Medical retina is at the forefront of modern optometric care, and achieving a College-accredited higher qualification in medical retina enhances your ability to manage a wide range of retinal conditions with confidence. Delivered by seven leading institutions, these qualifications provide the skills and knowledge to improve everyday clinical decision-making, particularly in OCT interpretation and retinal pathology assessment.

Each higher qualification level in medical retina builds your expertise in epidemiology, diagnostics, and management, preparing you to confidently detect and refer conditions such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vascular disease. The Professional Certificate also provides exemptions for some Diabetic Eye Screening Service requirements, where applicable, giving you a distinct advantage in clinical practice.

Higher qualifications strengthen every clinical decision you make in every retinal assessment, which is especially important given the widespread access to OCT imaging in primary care optometry. 

Children’s eye care presents unique challenges and opportunities. A College-accredited Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care equips you with the specialist skills to support this vital patient group. This qualification builds clinical confidence, advanced assessment techniques, and enhanced communication skills needed to deliver high-quality paediatric optometry in both community and hospital settings.

The Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care enhances your ability to assess visual function in young children and babies, detect and manage refractive and less common binocular vision anomalies, and provide tailored eye care advice for young patients and their families. You’ll develop further expertise in child-friendly refraction techniques, advanced cycloplegic and dynamic retinoscopy, and further binocular vision assessment, ensuring you can make informed clinical decisions that improve outcomes for children with advanced needs. 

Low vision
Achieving a College-accredited Professional Certificate in Low Vision equips you with the expertise to make a real difference in patients’ lives. It provides the essential skills to support people with sight loss, improving their functional vision, independence, and quality of life. 

The Professional Certificate in Low Vision enhances your ability to assess visual function, determine magnification needs, prescribe and train patients in using low vision aids, and provide expert guidance on lighting, contrast, and sensory substitution. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of visual impairment, certification and registration processes, and working in a multidisciplinary pathway, often liaising with social care, ensuring you can offer comprehensive, patient-centred care in both community and hospital settings.

If you are a commissioner or policy maker, you can download a more comprehensive summary guide below.