OPTOM 345A/B : Principles of Ocular Pharmacology

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) / Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

General principles of pharmacology. Pharmacodynamics. Drug absorption, distribution and metabolism. Mechanism of drug action at receptors. Drugs and their application on ophthalmic practice. The autonomic nervous system: anatomy and physiology. Mechanisms of action of ocular pharmaceutical agents. Principles of pharmacological treatment of ocular disease. Drug interactions. Legislation on use of ocular pharmaceutical agents by optometrists in New Zealand and internationally. Introduction to therapeutic agents in optometric practice. Scope of treatment. Shared care.

Course Overview

The course OPTOM345 AB Principles of Ocular Pharmacology is a basic course introducing students to the general actions of drugs in the body (in Semester 1), with a focus on ophthalmic drugs (in Semester 2).
The course consists of a series of lectures and 2 related Laboratory sessions. The Laboratory sessions allow students to use (under supervision) common diagnostic drugs for the first time. The course provides basic information on drugs that are used in management of eye disease, that is developed in Part 4 courses.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: OPTOM 171 or 272 Restriction: OPTOM 245 To complete this course students must enrol in OPTOM 345 A and B

Course Contacts

Dr John Phillips
Dr Sara Hanning

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Optometry

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of basic pharmacological concepts and principles, including pharmacokinetics, dose response, chemical transmission and the specific action of drugs in the various organ systems of the body. (Capability 3 and 4)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms of action of ophthalmic diagnostic drugs and recognize the clinical indications for their use. (Capability 3, 4 and 8)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the mechanisms of action of antiviral, antibiotic and anti-fungal drugs, drug interaction and the problems of delivering drugs to the eye. (Capability 3, 4 and 8)
  4. Understand and describe the mechanisms of action and clinical indications for the use of ocular therapeutic medications including, antiglaucoma drugs, antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatory agents and dry eye medications. (Capability 3, 4 and 8)
  5. Understand and explain the basis of microbial resistance and the ocular side effects of systemic drugs. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  6. Demonstrate an appreciation of the responsibilities of a healthcare professional in relation to pharmacovigilance. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  7. Understand and describe the classification of medicines, written prescription requirements, abbreviations used on prescription forms and rules relating to issuing prescriptions. (Capability 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  8. Demonstrate a familiarity with the legal situation and the Acts that govern the use of drugs by Optometrists in New Zealand and Australia. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Test 15% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 20% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 15% Group Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Final Exam
Test
Quizzes
Laboratories

Workload Expectations

This course is a 15 point course spread over 2 semesters. Students are expected to spend ~6 hours per week involved in work associated with this course over the two semesters.

For this course, you can expect 38 hours of lectures, 4 hours of Laboratory work,  68 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 40 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. 
Attendance on campus is required for the tests and exams.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Lecture Notes.
Recommended texts
Lecture recordings

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on SET feedback in 2023, a closed-book formative test will be included in Semester 2 in 2024.

Other Information

none

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.