Specialist Certificate in Anterior and Dry Eye Disorders

The Specialist Certificate in Anterior and Dry Eye Disorders offered by the Department of Optometry & Vision Sciences in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences will allow optometrists to advance their clinical capabilities in the day-to-day management of eye disease by affording them the opportunity to review the most current theories on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of anterior eye disease, including dry eye.

The subject will provide optometrists with the tools necessary to develop a deeper, evidence-based understanding of anterior eye disease, including dry eye, thus empowering them to improve their clinical skills.

Course structure

All students must complete one core subject;

• OPTO90006 Anterior Eye Disease and Dry Eye (formerly Management of Anterior Eye Disease) - 25 credit points

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applications must have completed:

• a four-year undergraduate degree in Optometry, or equivalent or;
• professional experience deemed by the Selection Committee to be equivalent to a four-year Australian degree in Optometry

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection

1. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• prior academic performance; and, if relevant
• any documented relevant professional experience.

1. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instructions.

1. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applications seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course the students should have:

• advanced knowledge and skills in their selected fields of clinical optometry;
• a detailed knowledge in the use and application of specific advanced diagnostic techniques and/or instrumentation;
• an advanced ability to evaluate and synthesize research from the scientific and clinical literature;
• an appreciation of the value of, and the ability to achieve, collaboration with other healthcare professionals as an effective means to aid clinical problem-solving;
• the capacity to interpret and integrate information from a variety of sources (such as patient presentation details, advanced diagnostic techniques, scientific, clinical and technical literature, and other healthcare professionals), in the development of the most appropriate patient management;
• the ability and initiative to offer enhanced clinical services based on their in-depth study in selected fields of clinical optometry;
• have advanced their clinical skills and developed a flexibility of outlook such that they are better able to respond to future paradigm shifts in the scope of optometric management.