OPT019: Primary Care Update - Practical

On completion of this module you should be able to:

• evaluate and apply modern key concepts of primary eye care and be able to apply them to challenges within your environment and practice
• address and reflect on the benefit of inter-professional teamwork in the delivery of primary care optometry
• present balanced and informed arguments, incorporating critical judgment and decision-making in practical assessments
• effectively reflect on and evaluate learning
• assess the signs and symptoms of common conditions that present in primary eye care, make a differential diagnosis and rank options for management
• problem solve and develop solutions/management plans in cases that commonly present in primary eye care based on evidence, guidelines, and sound professional and clinical judgment

This module is taught via practical sessions, interactive webinars, online tutorials and case discussions, with supporting resources and references supplied.

A series of formative case-based decision-making scenarios, via a discussion board on Learning Central (the University's Virtual Learning Environment) is available. You can also interact with your peers and module tutors and present any clinical questions or other queries that come up throughout the term. In addition, there will be three virtual webinars to discuss various aspects of the course content.

There will be contact days towards the end of the semester. This is practical workshops and case discussions, followed by the summative practical assessment.

This module is the practical component which builds on module OPT018: Primary Care Update Theory. OPT018 covers theoretical knowledge and must be passed before beginning OPT019.

• The type and structure of questions used in history and symptoms taking and adapting the clinical assessments accordingly
• Evidenced-based diagnosis and management of common eye conditions
• The different methods of assessing a patient’s eye health and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
• Clinical assessment of binocular vision
• Developing the techniques to assess children's vision, including assessing the refractive (retinoscopy) and accommodation status
• Assessing the anterior chamber for signs of inflammation and assessing the anterior chamber angle depth
• Assessment of the fundus using a detailed slit lamp binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (Volk lens) routine and supplementary retinal imaging techniques
• The use of Goldman applanation tonometry to determine intra-ocular pressure

Academic skills

• The interpretation of data from practical assessment
• Exam technique

Subject-specific skills

• The enhancement of clinical examination techniques
• Patient management
• Patient communication

Generic skills

• Time management
• Working independently
• Problem-solving
• Communication skills

Formative assessment

Students will have an opportunity to submit a formative case report and receive feedback in advance of the summative case report.

Summative assessment

• Written coursework (50%): Students will be expected to join an online webinar with case discussion and subsequently write a case report based on the investigation and management of one of their patients, or using a case described in the webinar
• Practical Assessment (50%): Students will be assessed using Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). This comprises stations considering different aspects of assessing patients in eye care practice