Undergraduate Ophthalmology
More than 600 students in the undergraduate medical curriculum are taught each year
by the Department of Ophthalmology with teaching occurring in 3rd, 4th, 5th and
6th years of the courses. In total each medical student spends more than two weeks
being exposed to clinical and theoretical aspects of ophthalmology, which are then
used in many other sub-specialty attachments. In addition more than a dozen medical
and science students undertake extended clinical or research attachments each year.
All fifth year students are also taught basic vision assessment techniques in conjunction
with the Department of Optometry and Vision Science.
Undergraduate Optometry
There are over 200 students within the undergraduate optometry program. The final
year optometry students are involved not only in the delivery of primary ophthalmic
care, working in both the Grafton and Tamaki clinics, but also undertake community
vision screenings. With the change in legislation allowing optometrists to prescribe
a number of therapeutic agents, the interaction between the Department of Optometry
and Vision Science and the Department of Ophthalmology has significantly increased.
Undergraduate teaching by the Department of Ophthalmology is undertaken in part
III and IV of the optometry program including both didactic and clinical teaching
within a hospital setting.
Postgraduate Ophthalmology
The Department of Ophthalmology is heavily involved in the clinical training of
eight local vocational registrars each year who are pursuing fellowship of the Royal
Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. In addition five clinical
research fellows from as far afield as the UK, Germany, Bulgaria, Brazil and the
USA undertake advanced clinical and surgical training each year. The department
has state of the art teaching facilities including the Calvin Ring Microsurgical
Wetlab and works closely with the Ophthalmology Department at Greenlane Hospital
and a number of private ophthalmic practices in Auckland.
Postgraduate Optometry
The development of a large active postgraduate program has provided an additional
career option for optometry graduates to pursue. In addition, it has become an avenue
of increased collaboration on the research front between different laboratories
involved in vision research. Postgraduate supervision is becoming interlaced between
the various members of NZ-NEC. The postgraduate teaching also involves assessment
and award of postgraduate diplomas. The legislation changes allowing optometrists
to use a range of therapeutic agents has not only meant a change in the undergraduate
teaching, but also the development of a postgraduate ocular therapeutic course.
This course is undertaken in conjunction with the Department of Ophthalmology, which
provides about one half of the didactic component. The postgraduate students also
undertake clinical rotations within a hospital setting and in private ophthalmology
clinics. Such interaction has been conducive to establishing and developing close
collaborations not only between the academic departments but also between the two
ophthalmic professions.
NZ-NEC Postgraduate Research
The life-blood of research productivity in any university remains the interaction
between experienced mentors and up and coming researchers, particularly those pursuing
research degrees in the form of masters (MSc) and doctorate degrees. The members
of the NZ-NEC provide postgraduate opportunities in the full range of laboratory
and clinical based higher degrees including Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor
of Medicine (MD). The breadth of research experience offered by NZ-NEC optometrists,
scientists and ophthalmologists is unparalleled in Australasia and enables the completion
of projects covering all aspects of the clinical and visual sciences related to
the eye and vision apparatus – from the skin of the eyelids to the inner recesses
of the occipital lobe of the brain. Indeed, at the present time some 30 postgraduate
students are undertaking, or have just completed, PhD and MD research studies in
the departments of the NZ-NEC, making it one of the larger vision science research
centres internationally.
