Curriculum
Courses
Relevant Courses
Faculty

General

• VSCI-V 595 First-Year Research (1-5 cr.)
• VSCI-V 695 Second-Year Research (1-5 cr.)
• VSCI-V 703 Refractive Anomalies I (3 cr.)Optics and epidemiology of refractive anomalies of the human eye.
• VSCI-V 704 Refractive Anomalies II (3 cr.)Development, progression, and management of myopia.
• VSCI-V 705 Ocular Surface I: Basic Biology and Physiology (4 cr.)Ba­sic biology and physiology of the ocular surface, including the cornea, conjunctiva, and tear film.
• VSCI-V 716 The Visual Pathways (4 cr.)P: permission of the instructor For students in the visual sciences, comprehensive study of the human optic pathways.
• VSCI-V 707 Retinal Imaging (2-3 cr.)The fundamental methods used in imaging the human retina will be examined, including types of illumination and delivery methods, optical techniques for detection, interaction of light and tissues, systems integration, and selection of imaging modalities based on scientific goals.
• VSCI-V 717 Noninvasive Assessment of Visual Function (3 cr.)Focus­es on the clinical application of psychophysical techniques for the detection and diagnosis of visual anomalies and ocular disease.
• VSCI-V 716 Visual Functions in Low Vision (3 cr.)Studying behav­ioral aspects of visual function measurements in the low-vision population.
• VSCI-V 723 The Eye as Optical Instrument (4 cr.)P: V663 or equivalent.
• VSCI-V 754 The Motility of the Eye (4 cr.)P: V665 or equivalent. Quantitative and qualitative study of eye movements and myo­logic reflexes, monocular and binocular, and related phenom­ena.
• VSCI-V 764 Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Ocular Disease and Injury (4 cr.)Study of selected reports dealing with corneal-wound healing, the cataractous lens, and retinal degenerations.
• VSCI-V 765 Vision Sciences Seminar (1 cr.)Students in the Ph.D. program in vision science are required to take this seminar and make a presentation annually.
• VSCI-V 767 Electrophysiology of Vision (3 cr.)Review of techniques of recording neural events, development of a neural hypoth­esis, experimental testing of hypothesis, writing and presenting of data and conclusions.
• VSCI-V 768 Special Topics in Vision Science (1-4 cr.)Covers topics not offered on a regular basis. Possible topics include cell and molecular biology as it relates to the eye and vision, compara­tive studies of the vertebrate eye, current research, experimen­tal design, optical and ophthalmic instruments, pathology, and pharmacology. May be taken more than once when different topics are covered.
• VSCI-V 773 Classics in Physiological Optics (1 cr.)Study of selected scientific articles of early contributors to our understanding of ocular motility, monocular and binocular functions, the optics of the eye, and ocular physiology.
• VSCI-V 783 Monocular Sensory Aspects of Vision (4 cr.)P: V666 or equivalent. A study of perceptual phenomena and responses facilitated by binocular vision.
• VSCI-V 791 Quantitative Methods for Vision Research (3 cr.)Intro­duction to communication theory approach to problems in vision. Topics include the sensory nerve code, representation of nerve messages by orthogonal functions, sampling theo­rem, linear filters, Fourier analysis in one and two dimensions, analysis of directional data, stochastic processes, and signal detection theory.
• VSCI-V 792 Ethical Issues in Scientific Research (1 cr.)This course explores the ethical issues and dilemmas raised by research in the biological sciences.
• VSCI-V 793 Critical Evaluation of Peer Reviewed Publications in Vision Science (1 cr.)This course will provide experience to students to critically evaluate literature in the area of vision research. Students will meet for two hours each week for an eight week period. Evaluation will be based on attendance, reading assignments and class participation.
• VSCI-V 795 Third-Year Research (3 cr.)
• VSCI-V 799 M.S. Thesis Research (1-10 cr.)
• VSCI-V 801 Basic Experimental Design and Methods in Vision Science (3 cr.)An introduction to basic research skills in vision science.
• VSCI-V 899 Ph.D. Dissertation Research (1-12 cr.)

Optometry Curriculum

• OPT-V 501 Integrative Optometry I (2 cr.)Overall goal is to provide an integrated perspective of optometry in the paradigm of problem-based learning (PBL). The problems will be clinical cases that relate to the contents of courses taught contempora­neously in optics, biomedical, and ocular biology modules.
• OPT-V 502 Integrated Optometry II (2 cr.)Overall goal is to provide an integrated perspective of optometry in the paradigm of problem-based learning (PBL). The problems will be clinical cases that relate to the contents of courses taught contempora­neously in optics, biomedical, and ocular biology modules.
• OPT-V 512 Ocular Anatomy (2 cr.)P: V511 Human Gross Anatomy, or equivalent. A detailed study of the normal anatomy and em­bryology of the eye and its adnexa. The organization of various components of the eye is studied at the light and electron mi­croscopic level and this organization is related to the molecular structure where it is known.
• OPT-V 514 Neuroanatomy (1.5 cr.)P: V511 Human Gross Anatomy, or equivalent. Functional anatomy of the human brain, with emphasis on the visual system.
• OPT-V 516 Ocular Physiology (2.5 cr.)C: V512 or equivalent. Vegeta­tive physiology of the eye, with attention to the chemical con­stitution, intermediary metabolism, regulation of hydration and intraocular pressure, transparency of the ocular components, and retinal physiology.
• OPT-V 521 Geometric and Visual Optics I (4 cr.)Fundamentals of geometric and physical optics. Optical analysis of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Components of the eyes and their optical properties. Clinical instrumentation for optical measure­ment and diagnosis of eyes.
• OPT-V 523 Geometric and Visual Optics II (4 cr.)P: V521 or permission of instructor. Continuation of application of the principles of geometric and physical optics to the optical description and correction of the eye. Schematic optical models of the eye. Measurement of light. Higher-order aberrations and their impact on vision.
• OPT-V 540 Ocular Biology I (5 cr.)Head and neck neuroanatomy related to the normal functioning of the eye and visual system. Detailed anatomy/histology and physiology of the eye and adnexa. Maintenance of optical transparency and intraocular pressure. Phototransduction, retinal physiology, and the basis for the electroretinogram and electro-oculugram.
• OPT-V 542 Systems Approach to Biomedical Sciences I (4.5 cr.)First of a three semester sequence that presents basic science infor­mation organized into specific organ systems. The first module will cover common processes: basic biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, fundamentals of physiology, pharmacology, immunology/infection and oncology.
• OPT-V 543 Systems Approach to Biomedical Science II (4 cr.)Second of a three semester sequence which presents basic science information organized into specific organ systems. This module will discuss the structure, function, pathology and therapy for each organ system.
• OPT-V 550 Clinical Sciences I (3 cr.)Introduction to clinical history and interview techniques, health history content, and medical record documentation as applied to the optometric setting; optometric and medical terminology, interview techniques for special populations, legal aspects of medical records, differ­ential diagnosis of visual symptoms, introduction to physical assessment, slit lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy.
• OPT-V 551 Clinical Sciences II (4 cr.)Vision examination techniques, ocular diagnostic techniques, and theory and application of vision testing instrumentation, with emphasis on preliminary tests, refractive tests, and the ocular health exam; study of the principles involved in the measurement, epidemiology and treatment of ametropia, oculomotor imbalances and associ­ated conditions.
• OPT-V 560 Vision Science I (3.5 cr.)This course provides an under­standing of how visual performance is determined by the un­derlying biology of the eye and the brain. Topics include visual pathway neuroanatomy and physiology with special emphasis on the roles of receptive fields and neural sampling.
• OPT-V 574 Introduction to Epidemiology & Optometric Research (2 cr.)Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics, principles of epidemiological inquiry and research design, and the application of statistical methods to clinical data
• OPT-V 601 Integrated Optometry 3 (2 cr.)Overall goal is to provide an integrated perspective of optometry in the paradigm of problem-based learning (PBL). The problems will be clinical cases that relate to the contents of courses taught contempora­neously in optics, biomedical, and ocular biology modules.
• OPT-V 602 Integrated Optometry 4 (2 cr.)Overall goal is to provide an integrated perspective of optometry in the paradigm of problem-based learning (PBL). The problems will be clinical cases that relate to the contents of courses taught contempora­neously in optics, biomedical, and ocular biology modules.
• OPT-V 631 Optics III Ophthalmic and Advance Clinical Optics (4 cr.)P: V523 or permission of instructor. Design and application of ophthalmic spectacles and materials. Optics of low vision. Obective refactions, fundus imaging, optics of diseased eyes, wavefront-based treatments. 
• OPT-V 632 Optics IV: Optics of Ophthalmic and Contact Lenses (4 cr.)P: V631 or persmission V632 Optics IV: Advanced Clinical Optics (4cr) Continuation of design and application of ophthalmic spectacles and materials. Optics of low vision.  Clinical aberrometry. Optics of refractive surgery.  Optics of diseased eyes.  Wavefront-guided refraction and treatments.
• OPT-V 633 Contact Lenses (4 cr.)Theory and practice of contact lenses. General principles of lens materials, design, care; examination, selection, fitting; diagnosis and treatment of lens wear problems; introduction to specialty fitting. Practical laboratory on lens handling, modification and fitting.
• OPT-V 644 Ocular Disease/Pharmacology I (3 cr.)P: V543. A detailed description of the signs, symptoms, differential diagnosis, and management of ocular disease of the anterior segment integrated with the principles and application of ocular pharmacology.
• OPT-V 648 Neurophysiology of Vision (2 cr.)Introduction to the functional organization of the visual system and the physi­ological basis of vision. This course treats the visual system as a biological image processor to reveal how the structure and function of the retina and brain determine visual performance and constrain the quality of vision.
• OPT-V 654 Clinical Sciences IV (4 cr.)P: 652 Advanced clinical analysis, procedures, and protocols for examinations of patients in the clinical setting, and comprehensive eye and vision examinations with scheduled patients; patient assessment and plan, patient communication; introduction to clinical ocular disease and protocols.
• OPT-V 663 Physiological Optics I: Visual Optics (3.5 cr.)P: V522 Geometric Optics II, or equivalent. The eye as an optical instru­ment.
• OPT-V 664 Physiological Optics II: Visual Function (2.5 cr.)The basic aspects of monocular vision, including light and dark adapta­tion, color vision, and both spatial and temporal resolution. The science of measuring visual performance and its application to clinical optometry.
• OPT-V 665 Vision Science II: Ocular Motility (3.5 cr.)Characteristics, control, and deficits of the five somatic eye-movement systems (convergence, saccadic version, pursuit version, fixation main­tenance, vestibular reflex) and the autonomic systems subserv­ing accommodation and pupillary diameter reflexes.
• OPT-V 666 Physiological Optics IV: Binocular Function (2.5 cr.)Bin­ocular sensory mechanisms of vision. Summary of the geom­etry of three-dimensional space and stereo vision, underlying neuroanatomy and physiology of binocular vision, prerequisites for normal stereopsis, and commonly encountered anomalies of binocular vision.