Visual System and Related Pathologies

Recommended Prerequisites

Students must have a BSc or MSc in Health and/or Life Sciences field and be fluent in English (written and spoken).

Teaching Methods

Lectures.

Laboratory demonstrations about techniques and models used in Vision Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

The aim of this Course is to give an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the visual system (eye, retina, optic nerve, visual pathways, visual cortex), as well as of vision diseases, particularly retinal degenerative diseases ( diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration), but also other pathologies associated to neuroadaptation in the visual cortex. Another aim is to analyse the diseases, in a transversal way, from the molecular and cellular mechanisms and clinical aspects, till the identification of potential targets and innovative therapies. The concept of the retina as a window/mirror of the brain will be also explored. Finally, te students will watch demosntrations of animal and in vitro models, and technologies used in Vision Sciences.

Students must get knowledge about the pathologies, at molecular, cellular and clinical levels, and have also an idea about the state of the art in this field, including the models and techniques.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Anatomy and physiology of the visual system (mainly of the retina)

Vision diseases, mainly retinal degenerative diseases (diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma)

Concept of the retina as a window/mirror of the brain in neurodegenerative diseases

Animal and in vitro models in Vision Sciences

Experimental techniques in Vision Sciences.

Head Lecturer(s)

António Francisco Rosa Gomes Ambrósio

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 25.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

The Eye

Basic Sciences in Practice

John Forrester, Andrew Dick, Paul McMenamin, William R. Lee

Second Edition

Saunders (2003) (Free download)

Adler's Physiology of the Eye, 11th Edition

Leonard Levin, Siv Nilsson, James Ver Hoeve, Samuel Wu, Paul Kaufman and Albert Alm

11th Edition

Saunders (2011)

http://webvision.med.utah.edu/

Artigos de revisão e artígos sobre temas específicos da área das Ciências da Visão.

Review and original papers in the area of Vision Sciences.