Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the clinical and diagnostic elements needed to know and understand the neuro-ophthalmological diseases; the the teacher will discuss each specific topics contained in the program thus providing the student with the clinical foundamentals (in terms of symptoms, signs, diagnosis and therapy) on brain or systemic disorders that have an important involvement of the visual system (often as clinical onset).
From these lessons, students will have provided all the elements to be able to apply knowledge and understanding in what will be the professional expertise in their work.
Finally, the teaching will be interactive with the students, and from this it is clear that the aim of this course is also to gain autonomy of subjective judgment, communication skills, as well as ability to learn.
Prerequisites
A good knowledge on the anatomy and the physiology of the visual system is mandatory for the present course
Course unit content
The following pathologies will be discussed during the course:
Optic neuritis: Typical:
Anterior (papillitis)
Posterior (retrobulbar)
Atypical:
Ischemic
Compressive
Toxic/deficiency
Hereditary
Postraumatic
Papilledema
Tumour of the optic nerve and its malformations (Hypoplasia, Drusen, Coloboma)
Diseases of the optic chiasm
Localisation of anatomical site of damage on the basis of visual field alterations (clinical cases)
Optic tract lesion
Retrogeniculate lesions
Anatomy, innervation and function of the extraocular musculature
Paralytic strabismus
Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy
Exophthalmos and orbital diseases
Pupillary disorders
Full programme
A detailed lecture will be given on each of the following pathologies during the course:
Optic neuritis: Typical:
Anterior (papillitis)
Posterior (retrobulbar)
Atypical:
Ischemic
Compressive
Toxic/deficiency
Hereditary
Postraumatic
Papilledema
Tumour of the optic nerve and its malformations (Hypoplasia, Drusen, Coloboma)
Diseases of the optic chiasm
Localisation of anatomical site of damage on the basis of visual field alterations (clinical cases)
Optic tract lesion
Retrogeniculate lesions
Anatomy, innervation and function of the extraocular musculature
Paralytic strabismus
Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy
Exophthalmos and orbital diseases
Pupillary disorders
Bibliography
F. Carta, A. Carta: "Neuroftalmologia" Quarta Edizione, Monduzzi Edizioni 2009. ISBN: 978-88-323-6148-3.
C. Azzolini, F. Carta, G. Marchini, U. Menchini: "Clinica dell'apparato visivo" Edizioni Elsevier 2010. ISBN: 978-88-214-3124-1.
Adams and Victor: "Neurology"
power Point Presentations of the teacher
Teaching methods
The course will be conducted through lectures on individual topics of the program; at the beginning of each lesson, teacher will give a brief summary of the previous lecture in order to provide a "real time learning" for the students.
The lessons are "interactive" with the students and, for some topics on which the students themselves should have already bases provided by the previous courses, students are encouraged and motivated to turn to make a short introductory part of the lesson prepared at home.
This interactive mode of teaching aims to make students more involved in the school year, other than more stimulated to understand the topics addressed; furthermore, this way of teaching offers them the opportunity to present arguments in front of an audience, testing their skills exhibition.
Depending on the progress of the pandemic, it may be necessary to conduct distance learning through the use of Microsoft Teams.
Assessment methods and criteria
The first step in assessing the student' learning will be made through an oral examination on several topics of the course program.
The second step in testing student' knowledge will be made checking his analytical capacity regarding clinical cases of typical and atypical presentation of neuro-ophthalmological disorders; in this way the teacher will evaluate not only the memory performance of each student related to study and repetition of the lessons, but also his ability of synthesis, thinking, learning, pondering and fusion of the elements of study in itself.
Depending on the progress of the pandemic it may be necessary to conduct the examinations remotely through the use of Microsoft Teams.
Other information
Students will be provided with teacher's power point presentations.
