Overview
This three year part-time Master’s programme in Primary Care Ophthalmology, taught entirely online, is offered by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh and leads to the degree of Master of Science in Primary Care Ophthalmology (MSc).
Developed in partnership with NHS Education for Scotland (NES), this programme supports the optometrists’ and early career ophthalmology trainees’ acquisition of applied knowledge in the basic ophthalmic sciences, equipping them with the key academic tools to support their lifelong learning throughout their training and ophthalmic career.
This programme provided the opportunity for optometrists to enhance their knowledge with particular regard to diagnosis and treatment of ocular disease as they take on an ever expanding role in the management of eye disease as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The MSc clearly signals the medical or surgical trainee’s aspiration to specialise in Ophthalmology and supports their professional accreditation by contributing to learning for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd) and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (FRCOphth) examinations in the UK and Ireland. The award of the MSc will highlight the student’s commitment to continuing professional development and will ensure a competitive edge when applying for optometry or ophthalmology positions.
Students will be taught by experienced tutors, all leading clinicians in their field, and will have access to a large structured learning resource of education materials, including an unparalleled online library. Illustrative cases will cover technical skills and procedures as well as core knowledge.
This programmes aims to provide high standard, flexible learning for the next generation of optometrists and medical and surgical ophthalmologist, linking an academic degree to the fellowship examinations and to develop the student’s academic portfolio and facilitate ophthalmic research projects.