College of Optometrists announces new accreditation

Moorfields Eye Hospital and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology have been accredited as a provider of the Professional Diploma in Glaucoma by the College of Optometrists.

Designed to prepare optometrists to participate in community and hospital-based schemes, the part-time course will consist of online learning and face-to-face teaching with students required to complete a clinical placement.

Principal optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital Jay Varia said: ‘As the needs of our patients and the demands on our healthcare system increase, the profession is ideally placed to extend its traditional role into more direct clinical care. With the knowledge gained, optometrists can work safely and confidently to manage stable glaucoma patients in the community or co-manage complex glaucoma in hospital clinics.’