Optical bodies in the UK Flashcards
list the 7 professionals you will come across
- Dispensing Optician
- Orthoptist
- Ophthalmologist
- Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners
- General Practitioners
- Optical Technician
- Optical Assistant
the people you come across will depend on the type of practise you work in
describe the role of a dispensing optician
- Advice on frames and lenses and measurements relating to dispensing glasses
- Can specialise in low vision and CL
list the several different routes of becoming a dispensing optician and what they will gain once qualified
5 different training routes from:
- full time course
- part time course
- distance learning course
once qualified will gain:
ABDO qualification plus registration with GOC
how do orthoptists become qualified
Three year university degree course
what are the 5 main roles and 3 extended roles of an orthoptist
Main roles:
- Binocular vision problems
- Motility problems
- Amblyopia
- Strabismus
- Vision Screening (children in schools and community health centres, orthoptists work in a multi disciplinary team)
orthoptists diagnose these and determine an appropriate management
Extended roles:
Visual field testing
Biometry
Glaucoma and cataract screening
who do orthoptists have to be registered with
the health professionals council
explain the training procedures to qualify as an ophthalmologist and how long each one takes
Training in 2 parts:
- Basic Specialist training – 2 years (Senior House Officer)
- Higher Specialist training- 4.5 years (Specialist Registrar)
what is the difference between basic specialist training and higher specialist training for an ophthalmologist
During their general training, they acquire the general clinical skills of an ophthalmologist and master commonly performed procedures.
Specialist training means they increase the depth of their knowledge and learn specialist surgical skills
name the 2 types of ophthalmologists
- Medical Ophthalmologists
- Ophthalmic Physicians
what do medical ophthalmologists specialise in, what can’t they not do, what can they do and what training is required to become one
- specialise in diagnosis and management of medical conditions affecting the eye or visual pathway.
the reason for developing this speciality was a number of new ophthalmic references present with a medical rather than a surgical problem - they do not perform surgery
- but can carry out laser treatment
- to qualify as a medical ophthalmologist, trainee ophthalmologists must complete 2 years of core medical training, followed by 4 years of medical ophthalmology training
what is a ophthalmic medical practitioner as stated by the royal college of ophthalmologists
‘A registered MP with a qualification in Ophthalmology who is employed to work in the premises of an Optometrist to carry out medical eye examinations and prescribe glasses’
what must an ophthalmic medical practitioner be on the list of in order to practise and who is this administered by
The Ophthalmic Qualifications Committee
Administered by the british medical association
And must comply with the NHS regulations
In order to register on the list, OMP’s must have adequate recent experience working as a consultant ophthalmologist or ophthalmic surgeon or be appointed in an approved ophthalmic hospital for 2 years or more. They should have membership of the royal college of ophthalmologists or have an approved higher degree qualifications or relevant experience.
GP is the only profession alongside…
Optometrists who are permitted to test sight under the Opticians Act of 1998
what is the role of a GP
- They are the interface between primary healthcare and secondary healthcare
- They are normally responsible for referring patients to hospital for specialist treatment or secondary healthcare e.g. if an optometrist wants to refer their px to a hospital as they have AMD, they need to first refer their patient to the GP, who in turn refers the patient to the hospital
But it is now possible for an optometrist to refer a patient directly to the ophthalmologist and hospitals if they’re suffering from certain eye conditions e.g. cataract. However still need to keep the GP informed. The optom should also keep the GP informed with the patient’s consent of any eye diseases that the patient may have and not necessarily require a referral
list 2 things that optical technicians do and who they are trained by
- Make high quality spectacles and lenses CL prosthetic eyes - Repair and adjust spectacles
Training by the Worshipful company of Spectacle Makers
what do optical assistants do and what is required to become one
- Work in Optical Outlets
- Help with sales, pre-screening (Visual Fields Testing etc)
No specific qualifications required
who are the general optical council, what do they do and who needs to register with them
- The regulator for the optical professions in the UK
- Regulates Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians, Corporate Bodies, Student Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians
Their purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education and conduct amongst all mentioned above
- All optical professions including students need to register with the GOC
list 4 main functions of the GOC
- setting standards for the optical education and training performance and conduct
- approving qualifications leading to registration and maintaining a register of individuals who are qualified, fit to practise
- train or carry out a business for optometrists and dispensing opticians
- investigating and acting where registrants fitness to practise in or carry out a business is impaired
who are the college of optometrists
Professional, Scientific and Examining Body for Optometry in the UK, working for the public benefit
It is a registered charity which is incorporated the the royal charter in 1995 and is a single successor body to the british optical association which was founded in 1895 and the scottish associations of opticians which was founded in 1980.
In 1995 the college was granted a royal charter incorporation with the title royal college of optometrists.
what is not essential to practice optometry in the UK
registration to the college of optometrists
what title to optoms who are registered with the college of optometrists get
MCOptom
list the 3 main services that the royal college of optometrists provides
- pre-registration training and assessments (so in pre-reg, it is the RCO who sends people out to examine you in practice)
- they also have various continuous development opportunities e.g. once you’ve qualified and you decided you want to go for higher qualifications e.g. in binocular vision, glaucoma, low vision etc
- they also provide advice and guidance on professional conduct and standards e.g. they publish guidelines on conduct and publish information on ethics within the profession
what do the AOP (association of optometrists) mainly provide and what other 5 services do they provide
- Mainly insurance for optometrists in the UK
Other
- advise on social, economic, legal and administrative aspects of practice
- they represent the interest of all of their members in negotiation for peace other numerous conditions and terms of service
- as a student, if you have any problems with your pre-registration employer, then can get in touch with AOP
- if there is a legal case against you, the AOP will help you prepare your decent and also represent you before the GOC or NHS and any other body who has brought a has against you
- they represent and promote all their members to parliament and other institutions in the UK and european community
who are the association of British dispensing opticians (ABDO) and what do they do and what do they provide
- Similar to the College of Optometrists but related to DO: formed in 1986, when ABDO and faculty of dispensing opticians were merged following the health and social security act of 1984
- Promotes better education and training of dispensing opticians, run specialist courses for DO’s such as low vision and contact lenses
- Also provides insurance (something the royal college of optometrists do not do)
what do the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) do
- Represents registered opticians in business
- Provide insurance cover for optical practice
Other functions such as: - publish key data on optical services e.g. optics at a glance, vouchers at a glance
- involved with optical area local committee and support the work carried out
- support educational programmes and were involved with setting up the optometry course in anglia ruskin university
when was the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers established and what 2 things are they involved in doing
- Established in 1629
- Involved in helping improve the quality of life of the visually impaired
- Also involved in training and personal development of optical technicians
they established the day release course which is now at city and islington college 1962
what 3 things does the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians do
- Represents ophthalmic optical companies involved in all aspects of manufacturing, importing and wholesaling spectacles
- Works with Government departments, in particular the Medical Devices Agency, to ensure that spectacles are safe for use
- it acts as a forum of industry, receiving the news from its members and then disseminating the information
when was the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM) established and what do they do
- Established in 1962
- publicise the work of UK CL manufacturers, to develop new products and to raise standards and expand the CL market
- Publishes an annual CL guide
who are the British Contact Lens Association and what 3 things do they do
- Registered charity, representing all those involved in contact lenses
- UK leading supplier of information and education via publishing the peer review on contact lenses and the anterior eye
- Promotes excellence in research, manufacture and clinical practice of contact lenses and related areas
- Run the continuing education and training (CET) courses and evening meetings
- Has optometrists, dispensing opticians, ophthalmologists, research scientists, industry personal and students amongst it’s memberships
list 3 main things that the Royal College of Ophthalmologists do
- Set and maintain professional standards for Ophthalmology
(maintain standards of the general population and a re concerned with improving the public perception of ophthalmology and ophthalmic disorders) - Produce guidelines for patients and practitioners, and provides information for the media
- Specialist working groups advise on developments in ophthalmology and are constantly updating guidelines for good practice
Has a similar function to the royal college of optometrists
