Expanded Scope of Practice Certification: Glaucoma Management & Orals

This asynchronous 40-hour post-graduate course followed by 20-hours of virtual case based supervised clinical education, brought to you in partnership with the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists and the New England College of Optometry, equips optometrists with the advanced skills to diagnose, treat, and manage glaucoma and related ocular conditions. Participants will gain expertise in the latest diagnostic criteria, cutting-edge imaging technologies, new pharmaceutical agents and delivery systems, surgical innovations, and the cultural and social considerations shaping patient care in the 21st century.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the clinical application of topical and oral therapeutic agents used in the treatment of glaucoma and other ocular disorders and be able to recognize and manage adverse side effects.
2. Apply the standard of care and clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of glaucoma.
3. Be confident in making clinical decisions in all aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and management of glaucoma and other ocular abnormalities of the eye and adjacent tissue.
4. Provide patient education and counseling to patients who are at risk or diagnosed with glaucoma and patients who have other ocular abnormalities of the eye and adjacent tissue that require intervention.

The course will consist of 10 four-hour modules that will be taken in an asynchronous video format. Participants will have access to recorded videos, slide deck and other curated and developed materials via a learning management system. Each module is followed by a quiz. The final grade will be weighted ⅓ for quizzes and ⅔ for the final examination. The final examination will be a 60-question multiple choice, open resource, cumulative examination that will cover materials offered during the entire course. A final grade of 70% must be obtained for successful completion of the entire course.  Each participant will have two opportunities to pass the final exam.

Asynchronous Curriculum

Module 1: Overview of Glaucoma /Anatomy (4 hours)

Modules 2: Glaucoma Diagnosis: Characteristic Clinical Findings (4 hours)

Module 3: Glaucoma Treatment Overview (4 hours)

Module 4: Glaucoma Treatment - Medications (4 hours)

Module 5: Open Angle Glaucoma Monitoring; Other Categories of Glaucoma (4 hours)

Module 6: Glaucoma Treatment Modalities - Surgery and Laser Procedures - Current Research – (4 hours)

Module 7: Oral Antibiotics (4 hours)

Module 8: Oral Antivirals (4 hours)

Module 9: Oral Steroids and Pain Management (4 hours)

Module 10: Social, Medicolegal, and Inter-Collaborative Aspects of Care (4 hours)

Virtual Case Based Supervised Clinical Education (20 hours)

Beginning after the completion of the 40-hr. certification course

1. Based on educationally appropriate clinical cases using robust medical histories, clinical findings, and clinical imaging
2. Participant reviews each case in-depth
3. Review with an optometrist/ophthalmologist who is credentialed to treat glaucoma and the use of oral anti pharmaceutical agents to ocular pathology
4. Five, 4-hour modules: Each participant spends one hour independently reviewing cases pertinent to each session. He/she then submits a treatment plan based on his/her independent study, followed by review with the preceptor, and group discussion if attendance supports. 

The 40-hour didactic course must be completed within 90-days of starting the course. 

Six hours of asynchronous continuing education credit will be given for Massachusetts optometrists who successfully complete the expanded scope MSO glaucoma and orals certification course.

The clinical cases must begin AFTER you have completed and passed the 40-hour didactic portion of the course. Clinical cases should be completed within 5 weeks of the final exam. Requests for extensions must be made in writing to the MSO.

FAQs

Pricing

*Member in good standing with dues paid for the current membership year.