Medical Retina

Professional Certificate

Looking to advance your expertise in medical retina, enhance your skills in diagnosing and managing retinal diseases, and master the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques?

Location: Online via distance learning (plus some face-to-face sessions at Aston University, Birmingham)

Course type
Professional short courses/CPD
Entry requirements
Duration

Four months

Start date

Module overview

Studied via blended learning (online and face-to-face sessions), this professional certificate enhances your skills in detecting, diagnosing and managing retinal diseases. You will gain detailed knowledge of retinal anatomy, pathology and treatments, with a focus on interpreting OCT images and fundus photographs for conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

The module also covers advanced retinal imaging, the use of fluorescein and ICG angiography, and national diabetic retinopathy screening programmes. You will learn about current UK guidelines, local referral pathways and safeguarding practices for adults and children.

This is a level 7 module (equivalent level of study to a postgraduate or masters degree) worth 20 credits.

Module tutor(s): Professor Leon Davies

Why Medical Retina at Aston University?

2nd in the uk
Excellent prospects
Ranked 2nd in the UK for ‘graduate prospects – on track’ (Optometry, Ophthalmics and Orthoptics; Complete University Guide, 2025)
Glasses
Specialist facilities
Access cutting-edge equipment in our ophthalmic simulation suite
Student satisfaction
Research active staff
Learn from passionate research-active academics in specialist areas of optometry, ophthalmics and orthoptics

Objectives and outcomes

  1. Enhances your ability to detect, diagnose and manage diseases of the retina as an eye care professional.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the retina, with an emphasis on the macula.
  • Understand the risk factors and differential diagnosis of disorders related to retinal and macular pathology.
  • Comprehend treatments for medical retina disorders, including the patient’s response to treatment.
  • Interpret OCT images and fundus photographs for AMD and diabetic retinopathy, and manage patients appropriately.
  • Recognise the use of fluorescein, ICG angiography and autofluorescence in medical retina service delivery.
  • Understand the principles, processes, protocols, potential benefits and limitations of national diabetic retinopathy screening programmes.
  • Understand diabetes and its relevance to retinopathy screening.
  • Detect and classify diabetic retinal disease.
  • Recognise acute retinal pathology, conduct appropriate tests, make suitable referrals and clearly state the level of urgency.
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Speak to our Admissions Team

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: professionalcpd@aston.ac.uk

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 09.30am-4.30pm)

Entry requirements

  • You must be a registered optometrist with the UK General Optical Council (GOC) to undertake the Professional Certificate (other eye care professionals should refer to our Medical Retina standalone module).

Medical Retina (standalone module)

Fees

UK students (2024/25)
£1300 plus £149 practical workshop (£1449 for full module)

More information on fees

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as UK students.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Delivery and assessment

  • This course is delivered via blended learning (online and face-to-face sessions). You will access learning materials for general study, revision and assessment via our virtual learning environment, Blackboard. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, scientific journals, e-journals, databases and much more.
  • Compulsory on-campus practical days take place on Tuesday 8 April 2025 and Wednesday 9 April 2025.
Method of deliveryLearning hours
Small group activity4 hours
Independent activity166 hours
Structured activity20 hours
Formative assessment activity10 hours
Total200 hours
  • Assessment
    The assessment for this standalone module comprises three components:

    Multiple choice questions (15%): An open-book exam lasting 1.5 hours.

    Class test (25%): An untimed, open-book test featuring visual recognition tasks (VRICS) where you analyse images and demonstrate clinical decision-making.

    Coursework (60%): Two case reports with reflections and references, or an essay (title must be approved by the module lead).
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Hello! We are a team of current Aston University students from various parts of the world, studying a wide range of postgraduate subjects.

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Career prospects

  • Our range of continuing professional development modules offers you the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in order to develop your career, it is also our ethos to equip you with the skills and knowledge to make a real difference in your field.
  • They have been designed to allow you to develop specialist knowledge in advanced optometric topics like medical retina. Clinical application and content may allow eye care professionals to widen and specialise their mode of practice.
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