Division of Optometry and Visual Science to deliver new Professional Higher Certificate in Contact Lens Practice and Professional Certificate in Medical Retina.
Published (Updated )
City University London’s Division of Optometry and Visual Science has been accredited with two new higher qualification courses by the College of Optometrists.
The new Professional Higher Certificate in Contact Lens Practice will be delivered by a combination of online learning, face to face lectures and practical workshops. The qualification will give community and hospital based optometrists the knowledge and skills to be able to provide an enhanced standard of contact lens care. It will include topics such as fitting and assessing RGP lens designs, understanding myopia control and orthokeratology and managing dry eye in contact lens practice.
The second qualification, the Professional Certificate in Medical Retina, provides community and hospital based optometrists with knowledge of common medical retina conditions and includes topics covering screening, referral and treatment pathways, with an emphasis on optical coherence tomography (OCT) interpretation and diabetic retinopathy grading.
Dr Michelle Hennelly, MSc Programme Director at City University London, said: “We are delighted to be the first university to offer the full suite of Professional Certificates accredited by the College of Optometrists, including Medical Retina. We are also the first and only university to date to offer the Professional Higher Certificate in Contact Lenses.
“Optometrists completing the modules can be assured of completing cutting-edge specialist education delivered by world-renowned speakers, enhancing current practice and increasing scope of clinical practice.”
Jackie Martin, Director of Education for the College of Optometrists, said: “Optometrists and practice managers want specialist skills, the highest standards of professionalism and to be able to equip themselves for the new opportunities to operate in enhanced eye health services. The College’s accredited qualifications are a clear way for practitioners to demonstrate their skills to employers and the public.”
Professor Chris Hull, head of the Division of Optometry & Visual Science, commented “This is fantastic news and keeps our postgraduate courses at the forefront of what the profession wants. Dr Hennelly is to be congratulated on her tireless effort and success in taking these modules through accreditation.”