Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) Eye Emergency Module
Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) Eye Emergency
The Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) programme for Acute and Emergency Eye Care allows hospital-based ophthalmic nurses, orthoptists and optometrists to develop their skills in the triaging, assessment and management of emergency eye conditions.
Although often viewed as a busy and stressful working environment, being involved in emergency eye care offers unparalleled learning opportunities. Patients present to emergency clinics with a diverse range of symptoms and signs such that emergency eye care providers must learn to utilise a wide array of examination techniques, diagnostic tools and treatment options. Many problems can be managed immediately; others may require investigation and sub-specialty follow-up or even referral to other medical specialties.
The variety, pace and challenge of emergency eye care make it an especially rewarding area to work in and we would warmly invite you to enrol for the OPT Acute and Emergency Eye Care programme.
Module Outline
The Acute and Emergency Eye Care stream of OPT aims to offer learners a supportive environment in which to develop and hone their history taking, clinical examination, diagnostic and management skills.
The training takes place over three levels. The level 1 certificate focuses on clinical assessment and triaging skills to support the running of emergency eye clinics. At levels 2 and 3, learners will be able to manage specific eye conditions, initially by using protocols for managing common eye complaints and moving towards increasingly independent practice, whilst always supported by ophthalmologists and other senior allied healthcare professionals.
Your learning will also be supported by clinical supervisors and an educational supervisor, a detailed curriculum complete with learning outcomes and online resources as well as through regional study days where you will have the opportunity to meet with other OPT learners from across the region.
Curriculum
The OPT Acute and Emergency Eye Care programme encompasses all aspects of patient triaging, assessment and management including:
History-taking
Ophthalmic examination skills and techniques
Investigations
Dealing with the needs of ophthalmic patients, including communication, consent, patient safety and the administration of drugs.
Teaching & education
Personal development, including reflective practice and the maintenance of skills
Your learning will be supported by online resources mapped to the curriculum. Each learner will maintain a portfolio with each completed competency. The portfolio is the culmination of your work based assessments (WBAs) and other evidence of learning such as reflections, audits, and quality improvement projects.
You can find links to helpful additional information here:
The full Acute and Emergency Eye Care curriculum can be found here.