Section

General

This course expired on 31 December 2025. If you have completed this course, you can print your certificate here. 

This course has been replaced with our Cataract: Part 3 - Post-treatment course, reissued in January 2026.



Domains: Clinical practice, Communication, Specialty CPD (IP)

CPD Ref: C-101640

CPD Points: 

CPD Type: Non-interactive

Closing Date: 31 December 2025


Cataract is one of the most common ocular pathologies encountered in community practice. This three-part series explores the key areas of cataract care and aims to ensure optometrists are up to date with current practices and treatments, particularly in view of increased community involvement in pre- and postoperative care. 

Before you begin the third part of the series, please ensure that you have either completed Cataract: Part 1 – Introduction and Cataract: Part 2 – Management and Treatment, or are familiar with their content.

Part three covers the following topics:

  1. Meet the experts
  2. Postoperative assessment of cataract surgery patients, including possible complications and their management for both IP and non-IP optometrists
  3. Postoperative pathways
  4. The difference you can make to a patient's quality of life.

At the end of the course you can complete the CPD quiz to gain one non-interactive CPD point. 

First published: January 2021
Last reviewed: March 2022

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    Optometrists

    Communication

    s.2 Communicate effectively with patients

    • Understand the symptoms that may be experienced in patients following cataract surgery and to be able to identify any red flag symptoms that require follow-up.

    Clinical Practice

    s.7 Conduct appropriate assessments, examinations, treatment and referrals

    • Understand how to carry out a post-operative assessment of a cataract patient on the slit lamp and be able to identify the signs of any complications.
    s.6 Recognise and work within your limits of competence 

    • Able to examine a postoperative cataract patient and recognise when they require referring back to an ophthalmologist.

    Independent prescribing optometrists 

    Specialty CPD

    • Understand the current options of treatment available to IP optometrists to manage various complications seen in postoperative cataract patients.
    • Understand which postoperative cataract patients may be treated in practice and when referral to an ophthalmologist may be required.

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      When you have successfully completed the course you can download your certificate in PDF format.

      Save this document and upload it to your MyGOC account to claim your CPD points.