534-307 Ocular Pharmacology

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Enrolment in the third year of the Optometry course with successful completion of second year Physiology and Biochemistry.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The teaching program will emphasise the importance of drug action in the eye and provide the optometry student with enough background to appreciate the special needs of optometry patients undergoing drug therapy for other conditions and be able to communicate confidently with patients and other health professionals about pharmacology and therapeutics. Topics that will be covered include: Principles of drug action; pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Administration of drugs to the eye; absorption and penetration through the cornea. Mechanisms of drug elimination and metabolism. Autonomic innervation of the eye; miotics, mydriatics and cycloplegics. Drugs used in systemic and central conditions and their consequence to ocular function. Drugs used in ocular conditions; local anaesthetics, antiinflammatory drugs, antihistamines, antiinfective agents and drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma.

Assessment

A 3 hour written examination covering material presented in lectures, tutorials and practicals. An oral examination may be held for students who do not pass the written examination.