Course description

The students will learn the principles and practices of Ophthalmology. The course will be
conducted in the third phase of MBBS programme. The course is organized to provide
knowledge and skills to the students in order to recognize common eye problems and to
be able to decide conditions that can be managed by themselves and those needing referral in a
timely manner.
The course also emphasizes the importance of Ophthalmology in relation to other
branches of medicine and the overall well being of patients.
General objectives
Students will be able to

check the visual acuity and understand the relationship of the vision with ocular
anatomy and optical physiology of eye.

elicit the ocular history appropriately from the patients, parents and relatives and examine
the structures of eye with ophthalmic instruments.

order the necessary investigations and interpret them properly.

diagnose common eye diseases and provide appropriate treatments.

recognize emergency eye conditions that need urgent referral.

recognize eye conditions that need referral within days or weeks.

act as community leaders in providing eye care.

Specific objectives
Students will be able to

check and record the visual acuity. Understand the diseases of refractive errors,
amblyopia and squints.

recognize the clinical features of lid and ocular surface diseases like stye,
chalazion, entropion, ectropion, dry eyes, watering eyes, pterygium, infective
conjuctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, foreign body in the cornea or conjunctiva, corneal
abrasion, corneal ulcer and provide the primary care of the diseases.

recognize the clinical features, diagnose and treat trachoma and xerophthalmia,
Understand the national programmes for the prevention of the diseases.

describe the aetiopathology, clinical features, diagnostic approaches and

management of the anterior segment diseases like corneal disorders, episcleritis, scleritis,
uveitis, glaucoma and cataract.

discribe the causes, clinical features, diagnostic approaches and management of posterior
segments diseases like retinal vascular diseases in relation to hypertension and diabetes
mellitus, retinal detachment, retinoblastoma, choroidal melanoma, optic neuritis, optic
disc oedema.

explain the causes, clinical features, systemic associations and complications of orbital
diseases like orbital cellulitis, thyroid eye disease, orbital rabdomyosarcoma.

recognize the clinical features, diagnose and primary management and timely referral
of ocular emergencies like

o ocular trauma- closed and open globe injury

o corneal abrasion and corneal ulcer
o chemical injury
o acute congestive glaucoma
o orbital cellulitis
o endophthalmitis
o retinal detachment

develop decision making capability through problem based approach of the

following ocular complains:

o gradual loss of vision

o sudden loss of vision
o painless red eye
o painful red eye
o white pupil

o headache
o orbital swelling
Clinical Skills
Students will be able to

take history relevant to Ophthalmology.

do systematic ocular examination.

record visual acuity correctly.

do eyelid eversion and examination.

perform ocular motility test.

perform cover test to detect squint and their various manifestations/ types.

record pupillary light reflex and near light reflex.

examine anterior segment with a torch light.

perform direct ophthalmoscopy.

perform digital tonometry and Schiotz tonometry.

perform syringing.

perform corneal and conjunctival scraping, technique of staining, and culture and
sensitivity.

perform Incision and Drainage (l&D) of lid abscess.

remove superficial foreign body from external eye.

instill topical eye medicine correctly.

conduct community ophthalmology clinic.

Internship: The students will do a compulsory rotational posting for 2 weeks in

Ophthalmology after completing final MBBS University Examination. The aim of this rotation

is to enhance their clinical knowledge and skills learnt previously and to introduce them to
specialized ophthalmic services.
Recommended textbooks
1.Parson's Diseases of the Eye- by Stephen J.H. Miller
2.clinical Ophtalmology- by Jack J. Kanski
3.General Ophthalmology- by D. Vaughan and T. Asbury