Section 3 of the Academy's Basic and Clinical Science Course™ (BCSC®) provides a comprehensive overview of clinical optics, including current applications of optical phenomena such as lasers, spectacles, IOLs, and refractive surgery. A chapter on vision rehabilitation addresses the wide range of vision rehabilitation interventions: smartphone accessibility features and apps, electronic magnification devices, audio devices, and various optical devices.

This section of the BCSC begins with a Quick-Start Guide, which includes an extensive discussion on retinoscopy. The Quick-Start Guide includes seven Try It Yourself! exercises on Hand Neutralization of Spherical and Cylindrical Lenses, Making a Practice Eye, and Detection of Astigmatism.

Nine videos (sample) to increase your understanding of human eye optics, basic concepts of geometric optics, ophthalmic instruments, and contact lenses. An animation video demonstrates a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave. Plus, a dynamic illustration allows modification of "live" drawings to experience the effects of changes in the positions of source objects and focal points. Both print and eBook users have access to the videos and activities.

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, color perception, and contrast sensitivity

Explain the optical principles underlying various modalities of refractive correction: spectacles, contact lenses, intraocular lenses and refractive surgery

Section chair: Scott E. Brodie, MD, PhD

Last Major Revision: 2022-2023