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The Institute of Optometry is recognised as a centre of excellence for the clinical training of members of the profession. It offers numerous courses throughout the year which enable optometrists to enhance their existing skills or learn about more specialised services such as paediatric visioncare.
These courses are either held in the Institute's recently refurbished lecture theatre, which can accommodate 100 delegates, or in its clinics which provide practical "hands on" workshops. There is a wide range of training available, with subjects including diagnostics, therapeutics, ophthalmology, contact lenses, paediatrics and binocular vision, as well as specific issues such as reading difficulties and dyslexia.
The Institute also offers a refraction refresher course for optometrists who have been out of practice for several years and a comprehensive revision course for pre-reg students about to take their POL.
With an increasing emphasis by government and the General Optical Council on continuing professional development, the Institute of Optometry is well placed to meet the education needs of the profession. The courses are always DOCET approved and qualify for CET credits. One to one tutorials on a wide range of subjects are also possible and are helpful to those requiring more clinical experience. Whatever your personal training requirements, there is likely to be a course to help you.
| A fundamental part of the Institute's work is to provide specialised eyecare which is not always available from optical practices. Patients come from all over the country to receive such treatment, usually after being referred by their local practitioner. Most tend to have ocular complications which require more detailed investigation and specialist knowledge to ensure a successful outcome. |  |
For example, the Institute is particularly well known for its children's eyecare, especially where learning difficulties are related to visual problems. The Institute also specialises in contact lenses, primarily helping patients who are either experiencing problems with their current lenses or appear unable to wear them at all.
Other specialist services offer by the Institute include:
| The Institute is closely involved with research into, as well as
the treatment of, visual complications relating to dyslexia. Although
it is generally accepted that sight problems are not the main cause
of dyslexia, certain visual complications do occur more often in dyslexic
patients and these may contribute to reading and learning difficulties,
especially for children.
The most common indications are a reduced ability to focus close-up and binocular instability, sometimes leading to visual distortion. After a thorough investigation at the Institute, each patient's treatment is tailored to that individual's specific requirements. This may involve eye exercises, colour overlays and coloured lenses. A full report is also sent to the patient's own practitioner. |
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The work of the Institute would not be possible without the support of the optical profession and the public. Such support is vital if the Institute is to maintain its commitment to quality and excellence across its range of eyecare services. If you are able to contribute to the Institute in any of the ways described below, please contact us. |
The Institute employs a small number of professional staff, with each person being responsible for a particular eyecare speciality However, an additional thirty qualified practitioners provide part time support through teaching or seeing patients on an honorary basis. As well as the satisfaction gained from contributing to the Institute's work - including research - these practitioners gain valuable experience in more specialised areas of eyecare. The Institute welcomes enquiries from practitioners who are able to give some of their time to providing optometric support.
The Institute relies on regular donations from the public and the profession to maintain its services. Over 1,000 practices throughout the UK have collection boxes which generate an important source of income from the public. If your practice does not currently have an Institute of Optometry collection box, please consider using this simple but effective way of raising money. Practitioners and patients also provide financial support via regular donations and bequests. As a registered charity, the Institute is able to reclaim the tax on such generosity, thus increasing the funds available for its work.
The Institute has a strong track record of research that benefits the optometric profession and their patients. The volume of research that we do is limited by the available funds, and if you would like to make a donation to support a research study then please contact Professor Bruce Evans via admin@ioo.org.uk.
As well as providing high quality clinical training, the Institute's annual programme of postgraduate and refresher courses is an important source of income. If you intend to improve your professional skills, please contact the Institute for details of its courses. Not only will you receive expert training, but you will also be supporting the Institute itself.
The Institute has its own trading company, I.O.O. Sales Ltd., the profits from which go directly to support the work of the Institute. The company is the sole distributor for the well known range of Mallett Instruments and also of Intuitive Overlays for patients with specific learning difficulties. Recently the company has become the distributor for the range of vision assessment software designed by Prof David Thomson of City University. It is also an agent for Gatehouse Scientific Instruments, Kay Pictures, Keeler and Oculus. For a catalogue call 020 7378 0330.
Quality Visioncare Support