Optometrists work in high street practice or hospital eye clinics, where they prescribe and dispense spectacles and contact lenses, and low vision aids; treat problems with binocular vision; and increasingly work alongside ophthalmologists to monitor the treatment of ocular disease. Until recently, the optometrist's formal responsibility was to recognise and refer abnormality, stopping short of diagnosis and management. In the last few years, however, there has been a steady increase in optometrists being involved in the primary care of patients with diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma. This has given rise to more emphasis on the study and management of these conditions.
Optometry is regulated in the UK by the General Optical Council, and you will need to be registered by them in order to practice. This involves a 3-year BSc degree followed by a pre-registration period of 1 year in a hospital or high-street practice during which your clinical skills will be examined; alternatively you can register directly following the 4-year Master of Optometry degree which is unique to The University of Manchester.
In our course you will discover the scientific principles that underpin optometry, including the properties of light, the anatomy of the eye and the processing of vision in the brain. Learn about ophthalmic appliances, such as lenses, and instrumentation, such as retinoscopes. Get introduced to general eye examination techniques and start to meet patients in your second semester.
In your second year you will further develop your knowledge of ophthalmic appliances and optometric instrumentation. Discover a broad range of new topics, including human disease processes, pharmacology, contact lens practice and binocular vision. Develop your clinical skills so that by the end of the year, under supervision, you will have the competence and confidence to examine members of the public
Spend one week full-time at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital during your summer vacation, gaining a wealth of practical clinical experience in all hospital departments. This is a unique element of our degree courses and is not offered at any other UK university.
If you wish to proceed to the MOptom at the end of Year 2 and are selected, based on good academic performance and communication skills, you embark on the final two years, which include a year of practical experience in both private practice and at an eye hospital plus an advanced project and lecture courses.
Otherwise, you take Year 3 of the BSc, including further lectures on clinical subjects and pharmacology, extensive experience in the clinics, time at hospital, and a dissertation.
www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk
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