optometry [n.]

the occupation of measuring eyesight, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting eye disease.

Oxford Dictionaries

This page provides links to information and resources for units and topics covered in this subject at a range of Australian universities. It does not attempt to include all these. Be aware some units/topics have different titles in different universities, even though content may be the same or similar. Australian information is supplied wherever possible.

They are at undergraduate level and listed in alphabetical groupings for ease of access. Some information may be useful at a higher level.

In addition, there are journals, search engines, annual reviews, reference material and other general information where these are seen to be relevant.

Additional unit material will be included as time permits.

If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given every consideration.

You should check related areas as well as specific topic. Be aware there is often considerable overlap between some of the topic groupings provided below..

A - F

Anatomy & Histology of the Eye

Anatomy, histology, orbit & visual pathways, microscopic appearance of cells and tissues, neuroanatomy of the visual pathways, effect on ocular structures of diseases and more.

• Anatomy & Physiology I Animations
  Movies & Interactive Tutorial Links. Select Special Senses to access those related to optometry and vision.
• Anatomy of the Eye - A Study Guide for Residents
  By a professor at UCLA.
• Anatomy, Histology, Physiology
  Annotated links from the New England College of Optometry.
• Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology of the Human Eye
  Overview, glossary, graphics, photos, anatomy, other.
• Eye, Brain and Vision
  ‘My intention in writing this book was to describe what we know of the anatomy and physiology of the visual pathway up to the striate cortex’ Book, Illusions. Full-text.
• Histology of the Eye
  Information and diagrams. A second Text Presentation of information can be found here, while a Histology Photo Album is found here.
• Molson Media Sampler
  ‘Showcasing illustrations, animations and build overlays’. Graphics heavy, so it can be slow to load.
• Study Guide For Histology of The Eye
  Extensive outline. US group.
• The Organization of the Retina and Visual System
  Webvision. Hypertext book, covering all related areas. University of Utah.
  Well worth visiting.

Australian Sites

• Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists
  Information from What is Behavioural Optometry ? to Computerised Vision Therapy.
• Optometrists Association Australia
  The association, eye & vision information, all about optometry, information for optometrists, clinical & experimental optometry.
• The Centre for Eye Research Australia
  ‘Improving the living conditions and lifestyles of thousands of Australians who are now, or may be in the future, affected by vision impairment’. Research findings, links.

Contact Lenses

Physiological and optical principles of contact lenses, usage of contact lenses, symptoms, abnormal conditions associated with contact lens wear, more.

• Common Contact Lens Complications
  5 major abnormalities that may occur.
• Contact Lens Primer
  Basic primer.
• Contact Lens Problems
  Incidence, predisposition, problems. Links, some references.
• Contact Lenses
  Glossary, how to wear them, abnormal conditions, particular designs.
• The Institute for Eye Research
  ‘The world’s leading institution for cornea and contact lens research. It is the largest existing centre devoted to such research, with extensive laboratory and clinical services’. University of New South Wales.
• Wavefront-guided Contact Lenses
  Design Principles and Limitations. Research article.

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G - L

General Sites

• Expert Insights
  ‘An innovative CE platform that uses newsletter series, audio CDs, and the Internet to deliver CE activities from the world’s leading medical experts in a highly effective Q & A format’.
• Eye Resources on the Internet
  Listing in alphabetical groupings. Associations, societies, newsletters, more.
• Online Resources
  University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Centre. Annotated listing of ophthalmology sites listed in five directories.
• Review of Optometry Online
  Current issue, archive, Disease Handbook, Drug Guide, Conference review, newsletters, Ophthalmic links, more.
• The World Council of Optometry
  Programs, projects, news, resources, more.
• Vision CRC
  Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology. ‘Dedicated to developing better ways of correcting vision’. Research information, education, collaboration, more.

Histopathology, Ocular

Changes caused by disease, inflammation, wound healing, immune response, ageing, related systems, glaucoma, more.

• Ageing and Visual Disability
  World Health Organisation.
• Books for Pathologists
  Annotated listing of books for pathologists. Some cover this area.
• Glaucoma Australia
  ‘To minimise visual disability from glaucoma’. Information, articles, brochures, links.
• Glaucoma Research Foundation
  Booklets, factsheets, information on what it is, types and other facts. Opens pon the What is Glaucoma ? page. US.
• Macular Degeneration and Its Treatment Options
  Diagnosis, symptoms, treatment.
• Retina Atlas 1.0.2
  ‘Simple access to illustrations for a variety of diagnoses’.
• Vision Changes
  Sub-titled What are vision changes ?. Still well written and applicable.
• Vision Loss - Some Causes Explained
  BetterHealth, Victoria. Some of the reasons for vision loss among the ageing.

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M - R

Occupational Optometry, Visual Standards

National and international standards designed to provide guidance for appropriate standards of safety, eye injuries, eye protection, visual ergonomics, visual standards for specific tasks.

• Assessing Fitness to Drive
  Austroad. Includes vision standards.
• Australian Standard for Spectacles
• Conventional Wisdom v. Current Thinking
  Covers areas including vision.
• Driver Vision Standards
  ‘Optometrists Association Australia position statement’.
• Ergweb
  While commercially based, it has resources, news, software solutions, buyer’s guide, more.
• Eye Injuries
  MedlinePlus. Overviews, Treatment, Prevention/Screening, Specific Conditions, Related Issues, Clinical Trials, Anatomy/Physiology, Directories, Organizations, Children, Statistics.
• Eye Injuries [2]
  Australian information [Western Australia].
• Eye Disorders [Merck]
  The Merck Manual. Introduction, three areas covering Foreign Bodies, Contusions & Lacerations, Burns.
• Eye Protection Campaign [Kidsvision]
  Optometrists Association Australia campaign. Information on UV protection and effects.
• Eye Safety
  While US-based, it has a significant range of eye safety information.
• Shopping for Standards
  ‘All Australian, ISO and IEC Standards, publications from other national and international organisations’. Fee-based.

Optics : From Rainbows to Digital Imaging

Light waves, how they are measured, how elements bend and manipulate them to achieve effects, the use of optical fibres, digital imaging, virtual reality, more.

• A Brief History of Optics
  Timeline from -300 BCE.
• Human Vision and Colour Perception
  From Molecular Expressions.
• Interference of Light Waves
  Information, applets to demonstrate. Links to other aspects of light, colour, digital imaging, more.
• Lasers, Optics and Photonics Resources and News
  Articles, news, features, resources, magazine, events, more.
• Light
  From Wikipedia. Optics, colour & wavelengths, measurement, theories, refraction, more.
• Light and Color
  Part of the Science, Optics & You section of Molecular Expressions.
• Optics & Photonics Web Sites
  Listing under several headings. Scroll down to these.
• Optics InfoBase
  ‘Web-based repository of optics research with added services to meet the individual subscriber’s needs’.
• Optics Links Index
  ‘Links to optics-related applets, tutorials, web sites of interest’.
• OpticsNotes
  ‘Index of Optics & Photonics Tutorials, References & Resources’.
• Optics Researchers See the Light
  Article, PDF version.
• Optics, Waves, Sound
  Applets, information, shockwave presentations, more.
• Tour of Optics on the Web
  More than 120 applets to develop understanding. Each clearly designated.
• Waves and Optics in a 3D Virtual Environment
  ‘Motion in the Ocean’. Article with references.

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Physics : Principles & Applications

Developing a broad understanding of elementary principles of physics and their relationship to both physical and biological instances.

• Physics - check links on the Physics page in addition to those listed here.
• General Principles and Physics of Lasers
  Articles. Good information, extensive linked bibliography.
• Light and Matter - Physics
  Free, downloadable texts on major aspects of Physics.
• Physics Principles
  ‘Demonstrations of basic physics principles, written for use in a web-based physics course’.
• Physics232
  ‘Prepared not as a substitute for the text book, but instead as a substitute for lecture notes’. University of Michigan.
• Physics Help
  Tasmanian Education. 42 topics, introductory concepts and more.
• Physics Lessons, Tutorials and Help
  Covers basics. Some sections require plug-ins usually available Free.
• Physics Tutorials
  University of Guelph, Canada. Also remedial activities.
• Physlink
  Portal covering education, reference, directories, fun, news, more.

Physiology [Optometry]

Homeostasis, cellular physiology, characteristics of specialised cells, systems serving specialised body functions, sub-cellular to membrane structures, metabolism.

• Aquaporins in Complex Tissues
  Distribution of Aquaporins 1-5 in Human and Rat Eye. Research findings.
• Functional Dissection of Eyes Absent
  Reveals New Modes of Regulation Within The Retinal Determination Gene Network. Full-text article.
• Homeostasis
  General introduction. From Wikipedia.
• How Human Visual Systems Recognize Objects
  ‘A Novel Computational Model’. PDF report, specific research.
• Phototherapy, Homeostasis, Light Treatment
  Article.
• Physiological Homeostasis
  Background, specialist links.
• The Eye
  Information, diagrams, more.
• Two Visual Systems of the Human Eye
  [Brightness Adaptation and Discrimination. Scotopic and photopic vision.
• Visual Systems
  Wikipedia presentation on the nervous system part that allows us to see.

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S - Z

Vision : How Eyes See the World

Understanding vision functions as well as visual perception including light - measuring this, perception and anatomy of the eye, visual perception, refractive errors, relationships to sight in other species, temporal and form vision, colour, more.

• All About Vision
  Guides to all things related to the eye and vision. Includes problems, contact lenses, LASIK, more.
• Eye Care Information Centre
  ‘Comprehensive, doctor-reviewed information on eye care and related topics such as eye health, eye diseases, and vision correction options including eyeglasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery’.
• Eye Conditions and Diseases
  University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Centre. Each of the extensive alphabetical listing has considerable information, plus a number also have podcasts.
• Eye Conditions - Diseases & Disorders
  Most researched conditions, common conditions, alphabetical listing of all conditions, news, more.
• Eyes and Vision Topics
  Medline Plus. Topics from Macular Degeneration to Retinoblastoma. There is extensive information on Eye Diseases as part of this site.
• EyeSight Overview
  From Medicine.net.
• Myths about Vision and Eyes
  Covers many of these.
• Vision Science
  ‘An Internet Resource for Research in Human and Animal Vision’. Listed under Community, Career, Resources and Communications.
• Refractive Errors
  Annotated links. Specific disorders, refractive correction. Open Directory Project.
• The Eye and Sense of Vision
  3 major sections - Form and Function of the Eyeball, Form and Function of Retinal Pathways and Central Visual Pathways.
• The Eyecare Connection
  ‘Articles and reports on eye health and vision care. A useful source for answers to frequently asked questions and medically relevant information about the human vision system’.
• Vision & Eyesight
  Information under six main headings.
• Vision
  Open Directory Project. Most aspects of vision and eyesight.
• Vision Therapy
  Vision therapy, what is involved, links to further information.

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