The purpose of teaching and studying the discipline: «Ophthalmology» lies in the formation of basic knowledge, which will allow to master the basic principles of diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases.
The discipline «Ophthalmology» is taught on medical, pediatric, military-medical, medical-preventive and stomatological faculties and on the medical faculty of foreign students in accordance with the Standard educational programs for the higher educational institutions for the specialties: 1-79 01 01 Medical Business; 1-79 01 02 Pediatrics; 1-79 01 03 Preventive Medicine; 1-79 01 07 Dentistry.
The discipline of Ophthalmology includes two sections:
- General Ophthalmology.
- Subspecialties of Ophthalmology.
The General Ophthalmology section presents the history of ophthalmology, the anatomy, physiology, and functions of the component parts of the eye and its appendages, visual functions, methods of investigation of the visual organ, physiological optics, refraction, and accommodation. The section «Special Ophthalmology» examines diseases of the eye.
Various teaching methods are used within in the studying process, including such traditional methods as lectures, practical lessons with the elements of controlled self-study of students and modern interactive educational resources (computer presentation of lectures and practical lessons), remote presentation of material in the mode of e-leaning in the local computer network of the university: video lectures, discussion of clinical cases with the optimization of the required diagnostic examination and treatment actions.
At the practical lessons special attention is paid to the study of theoretical questions, situational tasks studies, supervision and analysis of case histories, demonstration of microsurgical surgical interventions for students on the monitors connected to the operating microscopes; tables and video materials are used.
With the help of virtual reality technology students are in the internal three-dimensional space of the eye
Students get acquainted with the mode and work of the eye hospital, learn practical skills under the guidance of experienced teachers. The control of the students' knowledge is carried out according to the test questions developed at the department (programmed control) of the current and final level of knowledge; test programs for self-control of students of all faculties on the electronic media are used.
The Department of Eye Diseases constantly improves innovative methods in educational process
Diagnostic equipment is used:
- optical coherence tomography of the posterior and anterior segments of the eye,
- optical coherence tomography angiography,
- laser scanning polarimeter (GDxVCC),
- automatic computerized perimeter,
- non-midriatic fundus camera (VISUKAM NM),
- laser units,
- pneumotometers,
- photo slit lamps, etc.
Every year the lecture course and the materials of practical classes are replenished with the information reflecting modern achievements of medical science and technologies.
Electronic educational and methodical complexes were developed for the students according to the educational programs in order to optimize the educational process of the department. Methodical recommendations for students were published in English.
The elective course «Neonatal ophthalmological pathology» for students of Pediatric Faculty was developed and taught at the department.
Annual student scientific conference is held at the department. Students make presentations, the winners of SNK publish scientific articles, and participate in the Republican contest of scientific works.
Interim assessment in «Ophthalmology» for students of Pediatric, Medical, Military-Medical, Stomatological Faculties and Medical Faculty for Foreign Students is realized in the form of differential test; for students of medical and prophylactic faculty - in the form of test.
The Department trained 3 doctoral students, 7 postgraduate students, 16 foreign clinical interns, 49 domestic full-time and part-time clinical interns in 2011-2020.
Graduation exams with programmed control in Ophthalmology for physician-interns are conducted. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 53 interns took the multicomponent test.
Employees of the department for 2011-2020 published: 1 textbook for medical universities of Belarus under the stamp of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, 2 monographs, «Guide on the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma in of the Republic of Belarus», 18 educational and methodological manuals and recommendations.