An outline for a professional development and administration course in an optometry curriculum model is provided. It is designed to develop organizational, communicative, and management skills so the optometrist can become successful in the development and administration of a professional practice. Legal and professional development bibliographies…

The purposes of this study were to determine if (1) the attitudes of optometry students could be changed with structured experimental treatments; (2) any attitude change that did occur could be maintained over a short period of time; (3) differential treatment effects would occur due to different types of treatments. (Author/MLW)

A study evaluated the use of the Kolb Learning Styles Inventory as a predictor of academic potential, for use in recruitment of optometry students. Although distinctive learning preferences were observed in low- and high-achieving students, correlations were not strong enough for predictive use. (Author/MSE)

A curriculum assessment of the 17 schools of optometry in the United States found much variability in the number and proportion of clock hours assigned to various curriculum tracks in the didactic curriculum. Most schools, however, assigned a similar proportion of clock hours to clinical experience. (Author/DB)

Two aspects of optometric preceptorships (off-campus field experience supervision programs) are discussed: the process of defining goals (long-term, specific learning, and general attitudinal and value); and the process of developing the program (initiation, site selection, preceptor selection and recruitment, participant selection, program…

Describes a survey of members of the Association of Visual Science Librarians (AVSL) that evaluated the professional and financial support by their institutions. Results are discussed and compared to the 1971 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Standards for Faculty Status for College and University Librarians. (LRW)

The study compared the effectiveness of Irlen filters and traditional optometric intervention with 30 volunteers (ages 9-51). Pre- and posttesting revealed that subjects in both treatment groups were more comfortable after treatment, that only the vision therapy group showed improved visual functioning, and that the Irlen filter group did not show…

Surveyed entering optometry students (n=404) and again during their fourth year (n=314) for knowledge about and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Analysis indicated significant improvement from pre- to post-test for general HIV/AIDS knowledge and optometric-specific HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes. For universal precautions implementation, no change in…

Describes Intermittent Central Suppression (ICS), a treatable eye malfunction that can make reading difficult. Reports that some students with ICS are not diagnosed through standard vision acuity tests and are misdiagnosed as learning disabled. Presents a study that found that students who were treated for ICS stayed in school longer than students…

Mind mapping, which challenges the right side of the brain, is recommended as a technique for designing classroom work and stimulating more effective and efficient comprehension. (MSE)

Demographic information relevant to planning for optometric education is examined from three perspectives: changes in the national population, changes within the health professions in general, and changes within optometry. (MSE)

The development, implementation, and results of an experimental independent study course designed to provide professional continuing education in the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents in optometry are described. (MSE)

A discussion of the optometric curriculum problems posed by the information explosion and technological advancement, broadening of the scope of practice, and changing societal needs looks at essential components of the curriculum and possible solutions. (MSE)

High-impact trends in optometric practice are examined including looks at several different approaches to practice (narrow scope, broad scope, primary care, and specialty practice), alternatives and predictions, and specific curricular recommendations. (MSE)

The movement to shift the optometric testing focus from traditional visual sciences to the biomedical sciences is fortunate, but the optometric curriculum should also be carefully evaluated and redesigned to integrate the sciences better. (MSE)