Course summary

Expand the role you play in providing eye care for children and young people. Take your career as an orthoptist, optometrist or ophthalmic nurse to the next level and become an advanced practitioner. Course description Lead academic: Dr Charlotte Codina This course is designed to help you advance your knowledge, skills and experience in paediatric ophthalmology. Orthoptists, optometrists and ophthalmic nurses who provide eye care for children and young people can access key new and improved skills and tools to become leaders in their field and improve the services they provide. You will cover all four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research. In your first year, you will study how to diagnose and manage a wide range of ophthalmology conditions that primarily affect children and young people, at an advanced level. You will apply this knowledge to your practice through work-based learning. In your second year, you will take our Clinical Leadership and Education in Ophthalmology module. This is the only module of its kind, which focuses on the knowledge and skills that leaders and educators need when working in eyecare specifically. There are also optional modules on assessing and managing low vision patients, diseases that affect ocular motility, the prescription and non-prescription medicines that orthoptists can use, and research methods. The programme is led by practising orthoptists and eyecare experts. In your final year, you can work with them on an independent research project, either by collecting and analysing your own data, or exploring the latest findings on a specific topic. Accreditation This programme has been submitted for accreditation by the NHS Centre of Advancing Practice. When accredited, it will make you eligible to be listed on the Advanced Practice Directory and work as an advanced clinical practitioner in paediatric ophthalmology. Please see our University website for the most up-to-date course information.