AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at forming a mental scheme and constructing a semi-scientific protocol in a particular situation such as that of the preverbal age child that can be applied to other situations in any age in which a verbal response from the patient can not be obtained for clinical conditions.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes 10 hours of lectures with the use of slides and the practical use of appropriate preparatory equipment for the period of attendance at the U.O Clinic. Ophthalmology of the IRCCS Gaslini in which the application of what was done in the course is then implemented.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Ocular seismology of the preverbal age child: notions of pathophysiology and of the maturation of the visual system, examination of motility, of visual function. Neonatal eye screening

• Anatomical and functional features of the visual system of the newborn and child:

(cornea, lens, macula and optical pathways)

• Maturation stages of visual function in the newborn and in the child

• General and ophthalmological history

• Ophthalmologic semeiotic in preverbal age

1. Maturation processes of the visual function

2. Indirect assessment tests of visual function: Fixation reflex, Fixation preference (fixation retention), Blink reflex pupillary reflex, Anatomic integrity of dioptric means, Anterior posterior anatomic integrity, Refraction (High ametropia - Anisometropia), Strabismus

3. Direct evaluation tests of visual acuity NOC optokinetic nystagmus, Preferential gaze test (PLT), Visual evoked potentials (PEV), Tracking reflex, Hirschberg test, Brückner test, Stereopsis test (Lang)

4. Neonatal Ophthalmological Screening - Pediatric Ophthalmology Card

5.Rules of the Professional Orthoptic assistant in Ophthalmology in Screening and in Preverbal Eye Visits

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

M. Zingirian, G. Calabria, G. Ciurlo: "Ophthalmology and Vision Quality" I.N.C. SOI Congress proceedings 1992 Pagg: 19-24; 416-459