Professional Certificate in Glaucoma

Primary open-angle glaucoma is one of the chronic ophthalmic conditions selected by the Department of Health, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the College of Optometrists as being appropriate for shared care between primary and secondary healthcare sectors. Following successful pilot schemes, it is clear that monitoring in the form of co-management by the HES and optometrists in the community will eventually become usual practice.

It is thus essential that, in addition, to simply being able to detect the condition, optometrists should have a comprehensive understanding of the natural history of the disease and its surgical and pharmacological management. The information imparted on this course is informed by current research and incorporates all of the most recent developments relating to glaucoma identification, progression and treatment modalities.

Who is it for?

This course prepares healthcare professionals including optometrists, nurse practitioners and orthoptists to participate in formal ‘referral refinement’ and Ocular Hypertension/suspect COAG monitoring schemes.

Timetable

Face to face learning: 20-21 April 2021

Teaching hours: 09:00 - 18:00

Assessment: 30 June 2021

Re-sit date: 25 Aug 2021

Benefits

This course is intended to ensure that core competencies are current (including those required for pathways involving ‘repeat measures’) and to provide additional specialist knowledge and skills for monitoring patients with diagnosed OHT and suspect COAG with an established management plan.

This course is worth 15 credits

This course aims to provide you with:

• the specialised, advanced theoretical and practical knowledge base necessary to become a member of a glaucoma shared care/co-management scheme
• the Professional Certificate in Glaucoma: the first level of award on the path to the Higher Certificate and Diploma in Glaucoma awarded by the College of Optometrists.

On this course, you will learn about:

• the glaucomas: epidemiology, classification and clinical features
• visual fields: instrumentation, testing and sources of error and interpretation of results
• examination and evaluation of the ONH: Technique and normal optic nerve head (ONH), features of glaucomatous optic neuropathy
• differential diagnosis of glaucoma and influence of co-morbidity
• history-taking and methods of anterior segment examination
• tonometry/pachymetry: Calibration technique, sources of error, infection control
• ocular hypertension
• principles of monitoring
• professional and National guidance on COAG and OHT/clinical governance, patient information and decision support
• case based discussions.

Teaching

The style of teaching includes face to face lectures, case based discussion tutorials, demonstrations from leading industry specialists as well as hands-on practical sessions.

Assessment

The final assessment will consist of a written component and six practical skills assessments. Questions will test your critical and evaluative understanding, clinical recognition skills, ability to differentially diagnose and your application of knowledge.

Assessment component 1 - written

• multiple-choice questions
• patient management case scenarios
• short answer questions (covering all aspects of the course).

Assessment component 2 - practical

• practical skills assessment (which tests your ability to examine patients and discuss observations and management options).

The course has been accredited by the College of Optometrists. UK-registered optometrists who complete the course will be awarded a Professional Certificate in Glaucoma.

This course is worth 15 credits and can be taken as part of the MSc in Clinical Optometry/MSc in Advanced Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner (Advanced Practice in Health and Social Care).

Overseas students can only apply as part of a programme, not as a stand-alone course.

Course requirements:

• A first degree in a medical/health or social sciences discipline is required (minimum 2:1 honours degree, 3.0 GPA or an equivalent international degree).
• Applicants with equivalent qualifications or substantial experience in health services will also be considered on an individual basis.

English requirements

For those students whose first language is not English the following qualification is also required:

• IELTS: 7.0.