Accredited by The College of Optometrists
Professional Certificate in Medical Retina accredited by the College of Optometrists. The Certificate is a level 7 qualification which is the first in a suite of qualifications which will include a Higher
Certificate and Diploma in Medical Retina
Part-time, blended learning (online learning material/assessment and on-campus tutorials/hands on use of equipment/assessments)
Ongoing enrollment throughout the year
Next start date: January 2017
Course duration: 10-20 weeks (self-paced).
Credit points: 15
Fees: £995 (includes registration fees, online materials, practical sessions and assessment).
Requirements for enrolment: registration with the General Optical Council
Content includes:
OCT use and interpretation, AMD assessment and management, diabetic retinopathy screening and grading, acute retinal pathology assessment and management.
Why do a Professional Certificate in Medical Retina?
This new course is an exciting opportunity for optometrists to refresh and enhance their knowledge and clinical skills in the area of medical retina. The aim of this College of Optometrists accredited course is to provide community and hospital based optometrists with enhanced knowledge of common medical retina conditions. It includes topics on screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment of common medical retina conditions. The course has an emphasis on optical coherence tomography (OCT) interpretation, diabetic retinopathy grading, AMD classification and the identification and management of acute retinal pathology.
How is this course different?
This Professional Certificate in Medical Retina is delivered using a mixture of online, distance learning material and a face-to-face tutorial and practical day at Cathedral Eye Clinic, University of Ulster, Belfast campus. Assessment will be conducted through written examination, online assessment and pracThis online course, accredited by The College of Optometrists, aims to provide community and hospital based optometrists with enhanced knowledge in a variety of common medical retina conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. It includes topics on screening, referral and treatment pathways, and has an emphasis on optical coherence tomography (OCT) interpretation. It is taught by optometrists and ophthalmologists with expertise in the area of medical retina. Alongside extensive course delivery using e learning, the team at Ulster have teamed up with Cathedral Eye Clinic in Belfast to allow hands on experience in use of specialist equipment for retinal imaging.tical demonstration of clinical competencies.
The University of Ulster has pioneered the delivery of distance learning in the UK and has many years of experience in providing bespoke support for students learning online. Alongside extensive course delivery using e-learning, the team at Ulster have teamed up with Cathedral Eye Clinic in Belfast to allow hands on experience in the use of specialist equipment for retinal imaging.
The flexible nature of the delivery of this Professional Certificate allows the participant to learn at their own pace, in their own time and to complete assessments when they feel ready to do so. Content will be taught by optometrists and ophthalmologists with expertise in the area of medical retina. Friendly and professional advice and support will be available from the course team via email, telephone and face-to-face sessions.
What are the course aims?
To provide 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.
To enable community and hospital based optometrists to make accurate and appropriate referral decisions for patients with medical retina conditions
To prepare optometrists to commence working under supervision in:
Medical retina new patient triage clinics
AMD treatment-retreatment clinics
To prepare optometrists to commence working in photography based diabetic retinopathy screening services.
What is the course content?
Anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the retina. Risk factors, differential diagnosis and pathogenesis of retinal and macular pathology. Current treatments of medical retina disorders. Communication. Imaging the eye for detection of diabetic retinopathy. OCT imaging and fundus photography in medical retina. Fluorescein angiography, ICG angiography and auto fluorescence. Detecting and classifying dia- betic retinal disease. National diabetic retinopathy screening programmes. Acute macular and retinal pathology detection and management. Current treatments of medical retina disorders and pertinent treat- ment trials.
For further details contact:
Dr Raymond Beirne r.beirne@ulster.ac.uk +44 (0)2870124477
Professor Tara Moore t.moore@ulster.ac.uk +44 (0)2870124577
Ms Moyra McClure me.mcclure@ulster.ac.uk +44 (0)2870124298