Optometry with Independent Prescribing (Taught)

There is a growing demand across our region and beyond for optometrists - highly skilled healthcare professionals, trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases, and abnormalities - who are qualified to independently prescribe. Join our innovative, interactive, integrated MOptom Optometry and Independent Prescribing* programme, and develop the knowledge and skills you need to confidently pursue a career in this vital field and register as an optometrist with the General Optical Council.

Our progressive course follows a patient- and team-based approach to your learning and teaching, grounding you in foundational skills and building on them throughout each level. Through this method, you will gain in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and develop key skills including critical thinking, problem solving, patient management, and independent prescribing, as you learn how to make clinical management decisions to provide exactly the right care and treatment plan for your patients.

Practical teaching within clinical workshops is delivered in modern, purpose-built facilities in Inverness. Along with training in our clinical skills suite, in years 1-4 you will also undertake a total of 19 weeks of placements in community practice and hospital eye clinics, giving you unique and immediate access to the situations and emergencies dealt with by optometrists daily, experience that goes above and beyond anything that can be replicated in a university setting.

In year 5, you will spend your entire year in the field, with two paid 6-month placements in different types of practices. During this period, you will cover the practical elements required for independent prescribing and, on successful completion of all modules and assessments, you will be eligible for the GOC register as an optometrist, with the specialist qualification of Independent Prescribing.

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Foundations of clinical practice

• Introduction to clinical optometry

• Introduction to optometry business skills

• Principles of optics

• Structure and function of the visual pathway

• Study skills for optometrists

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Clinical case studies 1

• Clinical case studies 2

• Clinical optometry 1

• Clinical optometry 2

• Management and therapeutics 1

• Management and therapeutics 2

Year 3 - BSc

You will study the following core modules:

• Clinical case studies 3

• Clinical case studies 4

• Clinical optometry 3

• Literature review

• Management and therapeutics 3

• Management and therapeutics 4

Year 4 - BSc (Hons)

You will study the following core modules:

• Advanced optometric studies

• Community optometry

• Dissertation

• Management and therapeutics 5

Year 5 - MOptom

You will undertake two paid 6-month clinical placements, located across Scotland. You will also complete the following core modules:

• Learning and experience in practice

• Independent prescribing 1

• Independent prescribing 2

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.