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