Optometry - Principles of Therapeutics (Module 1 of 3)

The emphasis of the Principles of Therapeutics (Online) course are as follows:

• Gross anatomy of the eye and orbit
• Clinical ocular immunology, microbiology and pharmacology
• Pathogenesis, clinical features and management of disorders of the anterior eye.

The Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences at City has been providing modular postgraduate training in ocular therapeutics for over 15 years. The purpose of this training has been to provide the theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to enable optometrists to manage ocular disease within the context of the legal and regulatory framework provided by the Opticians Act and relevant medicines legislation.

Who is it for?

The course is for GOC-registered optometrists.
Optometrists wishing to become Independent Prescribers are required to complete this course, as well as OVM051/OVM058 (online) Principles of Prescribing and Independent prescribing (in any order). The course is also useful to optometrists wishing to expand their knowledge of eye disease and differential diagnosis.

Timetable

Principles of Therapeutics is a distance learning web-based text. The units are fully comprehensive and include diagrams and figures to facilitate learning. Three online synchronous workshops will supplement the text based learning.

As this course is online, it can be completed in the evening or weekends alongside full-time working.

Term 1

Online Launch Date:
Oct: Monday 7 October 2024
(Module will go live on Moodle only)

Online Synchronous Teaching Dates:
Oct: Wednesday 16 October 2024 - 2-4pm
Nov: Wednesday 20 November 2024 - 2-4pm
Dec: Wednesday 4 December 2024 - 2-4pm

Assessment Date (face-to-face attendance required on-campus):
Jan: Wednesday 29 January 2025

Term 2

Online Launch Date:
Mar: Monday 5 March 2025
(Module will go live on Moodle only)

Online Synchronous Teaching Dates:
Mar: Wednesday 19 March 2025 - 2-4pm
Apr: Wednesday 2 April 2025 - 2-4pm
May: Wednesday 14 May 2025 - 2-4pm

Assessment Date (face-to-face attendance required on-campus):
June: Wednesday 18 June 2025

Benefits

Completion of this course (in addition to OVM051/OVM058 and OVM053) will enable optometrists to be entered onto the specialist optometry GOC register for therapeutic prescribing.

This short course module is designed to be flexible in allowing you to study and reach your goals at your own pace. Our health CPD courses are credit-bearing modules that contribute to a University degree or award.

Transfer course credits towards postgraduate taught degree

As a health care professional, once you've completed this course you could offset 15 credits as part of a postgraduate programme, continuing your study with further modules to make up a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Prescribing 60 credits, Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) 120 credits or Master of Science (MSc) 180 credits qualification (all credits must be awarded within five years of study commencing).

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the orbit and adnexa
• Demonstrate a general understanding of the principles of immunology and microbiology
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of pharmacology
• Provide a detailed explanation of, and differentiate between, anterior ophthalmic conditions and appropriate management
• Demonstrate a general understanding of the relevant laboratory investigations in ocular disease.

Assessment

The theoretical content of Principles of Therapeutics will be assessed via a two hour written examination using: (i) multiple choice questions (MCQs) and (ii) patient management case scenarios (PMCS).

The assessment is taken at least 17 weeks from the start date and assessments run in March and October each year

Candidates entering the full independent prescribing (IP) programme will complete a three course scheme (Principles of Therapeutics, Principles of Prescribing and Independent Prescribing) and complete the requisite clinical placement days.

Following successful completion of all parts (OVM050 Principles of Therapeutics, OVM058 Principles of Prescribing, OVM053 Independent Prescribing and a 12 day clinical placement), you will be awarded a PG Certificate in Prescribing.

Assessment is face-to-face on campus.

Teaching

The course is delivered online with a one-day workshop delivered a month prior to the assessment date.

This course is provided by the School of Health & Psychological Sciences.

Award

This is a professional and an academic qualification. On successful completion of this module you’ll receive 15 postgraduate credits, which count towards an MSc in Clinical Optometry. This module also counts towards you CET points.

After passing this module, you’ll need to complete a 12-day clinical placement within a hospital eye service.

Once you have completed all parts of the prescribing programme, you will be put onto the specialist register of the General Optical Council (GOC) as an independent prescriber.

Route to Registration for Additional Supply (AS) and Independent Prescribing (IP)

To qualify for Additional Supply (AS), students must successfully complete two core modules: OVM050 and OVM058.(add hyperlinks to module pages)

For those pursuing Independent Prescribing (IP), three modules are required: OVM050, OVM058, and OVM053. (add hyperlinks to module pages)

All three modules must be passed prior to advancing to the clinical placement stage. This is a 12-week clinical placement within the hospital eye service.

After successfully completing the IP courses, students must register with the College of Optometrists (CoO). This includes completing a practical clinical placement, submitting a logbook, and passing the Therapeutic Common Final Assessment (TCFA) to join the IP register.

For more detailed information and to book the exam, you can visit the College of Optometrists' website at the link provided below:

College of Optometrists: Independent Prescribing Qualification

Once you have completed all parts of the prescribing programme, you will be put onto the specialist register of the General Optical Council (GOC) as an independent prescriber.

This module is provided by the School of Health & Psychological Sciences.

Credits

This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.

Module Requirements Include:

• You should normally be a UK-registered optometrist satisfying all legal requirements to be eligible to practice in the UK
• You should also be registered with the General Optical Council (GOC) whilst completing all parts of the training
• Overseas optometrists will be accepted on an ad-hoc basis providing their undergraduate syllabus and clinical responsibilities are similar to those of a UK optometrist
• You must have at least 2 years’ experience before taking the College of Optometrists’ Common Final Assessment.

You are also required to complete a 12-day clinical placement following completion of all three modules (OVM050, OVM058 and OVM053) prior to taking the College of Optometrists’ Common Final Assessment.

English requirements

If your first language is not English, one of the following is required:

• A first degree from a UK university
• A first degree from an overseas institution recognised by City, University of London as providing adequate evidence of proficiency in the English language, for example, from institutions from Australia, Canada or the United States of America.
• International English Language Test Service (IELTS) a score of 7.0 is required with no subtest below 7.0
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) score 72 required
• TOEFL 100 overall with 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, 19 Reading and 20 Speaking
• Other evidence of proficiency in the English language, which satisfies the board of studies concerned, including registration with your professional regulator.

The Module Leads will suggest reading material and additional resources during the module.