Cataract and Refractive Surgery (Theory) PgDip (eLearning)

The course covers the basics of refractive surgery from how excimer lasers work to ablation profiles and topography and aberrometry. It progresses through microkeratomes and femtosecond lasers to LASEK, LASIK, phakic IOLs and clear lens extractions and the complications and management of each. Pre-op assessment and post-op followup, prevention and management of complications, surgical variants of phaco, and modern intraocular lenses (IOLs) for cataract surgery will also be covered. It is designed to be a complete introduction to the how, what and when of cataract and refractive surgery.

The aims are to:

Promote the ability to correlate pathophysiology of cataract and refractive errors with principles of surgical correction.

Promote the ability to assess available patient information and data.

Develop independence in the planning, assessment, implementation and post surgery care of cataract and refractive surgery activities; in particular microkeratomes and various lasers.

Facilitate the acquisition of a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of refractive surgery and its applications and to enhance the ability to correlate the physical principles guiding each surgical step while adhering to the principles of good medical practice.

Enhance understanding for recognition and management of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Cultivate practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge with promotion of a critical and scholarly approach to the application of a range of refractive surgery methodologies and the interpretation of their results.

The programme aims to develop in its students the qualities and transferable skills necessary for the understanding of the key theoretical elements necessary for effectively assisting or performing Cataract and Refractive Surgery. After completion of this course further training and experience gained from shadowing individuals involved in the procedures or assisting those involved would continue to advance knowledge and understanding and develop new higher-level skills to an advanced level.

The course team explicitly state it is not the aim of this course to equip students with the necessary skills to perform cataract and refractive surgery techniques but merely to inform them of the most recent theory related to such procedures.

Tara Moore, Professor of Personalised Medicine, concurrently holds a chair at Ulster University in Northern Ireland and is Chief R&D Officer for Avellino Labs in Menlo Park San Francisco USA.

Tara is also founder of the only Royal College of Ophthalmologists endorsed and co-badged PgDiploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery. This course has now ensured many hundreds of eye surgeons worldwide are educated to the highest of standards in preparation for both laser and lens extraction eye surgery.