Elements of physiology of vision, the basics of visual optics, ocular optics and optical factors associated with vision; emmetropia and ametropia, etiology of refractive defects; correction of ametropia with glasses and contact lenses. Visual acuity measurement and octotype calculation, monocular refraction methods and prescription in case of ametropia; eye accommodation and presbyopia, measurement and prescription in case of presbyopia.
Visual Optics. F. Zeri, A. Rossetti, A. Fossetti, A. Calossi, Universo Publishing Company, Rome, 2012. Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13
Learning Objectives
Knowledge: know the optics of the ocular optical system and the factors associated with vision; the various ametropias both from an etiological and refractive point of view; the correction of visual defects, the mechanism of accommodation and its influence on near vision and on the causes of presbyopia.
Acquired skills: knowing how to perform calculations on ametropia, referring to a schematic eye; calculate the accommodative power in relation to age, be able to relate the ocular dimensions (curvature of the cornea and axial length) with ametropia, be able to measure visual acuity.
Office hours: at the end of the lessons or by appointment
Type of Assessment
Written and oral exam.
Course program
Course contents (detailed program):
Physiological optics: - Ocular dioptric: cornea and crystalline function - Schematic eye: exact, simplified, reduced - Cornea and crystalline power - Axes and angles - Calculation of the diameter of the diffusion disk - Depth of focus and field - Hole pinhole. Measurement of visual acuity: - Minimum visible, minimum separable, minimum readable, hyperacuity - Dimensions of the retinal image, calculation of the size of the optotypes - Measurement scales of visual acuity: decimal notation, Monoyer scale, Metric Snellen scale, Imperial Snellen scale, cycles by degree, Log Mar - Optotypes: letters of the alphabet, Snellen's E, Landolt's rings, children's figures, lattices.
Emmetropia and ametropia: - Concept of emmetropia - Axial ametropia and refractive ametropia - Remote point and proximate point - Accommodation: physiology of accommodation - Clear and comfortable vision range in relation to ametropia and age - Myopia: classification according to Curtin and according to Grosvenor, etiology, evolution, symptomatology, control and correction methods - High myopia: ocular alterations, symptoms, correction - The emmetropization process. Environmental factors influencing myopia. Control of myopic progression. Hyperopia: congenital, acquired; latent, manifest; absolute, optional; etiology, symptomatology, correction. Astigmatism: regular, irregular; refractive, corneal, internal; second rule, against rule, oblique; myopic, hyperoptic, mixed; simple, composed.