Key information, entry requirement and fees
Credit value: 20 Masters-level credits
Mode of delivery: Online delivery with three compulsory clinical training days at the Aston University Birmingham campus.
Number of places available: 20
Start date: 1st October 2023
Duration: 9 months
Time commitments: Although this will depend upon the individual, a typical student can expect to spend up to 200 hours of study in total
Fees: for 2023/24: £620 per 10 credits.
Entry requirements: You must be a clinician in the field of optometry who sees child patients regularly. Please note this module is currently only available to UK GOC registered Optometrists.
Professional accreditation
This module has been designed to meet the requirements of the College of Optometrists Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care.
Please note while any clinician in the field of optometry is eligible to study this module, only those who are registered with the General Optical Council will receive the acknowledgment of Prof Cert Paediatrics by the College of Optometrists upon successful completion.
Course outline and what you will study
This module aims to equip clinicians in the field of optometry with enhanced knowledge and clinical skills in the specialist area of paediatric optometry. Topics covered within this module include:
- Typical visual development in infancy.
- Refractive error development and distribution of refractive error in throughout childhood.
- Assessment of refractive error in infants and children.
- Prescribing decision making in children.
- Myopia management in childhood: current strategies and evidence from research.
- Tests and techniques to assess vision in infants and children.
- Tests and techniques to assess binocular vision in infants and children.
- Management of common binocular vision anomalies in children.
- Tests and techniques to assess ocular health in infants and children and common ocular paediatric conditions.
- Paediatric contact lenses.
- Communicating with children and parents.
- Introduction to eye care in children with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Dispensing in children.
- Vision Screening.
- Safeguarding in children.
Content and directed learning delivered on this course links in with contemporary research in this field, much of which is conducted at Aston University.
This course is part of the School of Optometry which sits within the College of Health and Life Sciences.
Learning, teaching, assessment and staff
Learning and teaching:
Lecture content is delivered by distance learning, using Blackboard, our virtual learning environment. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, scientific journals, e-journals, databases and much more. You will also complete small group activity learning with activities such as tutorials and independent study.
The on-campus training within this course takes place over a period of three days. During the clinical training days, you will take part in a number of practical and discussion workshops and gain hand-on experience with child patients within our specialist paediatric optometry clinics.
Assessments:
A variety of assessment methods linked to learning outcomes are utilised including coursework, an MCQ online test and OSCEs. The coursework consists of a portfolio of four case studies.
The assessment day at Aston University will include five OSCEs, an oral presentation and an assessment of communication with child patients.
Key staff:
Module lead: Professor Nicola Logan & Dr Hannah Bartlett
Career prospects
This course has accreditation from the College of Optometrists for the award of Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care.
Our range of continuing professional development modules offer you the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills in order to develop your career, it is also our ethos is 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 paediatric eye care. Clinical application and content may allow eye care professionals to widen and specialise their mode of practice.
