OPT031: Glaucoma 2

The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and skills in glaucoma care and increase your scope of practice by achieving the College of Optometrists Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma.

This qualification will support autonomous diagnosis and management of ocular hypertension, suspect chronic open angle glaucoma (COAG) and primary angle closure suspect (PACS), and enhance your skills in diagnosis and clinical decision making. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the evidence base which underpins modern glaucoma practice, including developing management plans using medical and laser treatments.

This module takes TWO academic terms to complete.

Start date	September
Duration	Two academic terms
Credits	20 credits - CET points available
Prerequisites	Passed OPT009 and OPT010 or equivalent modules elsewhere. Students must have the College of Optometrists Professional Certificate in Glaucoma prior to beginning the College of Optometrists Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma. In advance of the module, you are encouraged to: Started working on your clinical placement (self-sourced) in a supervised glaucoma clinic Complete up to 50 patient episodes to contribute to the Module Logbook
Module tutors	Caroline Fisher and Claire Gaskell
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£1380 - Home students £2580 - International students
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£1420 - Home students £2660 - International students
Module code	OPT031

Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma

This module is accredited for the College of Optometrists Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma. In order to obtain this award, you must:

1. Organise a placement in a glaucoma clinic with a mentor who is either a Consultant Ophthalmologist or an optometrist with the Diploma in Glaucoma. It is recommended that you complete at least 3-4 months of work on placement prior to the start of the module.
2. Record in an electronic logbook provided by the University your active involvement of at least 150 patients with a case mix to include OHT, suspect COAG, COAG, primary angle closure conditions, and include a range of case complexities.  Your logbook must be submitted by the end of the second semester.
3. Pass the summative assessments, namely the online test, the case report, the online clinical reasoning viva, and the zero weighted components, namely communication skills assessment and practical station assessments.

Learning objectives

On completion of the module, you should be able to:

• Undertake a comprehensive ophthalmic history and examination to assess clinical features of ocular hypertension, suspect OHT, suspect COAG, COAG and primary angle closure conditions (ILO1).
• Differentially diagnose OHT, suspect COAG, COAG and primary angle closure conditions (ILO2).
• Formulate management plans in glaucoma related conditions using IOP lowering medications and/or ophthalmic laser procedures, based on detailed knowledge of current management concepts, evidence-based clinical judgement, and patients’ individual needs and preferences (ILO3).
• Critically reflect on the benefit of inter-professional teamwork in the delivery of glaucoma care. (ILO4)
• Inform patients of the rationale for monitoring their condition and an ability to explain the risk of developing glaucoma (ILO5).
• Counsel patients regarding the risk of blindness associated with glaucoma, risk to family members, and potential impact of the disease on lifestyle (ILO6).
• Explore, critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate research and clinical guidelines in glaucoma care, and apply this knowledge to your clinical practice (ILO7).
• Present and justify balanced and informed arguments, incorporating critical judgment and decision making in clinical scenarios and glaucoma practice (ILO8).
• Engage with new ideas and technologies, building knowledge and experience to critically reflect on your professional development (ILO9).

How the module will be delivered

This module is delivered via online lectures, webinars, tutorials and supporting resources. Your clinical placement learning is integral to the module. As well as day to day support from your placement mentor, you will take part in two additional individual online tutorials with a glaucoma specialist optometrist tutor to support your learning in glaucoma clinics. Discussions boards accessed via Learning Central will provide a platform for you to interact further with course tutors and your peers.

There is one contact day at Cardiff University which is the practical station examination during the second semester. Attendance is compulsory.

Please contact pgoptom@cardiff.ac.uk for more information if you will need advance notice to schedule your attendance.

The module map which outlines key activities and dates is available via the module on Learning Central.

Syllabus content

• Diagnosis of OHT, suspect COAG, COAG and PAC conditions
• Differential diagnosis of glaucoma related conditions including PAC conditions
• Evidence based management decisions in patients with OHT, suspect COAG, COAG and primary angle closure
• Monitoring the response to treatment in glaucoma and related conditions
• Gonioscopic examination of the anterior chamber angle
• IOP lowering medications and laser treatments in the management of OHT and the glaucomas
• Communication with patients regarding the risk of blindness associated with glaucoma, risk to family members and potential impact of the disease on lifestyle
• Contemporary imaging technologies in the differential diagnosis and monitoring of OHT, suspect glaucoma, glaucoma and primary angle closure
• Contemporary OHT and glaucoma management including medical and laser treatments
• The evidence base and clinical guidelines informing glaucoma care

Skills you will practise and develop

• Academic skills
• Reflective practice
• Knowledge application
• Optometric techniques and practical skills
• Effective communication
• Ethical, social and environmental awareness
• Independent and critical thinking
• Reflection and resilience
• Collaborative working

How the module will be assessed

Formative assessment will enable you to assess your progress:

• During the module, you will submit three extended case reports by specified deadlines based on patients you have seen in glaucoma clinics (ILO 1-9). The first two will be formative.
• You will receive comprehensive formative feedback from your glaucoma specialist optometrist tutor at online meetings, when your extended case reports, communication skills and logbook will be discussed in detail. You will receive formative feedback on your case reports and logbook to help ensure that you are evidencing the required progress towards independent clinical examination and decision making. You will also receive formative feedback from your clinical placement supervisors and mentors throughout your placement.

Summative assessments which contribute to your module mark:

• Online test (30%): This is an online test including multiple choice style and short answer questions that will assess knowledge and application across the entire syllabus (ILO2,3).
• Written Coursework (30%): You will submit one summative extended case report by the specified deadline based on a patient you have seen in glaucoma clinics (ILO 1-9).
• Clinical Reasoning Viva (40%) (ILO 2, 3, 6, 7, 8)

College of Optometrists Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma

The following components must be passed in addition to the above formative assessments to achieve the Professional Higher Certificate in Glaucoma. These are pass/fail assessments.

• Clinical reasoning viva (ILO 2,3,6,7).
• Practical station assessments: anterior eye, posterior eye, communication skills (ILO1,4,5).
• Logbook submission of 150 cases (ILO 1-9).

How to apply

Please contact our postgraduate team.