GRADUATE SCHOOL

Departments

Orthoptics and Visual Sciences

Master's Program

Our eyes’ sight gives us more than 80% of our sensory information about the outside world, and plays a very important role in supporting daily life, as it is related closely to higher brain function like cognition or decision-making.

The visual functions that control sight are governed by the characteristics of the optical system of the eye, the pupil control system, and the eye movement system, and comprise basic elements such as visual acuity, visual field, color discrimination, and binocular vision (stereoscopic view). The academic areas concerned with sight include general ophthalmology, regarded as the core field, as well as neuro-ophthalmology, orthoptics, psychophysics, and visual neuroscience.

In this course, we develop and strengthen a research-oriented mind, intellectual power, and practical skills for research through study of the basic aspects of visual function and clinical aspects of visual impairment related to development, aging, and various illnesses. Considering the remarkable recent progress of medical technology in ophthalmology and visual rehabilitation in the face of an aging society, we aim to train talented individuals who aspire to become experts, school teachers, and researchers, equipping them with the sophisticated knowledge and practical capabilities needed to play an active part not only in ophthalmology but also in the wider sight specialty areas.

Additionally, to treat visual impairments in individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities or severe higher brain dysfunction, a wide field of knowledge is required concerning visual function therapy, as well as experience with interprofessional cooperation between various caregivers for elucidation, treatment, and nursing of patients.

We aim to train experts and researchers who can solve problems using their experience in “team medical care” in cooperation with the speech and hearing centers as well as the adjacent rehabilitation center.

Doctoral Program