No CET Points

Summary: in this case, delegates are asked to watch a short video of a domiciliary visit to an elderly patient who has dementia.

Topics: Dementia, Refraction, Legal, Safeguarding, Vulnerable, Communication, Equipment, Visual assessment, Consent, Confidentiality, Lighting, Dispensing.

No CET Points

Professor Russell Foster discusses the overlap between eye health, general health and circadian rhythms, including advice for patients on appropriate lighting choices.

First published in DOCET OQ92 (2015).

Topics: Photoreceptors, Retina, Blue light, Lighting, Sleep.

No CET Points

This programme updates and refreshes optometrists' understanding of common age-related systemic diseases and their impact on the eye. Includes guidance on the effects of various medications, appropriate investigation and patient management.

Topics: Diabetes, Hypertension, Neurological, Inflammatory, Arthritis, Medication, Heart disease, Malignant, Parkinsons, Vascular, Smoking, Dementia.

No CET Points

This training programme gives practical advice and guidance on using history and symptom taking to enable a full understanding of a patient's needs for work and leisure.  

Topics: Dispensing, Lenses, Tints, Multifocals, Driving, Sport, Occupational, Children, Ageing eye, Safety spectacles, Lighting.

No CET Points

Competencies: N/A 

Free video training and other useful tips, advice and guidance for those who wish to facilitate peer discussion sessions.

You can use this as the first step towards College of Optometrists facilitator training. College facilitators must be College members. 

Topics: Facilitator, Peer discussion, Peer review.

No CET Points

Summary: in this case participants are asked to listen to a telephone conversation between a patient, who has just collected his new glasses, and an optical advisor. Participants will then discuss how they feel the call was handled, the implications for professional staff in the practice and possible causes of the change in vision.

Topics: Peer discussion, Peer review, Vision loss, Legal, Record keeping, Emergency, Referrals 

No CET Points

Summary: these cases use short film clips and a patient record to look at different patients with specific symptoms that need to be interpreted.

Topics: Peer discussion, Peer review, Flashes and floaters, Record keeping, Emergency, Referrals, Dilation, Retinal detachment.

DOCET provides these free template forms which optometrists organising and facilitating peer discussions are welcome to download for their own use.

No CET Points 

This programme looks in broad terms at the four main ethnic groups in the UK and the predominant eye conditions found within each group.    

Topics: Cultural, Glaucoma, Diabetes, AMD, Diversity, Communication, Interpreters, Language, Equality.

No CET Points

This programme outlines the key facts about glaucoma, covering the definitions, classifications, pathophysiology, incidence, associations, risk factors, assessment, investigation, referral, management and treatment of glaucoma. Expert advice is provided by Dr Robert Harper, John Tickner and Leon Au.

Topics: Anterior chamber, Intra-ocular pressure (IOP), Visual fields, Treatment, Van Herricks, Gonioscopy, Pachymetry, OCT, Referral, Open angle, Closed angle, Ocular hypertension.

Area of interest: MECS

No CET Points

This docu-drama programme explores the condition of dementia and covers the key areas in the management of patients suffering from dementia.

Topics: Legal, Vulnerable adults, Communication, Safeguarding, Alzheimers, Hallucinations, Visual assessment, Cognitive impairment, Domiciliary, Consent, Ageing. 

No CET Points

Topics: Visual assessment, Anterior eye, Posterior eye, Visual fields, Contrast sensitivity, Referral, Fundus, Dry eye, Glaucoma, Cataract, AMD, Visual acuity.

No CET Points

An in-depth exploration of the referrals process in the UK, hosted by BBC presenter John Waite. We travel the length and breadth of the country, interviewing practitioners and policy makers, to find out how the referrals process works across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Topics: Referral, Emergency, Urgent, Fast-track, Routine, Record keeping, Secondary care, Flashes and floaters, Detachment, Cataract, Wet AMD, Glaucoma, Amblyopia, Strabismus, Binocular Vision, Orthoptics, Local protocol, NICE.

Area of interest: MECS

No CET points

Following a typical high street optometric practice as they prepare for a hygiene inspection, this training course provides optometrists with clear guidance on identifying and managing hygiene risks and hazards. 

Topics: Waste, Disinfection, Infection, Disposal, Decontamination, WHO, Legal, Health and safety.

No CET Points

This programme examines the causes of AMD and the risk factors, the aetiology and physiology of AMD, examination techniques, existing and new treatments and strategies for management.

Topics: Macula, Ageing eye, Low vision, AREDS, Vision loss, Retina, Drusen, Treatment, Amsler, Referrals, Wet, Dry, Charles Bonnet syndrome, NICE, Anti-VEGF, Retinal pigment epithelium, OCT

Area of interest: MECS

No CET Points

Professor Dave Elliott of the University of Bradford explains the important role optometrists can play in helping to prevent falls in older patients.

Topics: Falls, Spectacles, Lenses, Dispensing, Mobility, Lighting, Multifocals, Low vision, Ageing Eye, Vision loss.

Further guidance and links to useful information about peer discussion and other types of peer-to-peer activity.

No CET Points

In this update on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy Simon O’Neill outlines the current situation in the UK and Philip Morgan and Mr Robin Hamilton discuss the risk factors for developing retinopathy, and how the existing care system operates.

First published in DOCET OQ92 (2015).

Topics: Diabetic, Retinopathy, Vision loss, Visual impairment, Treatment, Proliferative, Screening, Maculopathy.

No CET Points

A look at two new technologies aimed at improving diabetic detection and management: the first could enhance current screening techniques, the second may help monitor existing conditions.

First published in DOCET OQ92 (2015).

Topics: Diabetic, Retinopathy, Vision loss, Visual impairment, Proliferative, Screening, Lens, Autofluorescence, 'Smart lens'.

No CET Points

Professor John Marshall, the Frost Professor of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL, clarifies exactly how these DNA test kits work, how to interpret the results, and what accurate conclusions ophthalmologists and optometrists can draw from these types of test.

First published in DOCET OQ93 (2015).

Topics: Genetic, Gene, Inherited, Corneal dystrophy, AMD.

No CET Points

Dr Mark Rosenfield, a professor of vision sciences at The State University of New York College of Optometry, talks about his research into the visual demands made by the use of computers and digital electronics, how symptoms present and what advice optometrists can give to patients, and the future implications of ‘wearable technology’.

First published in DOCET OQ93 (2015).

Topics: Computer, Smart glasses, Digital, Asthenopia, Phones, Tablets.

No CET Points

Dr Mariana Lopez discusses her research into the potential of new audio technologies to improve on current audio description facilities for visually impaired people.

First published in DOCET OQ93 (2015).

Topics: Low vision, Visual impairment, Audio, Sound, Visual media.

No CET Points

Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness and can be treated effectively with surgery to remove and replace the clouded lens with an artificial intraocular lens. In this interview, Polly Dulley discusses the use of intraocular lenses in cataract surgery with Stephen Campbell.

First published in DOCET OQ91 (2014).

Topics: Cataract, IOL, Lens extraction, Lenses, Binocular, Multifocal, Toric, Surgery.

No CET Points

An examination of the evidence around claims of potential harm caused by blue light from mobile and computer screens.

First published in DOCET OQ91 (2014).

Topics: Computers, Blue light, Photoreceptors, Retina, Macula degeneration, Circadian rhythms, Sleep, Lenses, Sunglasses, Lighting, Phones, Tablets.

No CET Points

A dermatologist discusses the adverse ocular side effects of anti-malarial medications used to treat autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and the duty of care regarding adnexal and facial skin lesions.

First published in DOCET OQ91 (2014).

Topics: Drugs, Malignant, Skin lesions, Adnexa.

No CET Points

Professor Harminder Dua discusses his groundbreaking discovery of the existence of a new corneal layer and its implications in optometry with Gordon Carson.

First published in DOCET OQ90 (2014).

Topics: Cornea, Collagen, Glaucoma.

No CET Points

Stephen Lash, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at University Hospital Southampton, talks about the cosmetic use of bimatoprost glaucoma eye drops and what advice optometrists should give to patients aiming to benefit from the lash enhancing side effects.

First published in DOCET OQ90 (2014).

Topics: Drugs, Eye drops, Glaucoma, Prostaglandin Analogues, Bimatoprost, Eyelashes.

No CET Points

Visual field assessment is a common eye examination performed to enable us to map out a patient’s visual field. In this programme Dr Robert Cubbidge talks through different visual fields assessment techniques, and the benefits and limitations of each.

First published in DOCET OQ90 (2014).

Topics: Visual fields, Frequency Doubling, Perimetry, Glaucoma, Magnocellular.

No CET Points

This case discusses a case of an acute, painless, unilateral visual disturbance in an amblyopic patient. The aim is to make a diagnosis and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Topics: Vision loss, Acute, Referral, Systemic disease, Communication, Record keeping 

No CET Points

This case discusses the actions of an optometrist who examines an elderly patient with early dementia.

Topics: Dementia, Refraction, Legal, Safeguarding, Vulnerable adults, Communication, Confidentiality, Visual assessment, Consent, Ageing, Referral.

No CET Points

This case discusses a case of anisocoria with sluggish pupil responses in a patient who reports reduced near vision in past few months. The aim is to review the case and decide on possible causes of the pupil abnormality and discuss whether the optometrist took an appropriate course of action.

Topics: Anisocoria, Holmes-Aidie, Pupil reactions, Neurological, Mydriasis, Accomodation, Referral, Visual assessment, Pupil assessment, Record keeping

No CET Points

'A Day in the Life' takes optometrists into the world of their older patients, helping them to understand some of the challenges of living with changing vision, covering topics such as lighting, driving, mobility and nutrition. 

Topics: Ageing eye, Lighting, Falls, Mobility, Nutrition, Diet, Low vision, Driving, AREDS, Psychology, Vision loss.

No CET Points

This programme provides guidance on the challenges in communication that optometrists may face and strategies that can be used to improve their services to older patients.

Topics: Vulnerable adults, Dementia, Disability, Verbal, Questions, Language, Advice, Recommendations, Ageing, Psychological, Anxiety, Cognitive.

This Safeguarding course expired on 28 April 2017. If you have completed this course, you can print your certificate here. 

This course has been replaced with our new Safeguarding Adults for Optometrists Level 2 course, updated in April 2017.

This Safeguarding course expired on 28 April 2017. If you have completed this course, you can print your certificate here. 

This course has been replaced with our new Safeguarding Children for Optometrists Level 2 course, updated in April 2017.

No CET Points

Two members of the Clinical Consensus Panel, Professor Steve Taylor & Mark Nevin, discuss the issue of appropriate use of fluorescein in practice.

First published in DOCET OQ89 (2014).

Topics: Fluorescein, Fluorets, Legal classification, Pharmacy, General sales list

No CET Points

In this interview, David Cartwright asks Dr Barnard about the procedures involved in pre-school vision assessment, and advancements in refraction and strabismus screening techniques, including the utilisation of new technologies.

First published in DOCET OQ89 (2014).

Topics: Paediatric screening, Strabismus, Hirschberg, EyeCheck, Cycloplegia, Refraction, Binocular, Amblyopia

No CET Points

In this interview, Polly Dulley asks Professor Rupert Bourne about the implications of the findings of a study of the worldwide causes of vision loss and how they relate to UK optometrists.

First published in DOCET OQ89 (2014).

Topics: Blindness, Incidence, Global, Causes