Continuing Professional Education

• Foundations of Neuroanatomy Understanding the neurological basis of ocular motility, pupillary pathways, and visual field representation
• Ocular Motility & Pupils Systematic examination techniques to assess and differentiate normal from pathological states
• Confrontational Visual Fields Practical assessment methods to detect and localise visual field defects at the chairside
• Condition Recognition Identifying RAPD, anisocoria, visual field defects, and cranial nerve palsies through case examples and guided practice
• Referral Confidence Knowing when and how to refer — with clinical precision and well-documented findings

For Participants

Neuro-ophthalmic skills extend the optometrist's clinical reach well beyond refraction and routine ocular health care into the broader neurological landscape. For W Optics optometrists, competence in these assessments directly strengthens the ability to detect early signs of serious conditions — including cranial nerve palsies, optic neuritis, and intracranial pathology — enabling timely, well-informed referrals that can make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes. These are skills that elevate everyday practice, build clinical confidence, and position community optometrists as essential contributors to the wider eye health and neurological care pathway.

A Simple Tool With Meaningful Clinical Impact

The Volk lens is a non-contact fundus lens used with a slit lamp to provide stereoscopic, high-resolution visualisation of the posterior segment — including the retina, macula, and optic disc. With it, practitioners can identify key retinal structures, distinguish normal from suspicious pathology, and support timely referral for glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, AMD, and other posterior pole conditions.

• Handle and position 78D and 90D Volk lenses correctly for non-contact fundus examination with the slit lamp
• Identify key posterior segment structures — optic disc, macula and the retina — and distinguish normal findings from those warranting referral
• Apply posterior segment assessment skills to support screening for glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, AMD, and related conditions

For Participants

Volk lens examination extends the optometrist's ability to assess the posterior segment beyond fundus photography alone — enabling richer, real-time clinical observation. For W Optics optometrists, this skill directly strengthens their capacity to detect early pathology and refer with greater confidence and clinical precision.

• Apply a structured, stepwise slit lamp technique from lid margin and conjunctival evaluation through to corneal and anterior chamber grading
• Recognise anterior segment red flags requiring urgent ophthalmology review and distinguish these from routine findings warranting monitoring
• Document findings using standardised grading systems, enabling precise and actionable referral communications to ophthalmologists

For Participants

Slit lamp proficiency positions community optometrists as a critical first line of detection. Early identification of anterior segment pathology enables timely referral which directly elevates the standard of care delivered to every patient.

• Describe the importance of binocular vision in clinical practice and its impact on learning, productivity, and patient quality of life
• Recognise clinical signs of dysfunction and confidently decide when to perform further binocular vision testing
• Competently perform fusion and suppression testing (Worth 4 Dot, cover test), assess accommodation and stereopsis using RAF ruler and stereopsis tests, and evaluate vergence ranges and ocular motility using prism bar and broad H
• Interpret binocular vision test results in the context of clinical case scenarios and propose appropriate management strategies — monitoring, referral, lenses, therapy, or lifestyle guidance

For Participants

Binocular vision disorders are among the most commonly overlooked conditions in routine optometric practice — yet their impact on a patient's daily functioning, academic performance, and quality of life can be profound. Many practitioners are confident in refractive assessment but hesitant to extend into binocular vision testing. This workshop directly addressed that gap, giving participants the clinical tools, hands-on confidence, and decision-making frameworks to integrate binocular vision assessment into every consultation.

• Understand when and why different OCT modalities are selected for specific clinical purposes
• Interpret Heidelberg Spectralis structural outputs — the rim, optic nerve head, RNFL, and ganglion cell layer — with confidence
• Identify suspicious structural findings and determine when specialist referral is clinically warranted
• Bridge the gap between community-level screening and specialist glaucoma care through informed, structured reporting

For Participants

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide — and its silent progression means structural damage often precedes any noticeable loss of vision. For optometrists in both clinical and community settings, the ability to accurately interpret OCT findings is not merely a technical skill — it is a critical safeguard for patients. Knowing what to look for, and when to refer, can mean the difference between preserving sight and losing it.