Cataract, medical retina and disc assessment

The Cataract/medical retina/ disc assessment short course has been designed to meet the training needs of band 6’s and 7s who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in disease recognition, management and intervention of cataract, medical retina and disc assessment.

Course structure

This course includes a mixture of online learning and in-person practical skills training. The online learning will be available for three weeks to give you time to immerse yourself in the course followed by practical posterior segment examination.

There will be 8 hours of online learning and the practical session will last 4 hours.

Featured topics 

Cataract:

• Theoretical knowledge of cataract surgery.
• Pre- and post-operative care.
• Risks and benefits of refractive surgical options.
• Counselling patients on surgical risks and types of lens implantation.
• Principles and methodology of biometry.

Medical retina

• Anatomy and physiology of the retina.
• Knowledge and understanding of choroido-retinal pathologies.
• Perform posterior segment examination.
• Understand imaging: spectrialis, autofluorescence, widefield and infrared.
• Concept of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).

Disc assessment

• What is cupping?
• What is a normal/abnormal disc?
• How to assess cup/disc ratio.
• Pattern of glaucomatous visual field defect.

Benefits of attending

By the end of the course attendees will:

• Gain an understanding of the management and assessment of common eye conditions in relation to medical retina, cataract and glaucoma.
• Develop theoretical knowledge to allow practitioner to safely management patients undergoing cataract operation.
• Develop skills and knowledge required to undertake fundoscopy.

Who should apply

Nurses, orthoptists, prosthetists and operating department practitioners (ODP)

Acccreditation

A certificate of attendance and CPD points will be awarded at the end of the course.

Requirement

In order to access the course content online, you will need access to a computer (laptop or desktop) or a mobile phone.

Next course dates

The next course will commence from Monday 13 April 2026. The practical day will take place on Thursday 7 May.

A further course will commence from Monday 1 March 2027. The practical day will take place on Monday 22 May.