Medical Education & Training – Optometry Unit

The Optometry Unit plays a pivotal role in advancing education, training, and professional development within the Department of Ophthalmology through structured academic and clinical programs targeting residents, optometry students, and optometry specialists and technicians.

1) Ophthalmology Residents

•  Participation in specialized clinical optometry lectures as part of the Basic Science Course at the commencement of the ophthalmology residency/fellowship.
•  Contributions to the longitudinal resident education program, including:
  1.  Delivering case-based interactive teaching sessions (CTR) that bridge theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.
  2.  Providing in-clinic supervision and hands-on training in refractive error assessment and basic management principles, with formal skills documentation.
  3.  Serving on the Optometry Committees for the Department of Ophthalmology’s Fellowship Examinations at King Saud University.

2) Optometry Students

•  Training undergraduate optometry students from the College of Applied Medical Sciences in contact lens courses, with rotational assignments across optometry clinics throughout the academic year at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and King Khaled University Hospital.
•  Supervising and co-supervising senior graduation research projects for male and female optometry students.
•  Providing clinical training for optometry interns from the College of Applied Medical Sciences – King Saud University at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and King Khaled University Hospital.

3) Recurring Academic Activities of the Unit

•  Designing and delivering an advanced training program in specialty contact lenses.
•  Holding a biweekly academic meeting (every two weeks) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.
•  Contributing to equivalency examinations for postgraduate degrees (master’s and PhD) within the framework of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
•  Participating in the planning and organization of optometry-focused lectures and workshops within the Annual Ophthalmology Conference of the Saudi Ophthalmology Society.