Qualifications

• Credit value: 30 credits
• SCQF level: 11 (Masters level)
• Mode of delivery: Online and placements
• Start date: TBC
• Duration: approx 9 months
• Time commitment: Although this will depend upon the individual, a typical candidate can expect to spend up to 300 hours of notional effort in total (including self-directed study, assessments and clinical placement)
• A regular, weekly time commitment of 6 to 7 hours will be required

This course will provide community independent prescribing Optometrists with a broad education in glaucoma management.

Following successful completion of the course you will be able to extend your remit to provide safe, high quality care for patients with suspect glaucoma, treated and untreated ocular hypertension, and appropriate treated glaucoma.

What you will study

• History and risk factors: changes in ocular health, general health and medications, impact on development or progression of glaucoma or its management.
• Pathology and differential diagnosis: pathologies affecting structure and function of the visual pathway which may mimic or mask glaucomatous changes.
• Patient examination: clinical assessment in relation to glaucoma and significance of findings, specifically gonioscopy, pachymetry, optic nerve assessment, visual fields, IOP and OCT.
• Detection of change and progression: analysis of complex clinical information to detect changes in clinical status consistent with detection of and progression of glaucoma.
• Prescribing practice: prescribing safely within current national and local guidelines, consideration of pharmacology, cautions, contraindications, interactions and side effects, understanding combination therapies, treatment modifications and special considerations.
• Surgical techniques and laser therapy: indications for and techniques of laser and surgical interventions used in glaucoma and OHT management, expected outcomes, indications and complications.  
• Patient management: enquiring and analytical approaches to patient centred decision making, management planning including recall, local preferences, national guidelines, risk of progression and patient related factors. Capacity and consent.
• Clinical governance: adhering to local and national clinical governance processes, quality improvement, SEA, reflection, duty of candour.
• Policy: awareness and application of relevant national and local policies, clinical guidelines and frameworks.

The glaucoma award will include a clinical placement. This will be competency based and placement will run concurrently with the theoretical learning.

There will be coursework requirements throughout the programme in addition to a final assessment. 

Information about applications for our next cohort are to be confirmed. The Scottish Government Eye Care Team will be overseeing allocations for the next cohort. Please email eyecare@gov.scot for further details.