OPT033: Paediatric Optometry - Practical

The module provides you with the practical training to provide a high standard of paediatric eye care to children of all ages.

This is the practical module to complement OPT006 Paediatric Eye Care 1 (Theory).

The module builds on core competence of all optometrists, with a requirement for higher level of practical ability and self-evaluation of skills and practice. Your learning during this module is focused on enhancing your ability to identify and perform appropriate tests and techniques for the ocular assessment of children.

This further extends to incorporate your communication and management decision making skills within a paediatric setting. To enable this, in addition to the online content attendance for contact days in Cardiff is required. These will be three consecutive days.

Along with OPT006 Paediatric Eye Care 1 (Theory), this module is accredited by the College of Optometrists to provide the Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care.

Start date	January
Duration	100 hours
Credits	10 credits - CET points available
Prerequisites	OPT006 Paediatric Eye Care 1 (Theory)
Module tutors	Maggie Woodhouse
Tuition fees (2025/26)	£690 - Home students £1290 - International students
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£710 - Home students £1330 - International students
Module code	OPT033

Learning objectives

On completion of the module you should be able to:

• Evaluate and apply modern key concepts of paediatric care and be able to apply them to challenges within their own environment and practice (ILO1)
• Examine and reflect on the benefit of inter-professional teamwork in the delivery of paediatric eye care in optometry (ILO2)
• Present balanced and informed arguments, incorporating critical judgment and decision making in practical assessments (ILO3)
• Assess the signs and symptoms of paediatric eye conditions to make a differential diagnosis and develop solutions/ management plans based on evidence and sound professional and clinical judgement (ILO4)
• Further demonstrate the ability to critique one’s own practice in paediatric eye care, develop means of improvement and discuss with others the management of children's eye care (ILO5)

How the module will be delivered

You have the opportunity to complete guided case-based learning that encourages you to revise and apply knowledge through webinars providing key features scenarios.

Webinars are designed to allow you to actively discuss the issues in the scenarios, with particular emphasis on management and communication with parents and other professionals.

External tutors from other professions (occupational therapy, VI support teaching and dispensing optics) will provide you with valuable wider experience (either through webinars or face-to-face workshops)

Discussions Boards accessed via Learning Central will provide a platform for you to discuss any questions or queries that come up throughout the term with both the course tutors and your peers.

In the practical days there will be workshops and clinical experience in the Special Assessment Clinic and Dispensing Clinic, which will allow students to witness and participate in eye examinations with child patients.

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

Syllabus content

• The practical workshops, online discussions and written submissions will cover the following areas:
• Tests and techniques for examining young children:
• Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity tests
• Retinoscopy
• Accommodation
• Stereopsis and colour vision
• Eye movements and visual fields
• Practical demonstration of dispensing for children
• Paediatric contact lenses
• Measuring binocular status in children
• Assessment for coloured overlays and coloured lenses
• Paediatric Case studies (Peer-review)
• Communication skills with children and parents

Skills that will be practised and developed

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

How the module will be assessed

Formative assessment will enable you to assess your progress:

• Students can submit a referenced written assignment (case record) for which feedback will be given.
• Case record presentation: You will select one of your case records or an interesting issue arising from their experience, give a short presentation on salient issues to the other students, and lead a discussion. The session will constitute peer review and may be in the form of a webinar or as a face-to-face session.

Summative assessments which contribute to your module mark:

• Practical assessment (50%, OSCE and direct observation of procedural skills):
  • Skills: You will be assessed on your ability to undertake visual acuity and binocular vision measurements and to make appropriate dispensing decisions during clinical sessions (ILO 3,4)
  • Competencies: in static and dynamic retinoscopy and in communication will also be assessed in person.  A pass is required in each for completion of the module (ILO 3,4).
  • OSCEs: you will undertake two short assessments (~5 minutes each), testing your ability to recognise clinical scenarios and to appropriately describe examination findings to children and parents (ILO 3, 4, 5).
• Case Records (50%, ~1500 words per case record): You will be required to submit THREE case records. (Note that for the College Professional Certificate, you are required to submit four case records from your clinical practice over the two modules, including at least one involving communication with another (non-eye care) professional. The case record in OPT006 forms one of the required four (ILO 1, 2, 4, 5).

How to apply

Please contact our postgraduate team.