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Glaucoma module (CPD)

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Degree awarded: PG Credit

Duration: 11 weeks

Course fees:

Fees for the course beginning 30 January 2014 are:

Modular (part-time)

UK/EU students (per annum): £650
International students (per annum): £1300

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees. Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

Number of places/applicants: 30 places are available

Academic department: School of Medicine

Contact email: Rebecca.riley@manchester.ac.uk

Contact telephone: +44 (0)161 275 5265

How to apply:

Apply online

Please note: the next intake of the course will start on 30 January 2014.

Course options

	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time distance learning	Part-time distance learning
	N	Y	N	N

Course description

The unit will cover the theoretical knowledge needed to detect and manage glaucoma. It will cover the structural and functional losses seen in glaucoma and the therapeutic options. Emphasis will be placed on the instrumentation and techniques used in management and their theoretical basis/mode of operation.

It is intended that those who graduate from this unit will have an advanced knowledge of this condition with a practical understanding of the latest methods of detection and management.

Glaucoma module brochure (PDF, 457KB)
Glaucoma module syllabus 2013 (PDF, 93KB)
Glaucoma module application instructions (PDF, 200 KB)

The course draws upon the expertise of a large number of academic and clinically qualified staff within the University of Manchester and Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.

Successful completion of the glaucoma module can form part of an MSc in Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. To complete the MSc you will need to take a further 6 modules and a dissertation.

Further details on the Manchester IOVS MSc course

Course aims

The principle aim of this module is to provide qualified UK optometrists and healthcare professionals with advanced knowledge on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma:

To provide a physiological and pathophysiological basis for the understanding of the management of the glaucomas
To provide a comprehensive knowledge of the technologies and their application in the diagnosis and monitoring of the glaucomas
To provide an understanding of the approach to, and the various treatment modalities for, the management of the glaucomas

Course unit details

There will be 11 three-hour sessions held on consecutive Thursday mornings starting in January 2013.

The module will adopt the requirements of the developing glaucoma curriculum for optometric roles in the detection and management of COAG and OHT.

Topics covered include:

Glaucoma classification and epidemiology
- Classification of the glaucomas
- Epidemiology of primary open angle glaucoma
Anatomy and physiology
- Pathophysiology of aqueous production and the control of IOP
- Pathophysiology of the optic nerve head and nerve fibre layer
- Pathophysiology of the anterior chamber and drainage angle
- Blood supply to the optic nerve head
Perimetry 1
- Perimetric techniques (measuring thresholds in the untrained).
- Quantification and reliability indices
- Quantification of progressive loss in glaucoma
Perimetry 2
- Visual field loss in glaucoma
- Practical - visual field tests
Imaging 1
- Imaging of the optic nerve head (SLO, HRT, GDx OCT, Multispectral imaging)
- Imaging of the anterior chamber (OCT and UBM)
- The optic nerve head in glaucoma
- Practical - e-learning evaluation of optic nerve head
Imaging 2
- Practical - imaging devices
- Structure function relationship
Tonometry
- Measurement of the IOP and corneal thickness
- Other examination techniques
- Multifocal VEPs, pupillometry
Management of the glaucomas
- Medical
- Surgical
Screening
- Principles and practice of screening for glaucoma
- Appraising diagnostic tests (sensitivity, specificity Likelihood ratios, PPV, NPV, etc)
Co-management of glaucoma
- NICE Guidelines
- Referral refinement schemes
- Optometric led HES schemes
- Optometric community schemes

Full entry requirements

English language:

Students whose first language is not English require a minimum of:

IELTS 6.5

English language test validity: Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Professional entry qualification:

All applicants need to be qualified optometrists or healthcare professionals with ophthalmic experience. Those with overseas qualifications also need an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.

How your application is considered

Offers are made to all suitably qualified applicants.

Teaching and learning

The course uses a blended approach to learning incorporating lectures, practicals, e-learning (distance) and the submission of written work (lab reports and essays).