521-204 Biochemistry and the Eye

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Optometry course.

Biology 600-141 plus 600-142 and chemistry 610-006

The principal objectives are to develop an understanding of the relationships between chemical properties and functions of body constituents, metabolic and regulatory processes, particularly in relation to the eye and other tissues which have a major influence on the function and maintenance of the eye; an appreciation of the biochemical basis of diseases of the eye; and an appreciation of the role of experimentation in the development of biochemical knowledge and the clinical relevance of ocular biochemistry and molecular biology. Major topics are selected from the structure, function and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, mucopolysaccharides and nucleic acids; nutrition, digestion and absorption; specialised functions of proteins, lipids and proteoglycans, particularly in relation to immunological defense, bioenergetics, ion transport, the composition and function of tears, lens and aqueous humour, and photopigments and the visual cycle; intracellular mechanisms controlling biochemical process and transmitting signals, particularly in relation to visual phototransduction, retinal neurochemistry and the actions of hormones relevant to the development and maintenance of eye tissues; and basic principles of gene structure and expression and the genetic basis of eye disorders.

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (85%) and two short mid-semester tests (15%)