Introduction to clinical ophthalmology 

This is a unique, new online course which offers undergraduates, junior and senior doctors and allied healthcare professionals a chance to explore this subject in more detail and gain a better general understanding and overview of clinical ophthalmology. It will also help to guide potential candidates who are keen to pursue a career in ophthalmology or the many extended roles.

This course is an introduction to the specialty of clinical ophthalmology, providing an overview of the field and its subspecialties. Each lecture focuses on common conditions, discussing symptoms, signs, investigations, and management.

Run jointly by the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, the course with be available from Monday 30 June 2025 and will be hosted on UCL Extend, UCL's learning platform for short courses and professional education.

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for for the following professionals who are interested in gaining a better understanding of Clinical Ophthalmology:

• medical students.
• junior doctors.
• junior ophthalmologists.
• physicians.
• general practitioners.
• optometrists.
• orthoptists.
• ophthalmic nurses.
• vision scientists.

Course content

The course will include the following pre-recorded lectures:

• Introduction (5 minutes)
• Oculoplastics (1 hour)
• Cornea and Conjunctival Disorders (1 hour)
• Cataract (1 hour)
• Glaucoma (1 hour)
• Medical Retina (1 hour)
• Vitreoretinal Surgery (1 hour)
• Neuro-ophthalmology (1 hour)
• Ocular Emergencies (1 hour)

Teaching and structure

The course content is designed so that you can go through the topics and pre-recorded lectures online at your own pace. There will be a forum for asking questions. The course comprises:

• 2 hours self-study
• 8 hours of lectures (pre-recorded)

Certificates and assessment

There will be a multiple-choice quiz with 20 questions at the end of the course.

A certificate of completion will issued on completion of the multiple choice quiz and course feedback form.

Ophthalmologists are eligible for self-certification of CPD points at 1 point/hour in their portfolio.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of Ophthalmology as a clinical specialty and its various subspecialties.
• Display awareness of the diverse symptoms that patients may present.
• Apply basic examination techniques in each subspecialty.
• Utilse basic investigations employed in each subspecialty.
• Recognise common pathologies in each subspecialty and articulate their management.

Cost

The standard course cost is £450. We're running a 10% discount for June, add MCINTROC at the basket to apply the discount. 

This online course will be available from Monday 30 June 2025.