The broad goal of the teaching of students in ophthalmology is to provide such knowledge and skills to the students that shall enable him to practice as a clinical and as a primary eye care physician and also to function effectively as a community health leader to assist in the implementation of National Programme for the prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of the visually

Objectives

Knowledges :

At the end of the course, the student should have knowledge of:

1. Common problems affecting the eye
2. Principles of management of major ophthalmic emergencies
3. Main systemic diseases affecting the eye
4. Effects of local and systemic diseases on patient’s vision and the necessary action required to minimise the sequalae of such diseases;
5. Adverse drug reactions with special reference to ophthalmic manifestations;
6. Magnitude of blindness in India and its main causes;
7. National programme of control of blindness and its implementation at various levels
8. Eye care education for prevention of eye problems
9. Role of primary health centre in organization of eye camps
10. Organization of primary health care and the functioning of the ophthalmic assistant.
11. Integration of the national programme for control of blindness with the other national health programmes;
12. Eye bank organization

Skills:-

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

1. Elicit a history pertinent to general health and ocular status;
2. Assist in diagnostic procedures such as visual acuity testing, examination of eye, Schiotz tonometry, Staining for Corneal pathology, confrontation perimetry, Subjective refraction including correction of presbyopia and aphakia, direct ophthalmoscopy and conjunctival smear examination and Cover test.
3. Diagnose and treat common problems affecting the eye;
4. Interpret ophthalmic signs in relation to common systemic disorders;
5. Assist/observe therapeutic procedures such as subconjunctival injection, Corneal/Conjunctival foreign body removal, Carbolic cautery for corneal ulcers, Nasolacrimal duct syringing and tarsorraphy;
6. Provide first aid in major ophthalmic emergencies;
7. Assist to organize community surveys for visual check up;
8. Assist to organize community surveys for visual check up;
9. Use effective means of communication with the public and individual to motivate for surgery in cataract and for eye donation;
10. Establish rapport with his seniors, colleagues and paramedical workers, so as to effectively function as a member of the eye care team.