2021-2022 Basic and Clinical Science Course, Section 03: Clinical Optics

The Academy's Basic and Clinical Science Course™ is ophthalmology’s definitive source of clinical information. Practicing ophthalmologists and residents worldwide use the BCSC® to ensure the highest-quality patient care. Lean on the 100+ ophthalmologists who target the most beneficial clinical updates for this key ophthalmic reference each year.

Section 3 provides a comprehensive overview of clinical optics, including current applications of optical phenomena such as lasers, spectacles, IOLs and refractive surgery.

Deepen your understanding with nine clinical videos, a Quick-Start Guide to Optics and How to Refract and chapter highlights.

Reviews optics of the human eye; basic concepts of geometric optics; ophthalmic instruments and contact lenses. Vision rehabilitation is also discussed. Includes real-life clinical examples, figures and learning exercises to help gauge your understanding of the material. Print users have access to the videos and figures.

Upon completion of Section 3, readers should be able to::

Outline the principles of light propagation and image formation and work through some of the fundamental equations that describe or measure such properties as refraction, reflection, magnification and vergence.
Define the various types of visual perception and function, including visual acuity, brightness sensitivity, colour perception and contrast sensitivity.
Explain the optical principles underlying various modalities of refractive correction:: spectacles, contact lenses, intraocular lenses and refractive surgery.