Master of Optometry

The Master of Optometry is taught full-time over 4 academic years. In each year you will study 120 credits worth of modules.

Years 1, 2 and 3 are taught at the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences and all modules are compulsory.

Year 4 consists of the extended learning in practice modules, organised by the College of Optometrists, which will be undertaken in an optometry setting in the UK. During your learning in practice, you will also study distance learning modules, one day a week, taught by the School. The work-based learning in a clinical setting plus distance learning components for this period total 120 credits.

Year One

In Year 1 you will study 4 compulsory modules. We will support you in developing independent study skills in a new University environment so that you gain confidence and build a solid foundation for success in the later years of the programme. You will learn about modern optometry practice and how optometrists are continually expanding their clinical responsibilities to care for patients.

You will study core science and clinical optometric techniques, and learn about legal and ethical aspects of being a professional optometrist. Evidence-based practice will be introduced, in which you will begin to learn how clinicians use clinical and scientific research to improve patients’ eye health.

By the end of Year 1 you should be able to perform a basic eye test for glasses (refraction), undertake techniques for dispensing straightforward glasses and contact lens prescriptions, and be familiar with modern ophthalmic instrumentation used to investigate the eyes and visual system.

You will need to pass all modules in order to progress to Year 2.

Core Modules for Year One

• Eye Examination
• Visual Correction
• The Eye
• Being a Professional

Year Two

Year 2 requires you to study 4 compulsory modules. This year allows you to build on your Year 1 studies and take more responsibility for patient care. You will learn about common eye disorders in more detail, pharmacology and ocular drug treatments, as well as be introduced to engaging clinical vision science topics. You will continue to develop competence in applying principles of evidence-based practice to patient care and will increase further your professional awareness of law, ethics and risk management.

By the end of Year 2 you should be able to perform a competent eye examination of patients under close supervision, dispense the majority of spectacle prescriptions, fit most contact lens types, and understand the diagnosis and management of common eye disorders.

You must pass all modules in order to progress to Year 3.

*Note: One component of the Year 2 assessment is a pre-placement competency assessment administered by the College of Optometrists. This must be passed to progress to the first part of the extended learning in practice placement in the second half of Year 3. Resit opportunities will be available during Year 2 and the Summer resit period before Year 3.

Core Modules for Year Two

• Further Eye Examination
• Advanced Visual Correction
• Pathology and Management

Year Three

The first half of Year 3 consists of 2 compulsory modules which extend your clinical optometric practice and study of eye disease and its management. You will spend time in the community clinics and specialist clinics in the school and gain experience under direct supervision in applying your knowledge and skills to patients.

For the second half of Year 3, having passed all pre-placement competency requirements, you will undertake the first part of your learning in practice modules away from Cardiff University, organised by the College of Optometrists. Learning in practice allows you to apply your skills to a range of patients in a real-world optometry setting. Your learning is structured around 2 compulsory modules totalling 60 credits. One 40-credit module is the learning in practice. The other 20 credit module is studied with distance learning delivered by the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, enabling you to begin working towards a range of College of Optometrists professional certificates which allow an enhanced scope of clinical practice.

By the end of Year 3, you should be confident in examining and managing a range of patients of different ages under direct and indirect supervision.

You must pass all modules in order to progress to Year 4.

Core Modules for Year Three

• Primary Care
• Enhanced Services

Optional Modules for Year Three

• Professional Certificate in Low Vision
• Professional Certificate in Glaucoma
• Independent Prescribing 1 (Theory)
• Neuroanatomy and Development of the Visual System
• Psychophysics and Perception
• Research Project

Year Four

The first half of Year 4 involves the second part of your learning in practice extended external clinical experience, organised by the College of Optometrists. Again, your learning is structured around 2 compulsory modules totalling 60 credits. One 40-credit module is for learning in practice. The other is a 20-credit distance learning module delivered by the School, enabling you to continue working towards a range of College of Optometrists professional certificates.

We welcome you back to Cardiff for the second half of Year 4 when you will work under supervision in the School’s specialist clinics. You will continue your advanced clinical specialist studies in a compulsory 40-credit clinical module to complete the College of Optometrists professional certificates in specialist areas. You will also choose a 20-credit optional module in which you may select either a research project, a clinical module, or an advanced vision science module.

By the end of Year 4, you should be confident and autonomous in examining patients of all ages and with a range of conditions, have completed College of Optometrists professional certificates in specialist areas, and be ready to register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council.

Core Modules for Year Four

• Clinical Learning in Practice 1
• Clinical Learning in Practice 2
• Professional Certificate in Medical Retina

Optional Modules for Year Four

• Vision Science and Research Methods
• Professional Certificate in Paediatrics
• Independent Prescribing 2 (Theory)

How Will I Be Assessed?

Our assessment is designed to demonstrate that you have achieved the standards required by Cardiff University for the award of an integrated master's degree and reached the standard of competency required by the General Optical Council (GOC) to register and practise as an optometrist in the UK.

The programme utilises both formative and summative assessment in all modules giving you the opportunity to receive detailed feedback prior to submitting your summative assessment.

You will be assessed in 7 domains specified by the GOC:

1. Person-centred care
2. Communication
3. Clinical practice
4. Ethics and standards
5. Risk
6. Leadership and management
7. Lifelong learning

We use a broad range of intellectually engaging assessment tasks to allow you to develop and present your knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in different ways that are authentic to real-life clinical practice. Tasks include written examinations and assignments, case reports, reflections, online assessments, portfolios, projects, presentations, structured oral assessments and observation of your clinical practice. Assessments are designed to support your learning, with formative feedback at all stages given to help you reflect on your progress and guide your studies.

What Skills Will I Practise and Develop?

On successful completion of your Programme you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding

• KU 1 Critically apply advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology and optics of the normal human visual system to current clinical optometric practice
• KU 2 Critique and evaluate methodologies in order to appraise scientific and clinical research, including study design and statistical approaches to data analysis
• KU 3 Comprehensively understand mechanisms, manifestations and diagnoses of ocular and visual system disorders, any underlying systemic conditions, and optical, medical and surgical management options for a range of ocular and visual system conditions
• KU 4 Critically apply knowledge of relevant systemic anatomy, physiology, immunology and pharmacology to inform safe and evidence-based use of therapeutic drug treatments available to optometrists

Intellectual Skills

• IS 1 Act autonomously in critical decision-making and adopt an analytical and reflective approach to all aspects of your practice.
• IS 2 Critically evaluate the current evidence base and assimilate clinical guidelines to formulate diagnoses, differential diagnoses, treatments and management plans for ocular and visual system disorders in actual and simulated episodes of patient care
• IS 3 Comprehensively understand, critically analyse and integrate clinical data (which may include uncertainty or ambiguous results), recognise different levels of clinical risk, and exercise professional judgement in managing different levels of clinical risk according to your individual scope of practice
• IS 4 Demonstrate self-direction and originality to critique, debate and justify clinical or professional topics where expert opinion may vary, or where evidence is complex, conflicting or lacking

Professional Practical Skills

• PS 1 Act autonomously in planning, performing and interpreting clinical examination techniques of the eye and visual system to an advanced standard, using current best-practice diagnostic techniques, drugs, technology and instrumentation
• PS 2 Communicate effectively and empathetically with diverse audiences including patients and professional colleagues, and engender a positive culture of collaboration and shared decision making including multi-professional team working
• PS 3 Act autonomously in reflection on and application of person-centred care, eliciting patients’ needs, and placing them above all others in decisions about their care, considering the social, clinical and cultural context, and challenging your own conscious and unconscious bias
• PS 4 Systematically understand, critically reflect on and apply principles of professional standards, risk management and ethical practice to assure the care and safety of patients and the public, working within your own scope of practice and competence, ensuring that your practice meets all current legal and professional requirements

Transferable/Key Skills

• KS 1 Exhibit critical awareness of your developing clinical leadership skills, and the importance of promoting and engaging with clinical governance requirements, service improvements and local and national public health initiatives
• KS 2 Demonstrate self-direction and originality to engage with a ‘lifelong learning’ approach to your own learning and practice, using self-reflection and feedback from peers, professional colleagues and patients, demonstrating how you design and implement your individual personal development plans throughout the programme
• KS 3 Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks using information technology, for your own learning and development, professional practice, research and communication
• KS 4 Adopt an attitude of personal responsibility, collaboration and constructive interaction with peers and your wider university or practice teams

Optometry is a dynamic profession and the role of the optometrist as part of the eye care team is changing and expanding. Therefore, the career options for optometrists are varied and plentiful, ranging from the hospital eye service to community practice, to the voluntary sector or optical industry, research or teaching in the UK and internationally, making this an exciting degree to embark upon. Registration also opens possibilities to work or train abroad, since an optometry qualification from the UK is highly regarded worldwide.

The MOptom provides the opportunity to gain invaluable clinical skills and experience. Those graduating with the MOptom will be able to register with the General Optical Council and practice in the UK as an optometrist. The focus on specialist clinical eyecare practice in Year 4 means you will be equipped to start working in specialist areas of practice from the outset should you wish, including glaucoma, medical retina, acute eye care and low vision rehabilitation. Additionally, within 6 months of qualifying you could choose to complete the training needed to become an independent prescribing optometrist.

Students not wishing to pursue employment as an optometrist in the UK, or for students seeking to pursue a more science-based degree or further research, may choose to exit the programme at the end of year 3 with a BSc degree.

Types of jobs:

• Primary care optometrist – as a primary care optometrist you will assess, diagnose, treat and manage problems with the eyes and visual system. You may help patients by prescribing optical appliances such as spectacles and contact lenses, by managing eye health problems including therapeutic drugs, as well as providing preventative, rehabilitative and other eye care management advice to members of the public
• Hospital Optometrist - as a hospital optometrist, you would be a key part of the eye care team, working in either the NHS or a private hospital, with a clear focus on managing eye health problems including therapeutic drugs or lasers
• Industrial Optometrist - you’d be involved in the research, design, development, testing or marketing of new equipment or optical appliances, ensuring they are safe and of good quality for patients
• Academic Optometrist - if teaching, researching, practising or a combination of all three appeals to you, becoming an Academic Optometrist could be for you. You might be based in universities, research institutions or other organisations throughout the world

Graduate Careers

• Optometrist
• Primary Care Optometrist
• Hospital Optometrist
• Academic Optometrist
• Industrial Optometrist
• Researcher