Back to Clinical Rotations

 

Small Animal Ophthalmology Clinical Course 2003-2004

Course Syllabus – SAMS 5460

 

 

Instructors

 

Phillip Anthony Moore, DVM, DACVO       Ursula Dietrich, DVM, DACVO

Office: H-377                                                   Office: H-380

Phone: 542-2377                                            Phone: 542-6380

E-mail: pamoore@vet.uga.edu              Email: dietrich@vet.uga.edu

 

Veterinary Ophthalmology is a specialty of increasing interest to both referring veterinarians and pet owners. A considerable amount of ophthalmic cases is presented to any small or large animal practitioner, requiring correct diagnosis, appropriate treatment and if necessary referral ofthose the cases. The goal of this clinical rotation is to familiarize any veterinary student with basic ophthalmic diagnostic techniques and to teach them medical and surgical treatment options for the most common ophthalmic diseases in small animals, large animals and exotic species.

 

 

Information concerning the Ophthalmology Service

 

Personnel:

 

The ophthalmology service is headed by two rotating ophthalmologists:

Dr. Ursula Dietrich and Dr. Phillip Anthony Moore.

Current residents: Dr. Matthew Chandler (3rd year), Dr. Cory Mosunic (1st year)

Ophthalmology technician: Chris Barker

 

Receiving schedule:

 

The ophthalmology service is operated as an outpatient clinic. The appointment schedule will be posted every morning on the corkboard between the two ophthalmology exams rooms. Newly referred small animal patients will be seen on two days per week (Monday, Wednesday) from 9 am to 11:30 am. Every half hour a new appointment and a recheck appointment will be received concurrently. On the receiving days, large animal appointments are scheduled hourly in the afternoon (1:30, 2:30, 3:30), and will first be received and clinically examined by the assigned large animal student. The students on the ophthalmology rotation are expected to be present during the large animal appointments.

Tuesday and Thursday are surgery days, where no regular appointments will be scheduled. Students need to bring their scrubs and are expected to either assist during surgery or be present in the surgery suite.

On Fridays, only recheck examinations and CERF1-examinations are scheduled on a regular basis.

1(CERF= Canine Eye Registration Foundation; screening purebred dogs for inherited eye diseases)

The appointment schedule will be posted every morning on the corkboard between the two ophthalmology exams rooms

The students are expected to have scrubs available for use everyday of the rotation as emergency surgeries are performed as needed on the ophthalmology service.

 

 

Responsibilities of Senior Students on the Ophthalmology Rotation

 

The students are expected to review the material presented in the sophomore ophthalmology lecture course SAMS 5200.  It is expected that the students will have an understanding of ocular anatomy, ophthalmic pharmacology, orbital disease, eyelid abnormities, conjunctival disease, corneal disorders, anterior segment abnormalities, lens disorders, and posterior segment disorders (vitreal disorders, retinal and optic nerve disease) in dogs, cats and horses.        

 

Orientation:

 

The day of the block change an orientation session will be held by the resident or faculty at 9 AM to demonstrate and discuss the basic ophthalmic diagnostic techniques and to go over the paperwork that has to be filled out by the student. The students are expected to review the material presented in the sophomore ophthalmology lecture course SAMS 5200.  It is expected that the students will have an understanding of ocular anatomy, ophthalmic pharmacology, orbital disease, eyelid abnormities, conjunctival disease, corneal disorders, anterior segment abnormalities, lens disorders, and posterior segment disorders (vitreal disorders, retinal and optic nerve disease) in dogs, cats and horses.       

 

Outpatient responsibilities:

 

Students introduce themselves to the client, take a short history (case related) and perform basic ophthalmic  examination procedures on the patient: Visual reflex evaluation, Schirmer tear test, Fluorescein testing, Tonometry (Tono-Pen). The student examination form has to be filled out (ocular findings have to be sketched) and a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan has to be established and discussed with the clinician. The clinician and student will return to the exam room for further review and discussion with the owner. The student might be assigned to write discharge instructions, fill out pharmacy request forms and escort the client to the cashier window. Students are responsible for care of new patients that will stay in the hospital for further diagnostic testing (ocular ultrasound, x-rays, blood tests) or that will be dropped off for surgery.

 

Inpatient responsibilities:

 

Care of inpatients is an important responsibility of students on the service. They are responsible for surgery and anesthesia request forms, treatment sheets, and regular treatments of their patients. Patients should be SOAPed daily and checked throughout the day. Students should be able to discuss any patient condition changes, results of diagnostic tests, and changes in treatment plan throughout the day. Students communicate with the owners of all inpatients daily and they are also responsible for visits and discharges.

 

Weekend and Hholiday Responsibilities:

 

Occasionally the ophthalmology service has inpatients on the weekend and over holidays, students are responsible for their patients during this time. Responsibilities include examination, treatments, owner communication, visits, and discharges. Clinicians supervise and assist with inpatient care. Night treatments are done by the technicians on dutyThe technicians on duty do night treatments; however, the student is responsible for treatment on in house patients not in ICU up until 10:00PM.

 

 

 

 

 

In house consultations:

 

On a daily basis, clinicians on the ophthalmology service perform a number of consultations for other services in the hospital. Ophthalmology consult forms are usually posted on the corkboard throughout the day. When time permits, the consultations are done in the morning or afternoon and students are expected to participate.

 

Large Animal Patients:

 

Students on the ophthalmology rotation have no primary case responsibility for large animal patients. Receiving, treatment and client communication is the responsibility of the large animal student assigned to the case. However, during the examination process and surgery, the small animal students are expected to participate.

 

Rounds:

 

Teaching Rounds

Ophthalmology Teaching Rounds will be held once weekly from 9 to 910:30 AM in   the Small Animal rounds room on the second floor or the ophthalmic examination room. Rounds may be conducted in other rooms depending upon availability. The topics of the rounds will be determined by the faculty in charge, but is usually a case-based discussion (slightsslides) on ophthalmic cases. 

During the rotation the students may have to present a case selected by the faculty or will be required to present one or more of the cases they have seen on the rotation. The students may be required to document their cases with the use of digital cameras and present them during rounds.

 

Depending upon the faculty in charge, the students will have to present a case selected by the faculty or will be required to present one or more of the cases they have seen on the rotation. The student may be required to document their cases with the use of digital cameras and present them during roundMorning Rounds: 8.30-9am

Each morning the service will meet to discuss and examine all inpatients, change treatment plans and create a plan for the day.

 

Afternoon Rounds:

Depending upon the faculty in charge of the rotation, afternoon rounds will be held to discuss the in house cases and cases presented to the service during the day.   The students will be expected to attend afternoon rounds before going home for the day.  

 

 

 

Emergency responsibilities:

 

Students will be assigned evening and weekend emergency duty.  The assigned student will be required to see ophthalmic emergencies (surgical and non-surgical) in both the small animal and large animal hospital.  All students on the rotation should come prepared to stay after hours each day until dismissed by the senior faculty or residents on the service.     

 

 

Test

 

Students should bemight get prepared for a final examination at the end of each rotation. A written or oral examination may be given at the end of the rotation. Dr. Dietrich will give an oral question and answer session.  Dr. Moore may give a written test or an oral examination. testing might beAQS Therefore, the format of the examination will depend upon the individual faculty in charge of the rotation.  that will be scheduled by the individual faculty member when time permits.

 

Students are expected to abide by the academic honesty policies and guidelines outlined in the College of Veterinary Medicine Student Handbook.  Reveling the content of the examinations with other students will be considered a violation of the honor code.  You may not copy the examination, and the examination must be turned in to the faculty in charge by the end of the rotation. A grade will not be issued for the rotation until the examination is returned to the faculty member.  Reviewing previously administered examination content is not allowed and will be considered a violation of the honor code.

 

 

[The written examination, given by Dr. Moore may or may not be open book. Prior to each examination the student will be informed if the test is an open book examination or not.  

Students are expected to abide by the academic honesty policies and guidelines outlined in the College of Veterinary Medicine Student Handbook.  Reveling the content of the examinations with other students will be considered a violation of the honor code.  You may not copy the examination, and the examination must be turned in to the faculty in charge by the end of the rotation.  A grade will not be issued for the rotation until the examination is returned to the faculty member.  Reviewing previously administered examination content is not allowed and will be considered a violation of the honor code. 

All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.    

 

Policy for make-up examinations: 

 

A make-up examination will be given if an excused absence is provided by the Dean’s office. Unless the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs provides an extension, make-up examinations will be given within 5 working days following the examination.  At the discretion of the faculty in charge of the rotation, a different written or oral examination may be given as the make-up examination.  A written examination may be given in place of an oral question and answer session or an oral examination may be given in place of a written examination.]

 

 

 

 

Grading

 

Students will be evaluated as satisfactory/unsatisfactory based on their patient care, participation, and performance during the rotation (Ophthalmology evaluation sheet is attached). If given, test scores will be factored into the ophthalmic knowledge level and improvement during the rotation portions of the evaluation forms.

 

Attendance Policy:  Students are expected to be present everyday of the rotation unless an excused absence is provided by the Dean’s office.  The Dean’s office and the clinician in charge of the rotation should be notified of any absences.

Attendance Policy

 

 

 

Recommended Textbooks

 

Suggested textbooks and study material that are available in the reading room and ophthalmology examination rooms:

 

Ophthalmology CD Rom (Dr. Martin): can be purchased or is available online on the CALC

Slatter D: Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology, 3rd edition, W.B. Saunders, 2001.

Gelatt KN: Veterinary Ophthalmology (Textbook), 3rd edition, Williams& Wilkins, 1999.

Barnett KC, Jansom J, Heinrich C: Canine Ophthalmology. An atlas and text. W.B. Saunders, 2002.

Barnett KC, Crispin S.M.: Feline Ophthalmology. An atlas and text. W.B. Saunders Company, 2002.

 

 

Policy for make-up examinations:

 

Make up examinations will be allowed during the first week for the next rotation.  At the discretion of the faculty in charge of the rotation, a different written or oral examination may be given as the make-up examination. A written examination may be given in place of an oral question and answer session and an oral examination may be given in place of a written examination.    

The course syllabus is a general plan of the course; deviations announced to the class (rotation) by the instructor may be necessary.