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 Examining Patients with Learning Disabilities: Part 3 - Navigating the legalities course, reissued in March 2026.



Domains: Communication, Professionalism

CPD Ref: C-100459

CPD Points: 

CPD Type: Non-interactive

Closing Date: 31 December 2025


This three-part series seeks to challenge the perception that treating patients with learning disabilities is intimidating or difficult. Its goal is to build optometrists’ confidence in examining this patient group, highlighting both the rewards for practitioners and the importance of ensuring patients receive the eye care they need. 

Before you begin the third part of the series, please ensure that you have either completed Examining Patients with Learning Disabilities: Part 1 - Clinical Background and Examining Patients with Learning Disabilities: Part 2 – The Appointment, or you are familiar with the content of those two courses. 

Part three addresses dispensing, communication and aftercare following an eye examination for patients with learning disabilities. It covers legal issues such as capacity, consent, confidentiality, GOS requirements and safeguarding, illustrated with two multimedia case studies: one involving a patient with autism and another involving a patient with Down’s syndrome.

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

First published: March 2019
Last reviewed: January 2022

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    Learning outcomes

    Learning outcomes

    Professionalism

    s.11 Protect and safeguard patients, colleagues and others from harm

    • Understand an optometrist’s role and obligations in terms of safeguarding when working with children and adults with learning disabilities.

    s.14 Maintain confidentiality and respect your patients’ privacy

    • Understand your legal requirements around patient confidentiality during an eye examination and when it may be appropriate to share information.

    Communication

    s.2 Communicate effectively with patients

    • Understand the barriers and issues when communicating with a patient with a learning disability and so to improve communication with both the patient and carers during and after an eye test.

    s.3 Obtain valid consent

    • Understand the importance of consent and how to consider a patient's capacity to consent when working with children and adults with learning disabilities.

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