Eye hospital group Optegra Eye Health Care has teamed up with Vision Express to host a series of training events.
Four workshop days for pre-registration optometrists were scheduled between October 2015 and January 2016 to develop communication skills, clinical decision making in ocular disease and slit lamp techniques.
The first of these events, held at Optegra Eye Hospital Birmingham, included a lecture session by ophthalmologist Mark Wevill on contemporary refractive solutions. He presented latest techniques in intraocular lens surgery, laser vision correction and corneal collagen cross linking.
Another in Hampshire featured a lecture by Anthony Evans reviewed ocular conditions, effective referral and advances in cataract surgery, and Optegra’s Dr Clare O’Donnell spoke about ophthalmology.
Dr O’Donnell, head of eye sciences at Optegra, said: ‘Optegra was delighted to host this bespoke training event for all Vision Express trainee optometrists. The relevance of Wevill’s comments on how patients can be advised on their refractive management options in the clinical setting was then put into practice by the pre-registration optometrists in various role play scenarios.
‘Topics relating to the role of the optometrist in both pre and post-operative management of cataract patients were particularly interesting and generated great discussion amongst attendees.’
Attendees also participated in a practical advanced slit lamp biomicroscopy workshop, clinical decision making in ocular pathology workshop, and communication skills and role play workshop.
Neil Retallic, optometry operations manager at Vision Express, added: ‘Involving Optegra Eye Health Care specialists in our pre-registration optometrist training is proving extremely effective in preparing our trainees for their scheme for registration ocular disease competencies. This event is helping enhance their understanding of how to provide the best customer care for those patients presenting to our stores with ocular pathology, and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to finding new interactive teaching methods to help develop our future optometrists.’