Note: This course is not yet offered. It will be offered from 2009.

Objectives: To provide an in-depth understanding of the management of posterior eye disease and the role of the optometrist in this process.

Brief Curriculum: The scope of the course includes diseases of the vitreous body, uvea, retina, optic nerve and visual pathway - Glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy will be discussed in detail; new diagnostic tools and interpretation of results, including scanning laser topography, scanning laser polarimetry, angiography, optical coherence tomography, reflectometry, retinal blood flow analysis; management therapies including both current and future therapeutic approaches, influence of therapy on disease course and patient prognosis, iatrogenic disease and ocular manifestations of systemic diseases; management of chronic disease, referral criteria and surgical management; prescription writing, record keeping, liaising with other health care professionals; Legal framework and obligations, ethics, co-management.