Special Senses Block – 1 week of Ophthalmology during the 2^nd year of medical school. Program description can be found at uOttawa Programs and Courses website.

The sessions given during that week include the following:

• Anatomy of the Eye and Orbit
• The Eye and Systemic Disease
• Glaucoma
• Amblyopia
• Sudden Painless Loss of Vision
• Chronic Visual Loss
• CBL: The Red Eye Part 1
• PSD – PDC: Ophthalmology
• Anatomy Laboratory: Orbital Anatomy
• Histology Laboratory: Ocular Histology
• Workshop: Appearance and Imaging of the Optic Nerve and Visual Pathways
• World Blindness
• Coping with Blindness
• CBL: The Red Eye Part 2
• Disability Awareness
• Pediatric Ophthalmic Emergencies
• Ophthalmology

Sample copy of schedule

The sessions for the Volet Francophone include the following:

• Anatomie de l’oeil de l’orbite
• L’oeil et la maladie systémique
• Perte de vision soudaine t indolore
• Aspect et imagerie du nerf optique et voies optiques
• Amblyopie
• Urgences ophtalmologiques en pédiatrie
• La rougeur oculaire – Partie 1
• DAC : Ophtalmologie – Examen de la vue
• Cours : Glaucome
• Histologie : Histologie oculaire
• Anatomie : Anatomie orbitaire
• La cécité à l’échelle mondiale
• Composer avec la cécité
• La rougeur oculaire – Partie 2
• Sensibilisation à l’invalidité
• Perte de vision chronique
• Ophtalmologie

Examplaire de l’horaire

The second year medical students spend a week in ophthalmology as part of their ambulatory rotation.

Sample of schedule

The list of objectives can be found at Ophthalmology Objective Distribution (see below). Students are required to work their way through these objectives, ask questions and seek guidance from the tutors they will be working with. As each of the students will encounter a slightly different schedule and may have had differing past experiences, they should use these objectives as a self-study guide and seek help in the areas you may feel deficient. Above all they should not be afraid to ask questions.

Students are largely positioned at the Riverside Eye Care Centre and CHEO, with some exposure to ophthalmology at the Eye Institute. Many of the students will find themselves at private offices around the city. Tutors are donating their time and effort to expose the students to the fundamentals of ophthalmology and an eye exam.

Students must review their schedule closely as there are students A, B and C (listed alphabetically), scheduled to be in various different locations. No experience will be the same, but it is anticipated that all students will have a rich exposure to the eye.

If the student is scheduled for a private office, they should confirm their presence the day prior by contacting the numbers listed to ensure that the tutor hasn’t had a last-minute scheduling change.

There will be two tutorials over the course of the Ambulatory Block on the Red Eye and the Injured Eye. These are exam material, as is Orbital and Periorbital Cellulitis and things that students must know and understand.

Students may have the opportunity of witnessing eye surgery at the Riverside Eye Care Centre. Bear in mind that the patients are awake and listening during their surgery.

In terms of dress code, the days of jeans, running shoes, and baseball caps are now over. The students represent the face of medicine and to gain respect, they must show respect. Shirts and ties are the norm for practitioners, although shirts and sweaters are acceptable. In hospital clinics a clean, pressed lab coat and nametag are mandatory.

Most of the teachers the students will encounter are volunteers and receive no recompense for the time that the students spend with them. The expectation is that the student would review material from the second year Special Senses Block and would arrive with some basic knowledge of ophthalmology. This will assure them that the students have a fundamental knowledge of the eye and give them starting point. Questions for the tutors are always welcome, bearing in mind that they have a clinical practice to run and patients to see and treat. They know that the students have a basic background in ophthalmology from second year and that they will experience tutorials in your third year Ambulatory Block Rotation.

Review material is available at Eyesite website, and the expectation is that the student will review this material prior to their arrival. The Monday morning, after the orientation at 08:00 at the Eye Institute would provide an opportunity to study this material.

These are Ophthalmology Videos available to all medical students to view.

There are a few ways these videos can be found:

Search "Mustafa Kapasi" on YouTube. Links to all videos can be found on this channel. 

The links for each specific video have been enclosed below: (Check for Accessibility)

• Basics in Slit Lamp Examination

• Testing Visual Acuity
• Measuring Intraocular Pressure
• Cover Uncover Test
• Assessing for Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect

Ophthalmology Objective Distribution

Pre-Clerkship Electives

The Pre-Clerkship elective guidelines for 1^st and 2^nd year students at the uOttawa can be found at pre-clerkship.

For 1^st and 2^nd year students at uOttawa wanting to schedule a pre-clerkship 10 hours or 20 hours observership/elective in Ophthalmology, contact the Departmental Education Program Coordinator at [email protected] to organize the observership/elective.

Clerkship Electives

The Clerkship elective guidelines for the students at the uOttawa can be found at clerkship. The information related to the Ophthalmology elective rotation can be found at ophthalmology.

For students at uOttawa wanting to schedule an elective in Ophthalmology, contact the Departmental Education Program Coordinator at [email protected] to organize the elective.

Visiting Student Electives

The Visiting Student Electives guidelines and the information related to the Ophthalmology elective rotation can be found at visiting medical students.

Observership request must be submitted to the Departmental Education Program Coordinator at [email protected]. Applications for observerships must include the following in order to be considered, along with availability within the department.

• Confirmation of licensure (physician) or Letter of good standing confirming registration from a recognized training program (medical student, resident, physician assistants trainees)

• Updated CV
• Immunizations:

  • Tuberculin skin testing

  • MMR immunity
  • Varicella immunity
  • Pertussis
  • Complete immunization form/COVID immunizations
• Processing fee of $100.00 (CAD) (payable to: Medical Affairs – The Ottawa Hospital, 1053 Carling Avenue, Box 623, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4E9) this can also be done with an IBAN number.
• Dates for observership period availability must be confirmed with the Department of Ophthalmology.

Once all of these documents and payment are received, these will be forwarded to the Ottawa Hospital Medical Affairs office for review (Approval/Declined).