Cataract and Refractive Surgery (Theory)

Entry requirements

Applicants must (a) have gained an Honours or non-Honours degree in a cognate discipline from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard;

or an equivalent standard in a Postgraduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate or an approved alternative qualification;

and (b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent) or, as an alternative to the above

(c) in exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

Months of entry

October

Course content

This course is designed to be a complete introduction to the how, what and when of laser refractive surgery and refractive cataract surgery. You will develop the theoretical knowledge, qualities, and transferable skills necessary to effectively begin or improve your performance in both laser refractive surgery and
refractive cataract surgery.

This extensive course will cover key subjects in great detail:
-Basic theory of refractive surgery from how excimer lasers work, to ablation profiles and topography and aberrometry/wavefront science.
-Therapeutic Refractive Surgery (corneal complication management) principles and approaches.
-Modern laser procedures are dealt with in extreme surgical detail, including surface ablation (PRK, LASEK, EpiLASIK, TransPRK), LASIK, SMILE. Phakic IOLs and Sizing of ICLs including the latest techniques.

Clear lens extraction is approached from the refractive surgery standpoint: management of astigmatism and higher order aberrations.
After completion, further training and experience gained from shadowing individuals involved in the procedures or assisting those involved would continue to advance knowledge and understanding and develop new higher-level skills.

(The University regularly ‘refreshes’ courses to make sure they are as up-to-date as possible. In addition it undertakes formal periodic review of courses in a process called 'revalidation’ to ensure that they continue to meet standards and are current and relevant. This course will be revalidated in the near future and it is possible that there will be some changes to the course as described in this prospectus. The course undergoes review by external examiners including Professor Sheraz Daya, Mr Mayank Nanavaty and Professor Sathish Srinivasan.)

Information for international students

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores. (link to: http://www.ulster.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/40124/other-english-language-tests-2015.pdf)