Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Ophthalmology in Practice
Other languages of instruction: Catalan,
Teaching staff
Students may ask lecturers questions at the end of each class. For enquiries outside of class time, students must make an appointment by email:
Responsable
Dr. Rafael I. Barraquer Compte – rib@barraquer.com / ribarraquer@uic.es
Altres professors
Dr. Javier Elizalde – javierelizalde@barraquer.com / jelizalde@uic.es
Lc. Maribel Canut – mcanut@barraquer.com / mcanut@uic.es
Lc. Ainoha Martínez Grau - amgrau@barraquer.com / amartinezgr@uic.es
Lc. Idoia Rodríguez Maiztegui – idoiar@barrquer.com / irodriguezm@uic.es
Introduction
The ophthalmology practice involves a series of specialized procedures regarding the medical history, basic and complementary explorations, diagnosis and treatment processes, beyond the theory knowledge. This optional subject makes it possible to progress in the acquisition of the mentioned clinical skills, as well as basic knowledge about patient-centred clinical management and adequate use of tests, medicines and other health system resources. It is designed for students interested in devoting themselves to this speciality as well as to ensure the acquisition of the basic competence and skills in practical ophthalmology which are necessary for the general practitioner.
Pre-course requirements
Basic knowledge in structure and function of the vision organ and in ophthalmology (it is advisable to have taken the subject “Ophthalmology” but it is not a requisite to have passed it)
Objectives
General: Understand and acquire the basic knowledge and skills characteristic of the clinical practice in ophthalmology.
Specific: Acquire the basic knowledge and skills in the following aspects:
- The ophthalmology medical history
- Functional vision examination and refraction
- Basic ophthalmology exploration: External, anterior and posterior segments
- Ocular motility and binocular vision exploration
- Complementary explorations and picture tests
- Diagnostic processes, differential diagnosis and treatment
- Ophthalmologic emergencies. Minor procedures
- Basic notions of ocular microsurgery
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 06 - Develop professional practice with other health professionals, acquiring teamwork skills.
- 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
- 10 - To understand and recognise the agents and risk factors which determine health status, and learn how they determine the symptoms and natural development of acute or chronic diseases in individuals and populations.
- 13 - Obtain and develop a clinical history that contains all relevant information.
- 14 - Perform a physical examination and a mental assessment.
- 15 - Ability to formulate an initial diagnosis and establish a rationalised diagnostic strategy.
- 16 - Recognize and deal with situations that put life in immediate danger and those that require immediate attention.
- 17 - Establish the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, applying principles based on the best information possible and safe clinical practice..
- 18 - To indicate the most appropriate (pharmacological, surgical, psychological, social or other) treatments that are pertinent to the most prevalent procedures, in terms of rehabilitation and also terminally ill patients, including an evaluation of their effectiveness.
- 19 - Propose preventive measures appropriate to each clinical situation.
- 20 - Acquire adequate clinical experience in hospitals, health centers and other health institutions under supervision, as well as basic knowledge of clinical management and patient-centered proper use of tests, drugs and other health system resources.
- 22 - To write and maintain medical records and other medical documents which can be understood by third parties and are adapted to the protocols and information that is required.
- 23 - Communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing with patients, family members, media and other professionals.
- 24 - Establish good interpersonal communication skills that enables efficient and empathetic communication with patients, relatives, media and other professionals.
- 31 - Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
- 36 - Be able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving using the scientific method.
- CB-1 - To have acquired advanced knowledge and demonstrated, within the context of highly specialised scientific and technological research, detailed comprehension based on theoretical and practical aspects and a working methodology from one or more fields of study.
- CB-2 - To know how to apply and incorporate knowledge, an understanding of it and its scientific basis and the ability to solve problems in new and loosely defined environments, including multidisciplinary contexts that include both researchers and highly specialised professionals.
- CB-5 - To transmit in a clear and unambiguous way to a specialised or non-specialised audience, the results of scientific and technological research projects and innovation from the field of the most advanced innovation, as well as the most important concepts which they are based on.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, the student:
- Will know and will be able to perform the different parts of the ophthalmology clinical history.
- Will know the techniques of functional vision examination and refraction and will be able to perform them at their elementary level.
- Will know the methodology and techniques of the basic ophthalmology examination, both in the anterior and posterior segment, and will be able to perform them at their elementary level.
- Will know the methodology and techniques of the ocular motility and binocular vision examinations, and will be able to perform them at their elementary level.
- Will know the main complementary examinations in ophthalmology, indications and basic notions of their interpretation.
- Will know and will be able to perform at their elementary level the diagnosis processes, differential diagnosis and therapeutic plan in the main pathologies of the usual ophthalmology clinical practice.
- Will know the main pathologies that make up ophthalmology emergencies, the methodology of their primary attention and the minor emergency procedures, and will be able to perform them at their elementary level.
- Will know the main kinds of ocular surgery, their indications, preoperative examinations, the fundamental aspects of their techniques and their postoperative handling.
Syllabus
The contents of the course are generally based in the syllabus of the subject “Ophthalmology” but with an essentially practical orientation, which is structured in the following activities:
- Practice in the ophthalmology clinical consultations
- Practice in the ophthalmology emergencies service
- Practice in the complementary explorations services
- Laboratories of specific clinical abilities
- Laboratories of basic surgical techniques
- Specific seminars and clinical sessions
- Surgical amphitheatres
Subjects:
- The ophthalmology clinical history
- Visual function examination: Visual acuity measurement and refraction notions
- External exploration of the eye and anterior segment (slit lamp, gonioscopy, applanation tonometry)
- Posterior segment exploration (direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy with lenses with and without contact)
- Basic exploration of the ocular motility and binocular vision
- Complementary explorations related to the ocular surface, anterior segment and refractive
- Complementary explorations related to glaucoma
- Complementary explorations related to posterior segment
- Main external ocular pathologies: Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment
- Main anterior segment pathologies: Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment
- Main posterior segment pathologies: Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment
- Main pathologies of motility and ocular annexes: Diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment
- Ophthalmologic emergencies. Selection according to emergency degree. Primary attention and emergency treatment. Minor surgical procedures (lavage, superficial foreign bodies removal, etc.)
- Laser treatments and ocular surgery: Main kinds, indications, technique and postoperative handling)
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The following teaching methodologies will be implemented:
- Master classes: Introduction to the pathology and exploration techniques in the different ophthalmology subspecialties
- Seminars: Clinical cases checkup in the different ophthalmology subspecialties
- Clinical practice
- Laboratory practice
- Seminars, Clinical & Lab practices will be in person at the Centro de Oftalmologia Barraquer venue. Address: Muntaner 314, Barcelona 08021).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The subject evaluation will be performed by means of the following methods:
1. Continuous evaluation during the practice (attendance assessment,
2. Final test:
2.1. Presentation and discussion of a clinical case by each student (the last practice day). Value over final qualification: 20%
2.2. Test on clinical cases. Value over final qualification: 20%
Bibliography and resources
- “Josefa Moner” library (Instituto Barraquer)
- Oftalmología clínica. Autor : J. Kanski
- Atlas de Oftalmología. Autor: J.Kanski
- Curso de Ciencias Básicas y Clínicas de la Academia Americana de Oftalmología. Autores varios
- Guiones de Oftalmología. Autor: J.C. Pastor Gimeno et al.
- Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer facilities:
- Doctors’ offices
- Eemergencies service
- Complementary and functional explorations
- Experimental surgery laboratory
- Surgical amphitheatres
Instituto Barraquer Auditorium