Working in collaboration with Optegra, and working with the Birmingham Ocular Simulation Course team, The School of Optometry at Aston University are proud to present its first programme of Ophthalmology Skills Taster workshops.

Our skills days are suitable for ophthalmology trainees, optometrists, orthoptists, nurses and GPwERs. They are designed to give an overview and taste of various skills within ophthalmology before a candidate embarks on a formal workplace training.

The event will consist of two days.

Day 1: Extended Roles in Ophthalmology Day - Friday 8th November
Work your way through three 2-hour stations, designed to give you a taste of 3 extended roles in ophthalmology.

Station 1: YAG capsulotomy
Led by Mr Samer Elsherbiny and supported by Ms Imogen Hawthorne, delegates will learn the fundamentals of performing YAG capsulotomy, including laser safety.

This station includes 1:1 training using the YAG laser to perform a capsulotomy on a hyper-realistic dummy eye.

The station will also run through the various YAG surgical techniques, surgical note-keeping and governance, and how to appropriately consent for YAG capsulotomy.

Station 2: Intravitreal Treatments
Led by Mr Arijit Mitra, delegates will review the basics of how to perform intravitreal treatments, including performing effective scrub techniques.

Delegates will begin with a short practical demonstration on how to scrub effectively, as well as strategies to manage infection while performing intravitreal treatments.

The rest of the session includes hands-on practical experience in performing intravitreal treatments on dummy eyes, including steroid implants and anti-VEGF.

Station 3: Biometry
Led by Mr Amit Patel, gain hands-on experience in ocular biometry with a cataract surgery focus, including a chance to try biometry acquisition using Aston’s extensive armoury of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment.

This session comprises a short lecture covering the basics of ocular biometry when performing cataract surgery. After the lecture, delegates will work in pairs, receiving direct instruction on how to operate the following devices:

Lenstar
IOL Master 500
Pentacam
Anterior (Cornea App)
Finally, Mr Patel will discuss biometry interpretation covering clinical cases 2:1 with each delegate pair.

Day 2: Eye Casualty Taster Day - Saturday 9th November
Work your way through three 2-hour stations, designed to give you a taste of skills required for working in a busy eye casualty.

Station 1: Practical Eye Casualty Skills
Led by Mr Arijit Mitra and Mr Samer Elsherbiny, delegates will rotate round 5 ophthalmological clinical skills integral to performing a clinical role in eye casualty:

Conjunctival swabs
Corneal scrapes
Loose suture removal
Corneal foreign body removal
Emergency eye wash-out
Delegates will work in pairs, each skill being demonstrated and supervised by an experienced clinician.

Station 2: Venepuncture and Cannulation
Led by our experienced nursing team, delegates will learn the fundamentals of venepuncture and cannulation in this 2-hour intensive session. Full instruction is provided with the chance to practice both skills using simulation arms.

Station 3: Managing the Acutely Unwell Patient
Delivered in our simulation suite by our experienced nursing team, delegates will learn how to manage several clinical scenarios in which a patient becomes acutely unwell during a visit to the hospital eye department or community clinic. The focus will be on how to manage and stabilise your patient as well as perform an appropriate handover of the patient to medical or paramedic colleagues.

For more information and to book: www.aston.ac.uk/hls/advanced-optometry-a...ical-skills-workshop