Program Overview

Undergraduate Programme

The Undergraduate Programme in Ophthalmology aims to equip medical practitioners with the necessary skills and knowledge to conduct basic clinical eye examinations, order appropriate investigations, and initiate treatment. The programme emphasizes the importance of communication, professionalism, and continuous professional development.

Objectives

The main objectives of the undergraduate ophthalmic training programme include:

1. Attain competency in essential ophthalmic skills, especially in the context of a non-ophthalmic physician.
2. Attain action-oriented medical knowledge to recognize salient symptoms and signs of ophthalmic emergencies for urgent referral and to appreciate common eye conditions.
3. Appreciate the important public health concern and societal burden of potentially preventable blinding diseases.
4. Appreciate the role of ophthalmologists in the medical community and to uphold the highest standard of medical ethics.

Horizontal and Vertical Integration

The curriculum is integrated horizontally (with other parts of the curriculum being delivered each year) and vertically (from one year to another in a progressive manner).

Year 1 & 2 (System-based Blocks)

In the first two years, ophthalmology is taught along with anatomy and physiology, illustrating the clinical relevance and importance of basic science. An introduction to ophthalmic clinical skills, particularly visual acuity and pupil examination, will be conducted during the Endocrine and Reproductive Systems Block (ERS).

Year 4 (Clinical Foundation Block and Junior Clerkship)

The objective of the fourth year is to achieve competencies in ophthalmic clinical examination skills. The teaching is done in the form of skill laboratory during the integrated block. This will ensure that students are equipped with the skills and confidence to examine patients when they start their junior clerkship.

Year 5 (Senior Clerkship)

Year 5 will give students the greatest exposure to ophthalmology. The knowledge and clinical examination skills acquired in Years 1 to 4 provide the necessary background for students to begin their clinical attachments in Year 5. At the beginning of their senior clerkship, six whole-class sessions (WCS) will be introduced, covering topics such as red eyes, trauma and ocular emergency, eye problems in children, acute visual loss, gradual visual loss, and flashing photopsia.

Year 6

The WCS at the Final Revision block will be conducted in the form of an interactive slide quiz of common eye conditions and ophthalmic manifestations of systemic disease to prepare students for the final summative examination.

Medical Education-related Publications

• Ophthalmic clinical skills teaching in the time of COVID-19: a crisis and opportunity.
• Clinical skills education at the bed-side, web-side and lab-side.
• Does the COVID-19 Pandemic Spell the End for the Direct Ophthalmoscope?

Teaching Development Grants

• Introduction of Virtual Reality to the Teaching of Direct Ophthalmoscopy for Medical Students at the University of Hong Kong.
• Developing Telemedicine Consultation Skills for Future Doctors.
• Introduction of Augmented Reality (AR) Technologies to Educate Medical Students the Visual Symptoms and Progression of Important Vision-threatening Diseases.

Meet The Team

• Dr. Kendrick Co Shih, Clinical Associate Professor of Practice, Ophthalmology Speciality Curriculum Coordinator and Senior Clerkship Ophthalmology Teaching Coordinator.