In addition, this test assesses those basic science areas that relate to the safe and effective treatment of ocular diseases as well as providing a basis for lifelong learning in optometry. Basic Science is composed of four major subject areas, which parallel four of the Clinical Science subject areas. The subject areas and their relative emphases are shown below.
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| A. Human Biology - 195 Items (45%) |
Number of Items* |
| 1. Gross Anatomy |
8-12 |
| 2. Histology |
14-22 |
| 3. Neuroscience |
19-27 |
| 4. General Biochemistry |
21-31 |
| 5. General Physiology |
20-28 |
| 6. General Microbiology |
11-17** |
| 7. General Immunology |
10-16** |
| 8. General Pharmacology |
30-46** |
| 9. General Pathology |
23-35 |
| |
|
| B. Ocular/Visual Biology - 90 Items (21%) |
Number of Items* |
| 1. Anatomy of the Eye, Ocular Adnexa and Visual Pathway |
29-37 |
| 2. Ocular and Visual Pathway Development |
4-10 |
| 3. Ocular Physiology/Neurophysiology |
29-37 |
| 4. Ocular Pharmacology |
13-21** |
| |
|
C. Theoretical, Ophthalmic, and Physiological Optics
 125 Items (29%) |
Number of Items* |
| 1. Geometrical Optics |
15-19 |
| 2. Physical Optics |
5-7 |
| 3. Ophthalmic Optics |
16-20 |
| 4. Visual Optics |
21-27 |
| 5. Visual Perception |
37-45 |
| 6. Ocular Motility |
16-22 |
| |
|
| D. Psychology - 25 Items (6%) |
Number of Items* |
| 1. Psychophysical Methodology |
3-7 |
| 2. Human Development |
18-22 |
| |
|
|
TOTAL |
435 |
