MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science

The unit aims to provide students with knowledge of common medical retina conditions including diagnosis and management. This will incorporate areas such as screening, referral and treatment pathways where appropriate.

Understanding of the role and importance of modern imaging and interpretation of these images and of clinical signs towards diagnosis will be a key aspect as well as subsequent formulation of a management plan. This will allow clinicians to understand how to manage patients or community and hospital based optometrists to make accurate and appropriate referral decisions for patients with medical retina conditions.

Finally, the course aims to provide students with critical appraisal skills to keep knowledge up to date.

Lectures (in the form of online podcasts), quizzes, discussion boards, case studies (all e-learning)

Setting of individual papers for critique and interactive assessment online.

Students should be able to:

• Explain the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the retina and retinal disease.
• Understand the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, imaging findings, and management options for retinal vascular pathologies.

They should have an understanding of relevant literature especially with respect to the evidence base supporting the use of current treatments for retinal vascular disease.

Students should be able to:

• Apply learning to novel  situations such as patient presentations
• Problem solve, in particular with regards to diagnosis
• Critically assess published ophthalmic research and report results both orally and in written format, including critical appraisal of relevant papers and understand the role of research in this field.

Students should be able to:

• Interpret of modern retinal imaging
• Review papers submitted for publication and research proposals.

Students should be able to:

• Communicate effectively with patients
• Critical analyse
• Reflect
• Manage time and  work to deadlines
• Use initiative when seeking information
• Use information technology to a high standard
• Apply skills for identifying, appraising, synthesising and applying evidence.

Feedback will be provided in line with University policy.

• Ryan's Retina, 6th Edition. Andrew P. Schachat & Charles P. Wilkinson & David R. Hinton & K. Bailey Freund & David Sarraf & Peter Wiedemann & SriniVas R. Sadda. June 2017
• Gass' Atlas of Macular Diseases: 2-Volume Set - Expert Consult: Online and Print 5th Edition by Anita Agarwal MD.
• Retina- Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Ophthalmology (Wills Eye Series), Allen Ho, Gary Brown, J. Arch McNamara, and Carl D. Regillo, McGraw-Hill.