About Optometry / Opthalmic Science, MSc - at Aston University

Undertake the part-time Doctor of Optometry/Doctor of Ophthalmic Sciences course with Aston University, Birmingham, to enhance your knowledge and critical awareness of the current issues in your specialist discipline.

The Aston Doctor of Optometry/Doctor of Ophthalmic Science is a unique professional doctorate programme that will enable you to enhance your knowledge, and critical awareness of current issues to be at the forefront of the academic and clinical practice through evidence based research.

The qualification you will be awarded with depends on your profession and if you are a practising optometrist or not:

The Doctor of Optometry programme is aimed at practising optometrists, who will complete case records where required for taught module coursework and will undertake a practice-based research project.

The Doctor of Ophthalmic Science programme is for eye care professionals who may not be practising optometrists, e.g. medics/orthoptists; these students may complete scientific essays to fulfil the coursework requirements and undertake a non-clinical research project.

Both qualifications are broken down into two elements; taught and research.

Taught

Worth 20 credits each, which is nominally equivalent to 200 hours of student learning, our modules consist of remote access lectures with electronic formative assessments and a module coursework assignment such as reflective case records, or an essay/literature review related to the module.

There are two study periods per year to complete taught modules; 1st October-31st January and 1st March-30th June, please note dates are given as an approximate and are subject to change. Module results are ratified at Examination Boards held shortly after the end of each study period.

Taught modules include:

• Accommodation and Presbyopia
• Advanced Contact Lenses
• General Ocular Therapeutics
• Glaucoma
• Myopia
• Nutrition and the Eye
• Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (General Optical Council approved Independent Prescribing module)
• Prescribing for Disorders of the Eye (General Optical Council approved Independent Prescribing module)
• Refractive Surgery
• Retinal and Macular Disorders
• Medical Retina
• Paediatric Eye Care
• Research Review

As part of the flexible programme as a UK optometrist, you may complete the theoretical element of the General Optical Council approved Independent Prescribing for Optometrists module. Optometrists may also choose to complete College of Optometrists accredited modules in Medical Retina, Glaucoma and Paediatric Eye Care. Equivalent modules are available for non-optometrists also.

Module list provides an overview of what is currently available, this list is subject to change.

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Entry requirements for this course

Contact Aston University to find course entry requirements.

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