Test Catalogue3

This course comprises of 15 elearning sessions based on the RCOphth Basic Surgical Skills Course. Delegates are asked to complete 3 sessions in this course as a prior pre-requisite to attending the course; there will be a brief assessment of the knowledge transfer at the start of the day: Instruments  Sutures  Primary Repair of Penetrating Eye Injury  The introduction explains the content of the course and provides some suggestions for optimizing hands-on tuition time in the skills centre and operating room, as well as giving some suggestions for strategies for learning cataract surgery for trainees to discuss with their trainers. A further six sessions cover the basic principles to be understood about the binocular operating microscope, ophthalmic instruments, placing an eye drape, wound construction, different needles and sutures and the repair of eyelid and penetrating eye injuries. There is a comprehensive section explaining the basics of astigmatism in a clear manner, and the relevance to cataract surgery. Further sessions give proper understanding of how instruments work, and the underlying theme of the course is emphasis of these basic skills and how they can be practised. Attention is drawn to the importance of preparation prior to surgery of the patient, the surgeon and his equipment. This includes understanding how the microscope should be operated, and how to place an eye drape to permit safe and sterile surgery. The session on wound construction and astigmatism explain all that a trainee ophthalmic surgeon should understand, with explanations of the benefits and drawbacks of different types of wound construction and placement. The basics of managing penetrating eye trauma are described.

This course comprises of 23 elearning sessions covering the safe use of lasers in ophthalmology. The sessions in this course provide the basic knowledge component for trainees seeking to acquire practical laser skills including: Basic knowledge of laser physics, tissue interactions and laser safety are covered, leading on to specialist use of lasers.  Sessions on the use of lasers to treat retinal diseases or lesions includes direct, indirect and endoscopic delivery.  Various applications of laser in the treatment of glaucoma are covered as is the use of Q-switched YAG laser to cut tissues within the eye.  The importance of laser safety both for patients and operators is emphasised throughout.

The course comprises of 12 elearning sessions covering the principles and practice of refraction. It is also designed to assist with preparation for the Refraction Certificate of the RCOphth. Component sessions are designed to correspond to the OSCE stations of this examination. A sound knowledge of basic optics is a prerequisite to understanding the course.  The first session therefore comprises a self assessment in optics. This is followed by a review of the optics of the eye and ametropia. The third session provides an overview of the complete refractive examination and the interaction between community (GOS) and hospital eye services (HES). The remaining sessions provide practical instruction on performing refraction.  The sessions cover key steps: lens neutralization and focimetry; fitting of trial frames and measurement of IPD; retinoscopy; subjective refraction including use of the Jackson cross cylinder, and duochrome test; assessment of muscle balance and prismatic correction; prescribing advice and types of spectacle lenses.  The final session is an interactive self assessment utilising examples of poor technique and practice.

The course comprises of 26 elearning sessions covering the basics of eye examination for junior ophthalmologists. Use of simple and specialist equipment to examine the functions of the visual system is covered as an introductory basis for specialist training.

The course comprises of 11 elearning sessions covering the principles and practice of ophthalmic public health. The course maps to the relevant public health and health systems/leadership related learning outcomes of the RCOphth OST as identified in each session. It is also designed to assist with raising awareness of the health and social care integration issues required by trainees and consultants alike and particularly interaction with commissioners of health and social care services to better reduce visual impairment and disability at the community level. No basic knowledge is required to understanding the course apart from medical undergraduate/equivalent level understanding of basic epidemiology and statistics. The first session comprises an overview of public health and ophthalmic public health principles and provides a brief summary of the other sessions aiming to encourage individuals to engage with further sessions which traditionally have not always been perceived as core knowledge for the Ophthalmic trainee. National and local developments in commissioning and determining holistic community approaches, targeting inequalities and prioritisation of certain interventions are increasing relevant in the current climate of primary care driven health and social care reform and economic challenge. Some sessions cover generic cross cutting themes of learning e.g. Epidemiology, Needs Assessment, Health Economics and Screening using ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic examples. Other sessions specifically target the public health aspects of the major blinding conditions of cataract, ARMD, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Additionally a session on Children's Eye Health combines the specific requirements of children, younger people, people with learning difficulties using both a generic approach (e.g. screening, healthcare integration with (re)habilitation, education, independent living, empowerment) and specific children's eye health conditions (e.g. retinopathy or prematurity (ROP), school screening, immunisation).

The course comprises of 6 elearning sessions covering the principles penetrating glaucoma surgical techniques. Delegates are asked to complete this course of 6 elearning sessions as a prior pre-requisite to attending the 1 day course; there will be a brief assessment of the knowledge transfer at the start of the day.  Following this and a brief introduction/discussion, the majority of the course is spent practicing in the RCOphth wet lab. A variety of surgical approaches to trabeculectomy and glaucoma drainage devices procedures will be performed on animal eyes (and, where appropriate, plastic eyes) under the close supervision of experienced glaucoma surgeons. Combined cataract and glaucoma surgical procedures may also be performed. There will be limited opportunities to use the EYESI cataract surgical simulator. At the end of the day there will be further discussion prior to summary conclusion. 

The course comprises of 5 elearning sessions covering the principles corneal procedures in clinical practice is designed to support the learner with the training held at the RCOphth. This RCOphth Cornea course is in two parts: The first day concentrates on common corneal procedures in clinical practice which would benefit anyone who is involved in surgical ophthalmic practice and deals with corneal emergencies such as perforations and corneal trauma both penetrating and non-penetrating. General ophthalmologists who manage patients with corneal conditions such as erosions and infections will also benefit.  The second day is for individuals with some experience in corneal surgery or those who wish to pursue subspecialisation in corneal surgery especially corneal transplantation. It covers penetrating keratoplasty and lamellar keratoplasty.  Both days have complementary didactic and wet lab sessions with one to one teaching. The elearning sessions are supported with a range of good pictures and video demonstrations.

The course comprises of 6 elearning sessions covering the principles strabismus surgery and is designed to support the learner with the training held at the RCOphth. Although strabismus surgery is increasingly becoming the remit of the sub-specialist paediatric ophthalmologist and strabismologist, it is still a common procedure and the ability to isolate, suture, detach and reattach a rectus muscle should still be within the competence of a surgical trainee completing training and of a general ophthalmologist. This course is primarily designed to aid Surgical Trainees and Fellows learning strabismus surgery as a supplement to appropriate simulation and real life surgical training. It may also be of value to more experienced surgeons wishing to remind themselves of some of the less common surgical procedures. The sessions have been authored by some of the most experienced strabismus surgeons in the UK and reflect their preferred techniques accepting that there are many different approaches to strabismus surgery. All sessions stress the requirement for a good knowledge of the surgical anatomy before undertaking any surgery. The session: Surgical Anatomy and Instruments: Is a revision/self-assessment exercise in anatomy and overview of the surgical instruments used in strabismus surgery.  Horizontal Rectus Surgery: Deals with basic horizontal rectus surgery.  Vertical Rectus Surgery / Inferior Oblique Surgery / Superior Oblique Surgery: Deal with indications and techniques for surgery on the vertical rectus muscles, inferior oblique and superior oblique and highlight issues particular to these muscles.  Complications and Consent: Covers possible complications and the importance of informed consent and preoperative patient communication.

The course comprises of 9 elearning sessions aimed at junior doctors starting ophthalmology to provide guidance on how to take a history and perform a structured ophthalmic examination to assess common ophthalmic acute conditions. By completing this course you should have increased knowledge on how to assess a patient presenting with a red eye or sudden loss of vision. The course is also suitable for those with limited knowledge in ophthalmology who deal with acute conditions so this is also appropriate for foundation doctors and those working in general A and E or general practice.

The course comprises of 3 elearning sessions and aims to provide a framework for learning the procedure, ideally taken as part of preparation for a hands-on wet-lab training course; or to support clinical learning as a specialist trainee. Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) has become the most commonly performed procedure for corneal endothelial failure in UK practise. The first session covers the basic principles, second session gives step-by-step instruction in the technique, and the third session looks at more complex cases and management of complications. There are many ways of doing DSEK and the course does not attempt to be exhaustive, but it should be a good place from which to start!

The course comprises of 9 elearning sessions and provides information on the principal visual electrophysiology techniques, describing how each probes the underlying physiology and anatomy, and how they can be used in diagnosis and monitoring of ophthalmic disease.

The course comprises of 9 elearning sessions aimed at those surgeons who have completed the intermediate course and are at the stage of taking on more complex cataract challenges. This includes looking at the phacodynamics of modern phaco machines and how that has improved over recent years and how this can be applied to more complex cases. The rest of the course relates to complications management for various stages of the operation and how intra-operative decisions can make a big difference to outcomes. IOL exchange is also discussed regarding its relationship with the indications for exchange and problems arising from modern IOL design.

The course comprises of 6 elearning sessions aimed at training surgeons who have developed the basic skills for performing phacoemulsification but need to consider how to deal with unexpected complications or undertake cataract removal in more challenging cases. Commencing with a review of how the machines work the session concentrates on the management of patients with different types of cataract, small pupils and zonular weakness. The course finishes with how to perform extra-capsular cataract removal and the principles behind dealing successfully with intra-operative posterior capsular rupture.

The course comprises of 5 elearning sessions providing information on techniques and application of ultrasound in ocular diagnosis.

The course comprises of 5 elearning sessions and is a competency and revision package for all regular and occasional Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screeners. It covers 4 main topics in ROP: Pathogenesis and risk factors for ROP  Screening criteria and how to screen for ROP  How to grade ROP and when to refer  Treatment strategies for ROP Within the course there will be a link to the interactive AAO ROP case-based training website.

The course comprises of 8 elearning sessions and will cover important and urgent neuro-ophthalmological presentations of disease, their identification, assessment and investigation, including what to say to patients and when to refer to other specialties.

The course comprises of 6 elearning sessions and will educate users in the diagnosis and management of oculoplastics conditions, including eyelid, orbital and lacrimal disorders. The course is aimed at specialist trainees in ophthalmology, but would also be of interest to other ophthalmologists, medical and eyecare professionals who may be looking after patients with such conditions.

The course comprises of 4 elearning sessions and will educate users in the diagnosis and management of thyroid eye disease. It is presented in conjunction with the Thyroid Eye Disease Charitable Trust, with the aim of improving the experience of patients with thyroid eye disease. It will cover the natural history, features and diagnosis of the disease, as well as medical and surgical management. The course is aimed at specialist trainees in Ophthalmology, but would also be of interest to other Ophthalmologists and eyecare professionals, as well as Endocrinologists and GPs who may have patients with this condition.

The course comprises of 6 elearning sessions and covers the essentials of refractive surgery, you will learn about the different types of refractive surgery available, including their indications and possible complications. As NHS eye care practitioners, we may not regularly be involved in refractive surgery, but we need to know how to advise patients enquiring about these procedures, and how to manage post-operative complications that may present to us. This course has been written by ophthalmologists with extensive experience in refractive surgery, and is ideal for ophthalmology trainees wanting to know more about refractive surgery. It is also suitable for all levels of ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses and orthoptists as well as other healthcare professionals wanting to gain basic knowledge of the subject.