The incidence of medical retina disorders is increasing with the rising age of the population. Hence, the demand for diagnosis and treatment of such conditions as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other vascular disorders are increasing. The development of multi-modal retinal imaging technology is improving the care of those suffering from retina disorders while also having a substantial impact on the diagnosis and management of such conditions. Consequently, the importance of imaging for diagnostic purposes is becoming ever more important for medical and non-medical clinicians to manage. This course will provide a critical understanding as well as training for healthcare professionals on how to diagnose and treat retina disorders through the use of imaging and related technologies.

Course Structure

This course will be delivered primarily through mixed mode - blended learning format (90% online learning and 10% face-to-face learning). Recorded lectures, seminars, problem-based learning, case-based discussion and clinical skills will be available online for you to study independently. There will be induction session at the beginning of course to introduce information about the course and learning plan prior to assessments. Independent study will be required in respect of background reading, revision and preparation of assessments. Formative and summative assessment will be undertaken and include combination of multiple-choice question examinations, and case-based discussions/problem-based learning questions. The course will run over a ten-week period. Week eight will include 12 hours of face to face practical skills delivered on campus (optional) or can be attended virtually instead.

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• independently interpret retinal imaging, diagnosis, and make a referral decision in a tele-ophthalmology service
• take good quality ocular images and understand difficult modality of retina imaging and imaging results related communicate with patient
• confidentially interpret complex images using a step-wise anatomy/pathology –relevant approach;
• compare and contrast investigations which are required in different clinical scenarios as they relate to the retina
• develop decision trees and clinical pathways through an advanced understanding of differential diagnoses
• master essential questions (provocative, foster inquiry, understanding, transfer of learning)
• find what is the differential diagnosis and referral decision using images

Dawn Sim

Dawn Sim is a Retinal and Cataract Consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK. She is also an Associate Professor at University College London, the Director of Telemedicine at the Moorfields Digital Laboratory and is a leader of her field in telemedicine, Digital health, diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, and cataract surgery. For three consecutive years (2017 to 2019) she has been voted on the Ophthalmologist power-list as one of the top 100 ophthalmologists globally. Her previous awards include the ARVO Alcon Early Career Research Award winner, and Dawn is also a patent holder for the use of Indocyanine Green Dye for visualization of inflammation in the eye. A prolific and successful grant-raiser, Dawn also won the Dermot Pierse Royal Society prise in 2009 and the Young Investigator’s Award at Asia ARVO in 2007.