the systems for specifying chromaticity; colour discriminations; theories of colour vision. Perception of visual space: projection, retinal correspondence, the horopter, fusion and stereopsis. Physiology of the visual processes The photoreceptors: optics, photochemistry, transduction. Retinal structure and function. Contrast and colour coding in the retina. Cortical structure and function. Development of normal visual function. Muscular mechanisms of the eye Extra-ocular musculature; the mechanics of translatory, saccadic and slow pursuit eye movements. Listing Law. Neural control of eye movements and binocular eye movements. Hering's Law. Accommodation, accommodative-convergence synkinesis. Pupillary reactions. Vegetative physiology of the eye The cornea; the anatomy and physical properties of the cornea; the chemistry and metabolism of the cornea, corneal permeability, turgescence and maintenance of transparency. The lacrimal apparatus and the tear film. The sclera. Formation and circulation of aqueous humour, intra-ocular pressure. The physical properties, biochemistry, growth and metabolism of the lens. Vegetative physiology of the retina and vitreous.
Assessment:
Two 3-hour written examinations at the end of the second semester; practical work (15 per cent).
Prescribed texts:
Optometry subject : Next:655-210 | Prev:655-101 | Search | Help
Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science (Volume 4 page 220)
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 10 1995 Last modified: Oct 10 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: School of Optometry, Faculty of Science.
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.