A study compared the perceptions of remedial optometry students concerning themselves, cognitive strategies used in studying, the studying and evaluation processes, and study habits with their tutors' perceptions. Two predominant problems emerged: the extent of responsibility of the student in academic difficulty and discrepancies in tutor/tutee…

A survey of chief academic officers and faculty (n=27) in 16 schools of optometry found that, since 1986, there has been a 75% increase in institutions requiring coursework in geriatric optometry and an 83% increase in those offering continuing professional education in this field. However, 67% of faculty report no formal training. Three faculty…

Low vision children (ages 4-19, n=137) were screened, and 77 percent were advised to have comprehensive clinical evaluations or ophthalmology services. The visual capability of the referred children was determined, low vision aids were prescribed for 56 children, and the degree of successful utilization of aids was evaluated. (JDD)

The article compares health care costs, insurance claims paid to practitioners, distribution of health care costs, numbers and ratios of practitioners, infant and neonatal mortality rates, for-profit organizations, underserved groups, technology, quality control, cure vs. care, prevention, and specific health care problems in the United States and…

At the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, a core course in pediatric optometry was revised to use a problem-centered approach and implemented with a class of 147 students. Students were assigned specific roles to distribute work evenly. A survey found students responded positively to this approach. (MSE)

A task force of opticians and educators in British Columbia was assembled to determine the knowledge and skills required of dispensing opticians and contact lens specialists. The ideas generated by the task force were analyzed and distilled into the standardized tasks listed in this document, using Krathwohl's taxonomy. The document contains 36…

A survey of 379 students in a private optometry college found that the students averaged 25.4 years of age, women students spent the majority of their early years in larger communities, and the educational levels of their parents were higher than those of men students. (MSE)

Controversy over the issue of drug licensure for optometrists is discussed. A study to analyze optometrists in terms of academic qualifications as compared to clinicians currently licensed to use pharmaceuticals is described. (MLW)

The origins, facilities, structure, progress, and future prospects of Nigeria's University of Benin optometry program, the first of its kind in Black Africa, are described. (MSE)

Characteristics of student enrollment and financial aid, extracted from the annual survey of optometric educational institutions conducted by the Council on Optometric Education, are reported. Student characteristics such as educational background, sex, minority group, and grade point average are among the data included. (Author/JMD)

An optometric clinical education workshop conducted by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry for clinical administrators and faculty is reported. Major issues were: clinical education objectives; nature and setting of clinical experience; methods, techniques and responsibilities of clinical instruction; and evaluation of student…

The Pennsylvania College of Optometry's experience in implementing problem-based learning, usually used in small classes, in a large group instructional situation in a traditional, subject-based optometric curriculum is described. Development of a modified approach, simulated patient problems, weekly quizzes, patient notes, large- and small-group…

A mobile eye care service is offered to homebound elderly residents of New York City (New York) by the State University of New York's College of Optometry. Fourth-year students are required to participate, learning techniques with hand-held equipment to examine a population with a high rate of ocular disease who might otherwise not receive…

A two-dimensional patient management problem test was designed to measure third-year optometry students' clinical competency at Pacific University (Oregon). Results suggest this evaluation method is valid and may be useful in identifying students needing to improve their clinical thinking skills. Some issues in test administration and scoring…

A national conference of colleges of optometry focused on planning for optometric curricular reform and faculty development. Issues addressed included changes needed to meet entry-level professional needs, available resources, changes in optometry practice, and optometry's role in health care reform. Task forces worked together to develop a…