The student must be able to acquire a defined level of required knowledge as presented through lectures, laboratories, demonstrations, patient interaction and self-study. Acquiring this body of information necessitates the functional use of visual, auditory and somatic sensation enhanced by the functional use of other sensory modalities. Examples of these observational skills in which accurate information needs to be extracted in an efficient manner include:

a. Audio/Visual:

• Reading and interpreting information from presentations, papers, slides, video and live demonstrations.
• Discriminating numbers, images and patterns associated with diagnostic tests and instruments, including microscopic images of tissue in order to discern three-dimensional relationships, depth and color changes.

b. Tactile Abilities:

• Palpating the eye and related areas to determine the integrity of the underlying structures.

The student must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and sensitively with patients and their families, peers, staff, instructors and other members of the health care team. The student must be able to demonstrate established communication skills using traditional and alternative means. Examples of required communications skills include:

• Relating effectively and sensitively to patients, conveying compassion and empathy
• Perceiving verbal and non-verbal communication such as sadness, worry, agitation and lack of comprehension from patients
• Eliciting information from patients and observing changes in mood and activity
• Communicating quickly, effectively and efficiently in English in person and in writing with patients and other members of the health care team
• Reading and recording observations, test results and management plans accurately, in addition to completing assignments, patient records and correspondence accurately and in a timely manner

The student must possess the sensory and motor skills necessary to perform an eye examination, including emergency care. In general, this requires sufficient exteroception sense (touch, pain, temperature), proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis and vibratory) and fine motor function (significant coordination and manual dexterity using arms, wrists, hands and fingers).

Examples of skill required include but are not limited to:

• Instillation of ocular pharmaceutical agents
• Insertion, removal and manipulation of contact lenses
• Assessment of blood pressure and pulse
• Perform minor surgical procedures such as the removal of foreign objects from the cornea
• Simultaneous manipulation of lenses, instruments and therapeutic agents and devices
• Reasonable facility of movement
• Injections into the eye, lids or limbs