Online tutorials – Found on OA Optomise
These tutorials are designed to cover individual topics in a lot of detail, especially the areas students tend to struggle with like binocular vision and dispensing. New content and new courses are being written regularly, see below for more information
These tutorials are based on the updated 2023 College competency framework and are open to ALL students (pre-reg and university) or optometrists, no matter what stage of your studies you are at
If you are thinking of joining our courses for the first time, we promise you will learn something new and won’t regret it, give us a try!
Please visit our OA Optomise platform for more information
We have found those who attend both our tutorial and mock OSCEs are the best prepared for the final exams (and have a high chance of passing first time)
Our bank of tutorials include the below, we will aim to cover all of these during the pre-reg year (in schedule order)
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- Visit 1
- Visit 2a
- Visit 2b
- Visit 3a
- Visit 3b
- Binocular vision
- Communication and history & symptoms
- Dispensing
- Low Vision: Management of patients with visual impairment – NEW
- Pathology 1
- Pathology 2
- RGP contact lenses
- Sight test (including practical demonstrations)
- Slit lamp techniques and contact lens complications
- Soft contact lenses
- Systemic disease, medications and the eye
- Visual fields
- Stage 2 case scenarios detailed handouts (no tutorials will be run for case scenarios)
- FREE NHS Sight testing in England
- FREE College of Optometrists Case Scenarios
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One to one Tutorials – from £60
We are offering one to one tutorials on any of the above, you can decide which topic to cover
Bespoke tutorials/support for any remaining competencies
We can create and present a bespoke tutorial, including mock assessments on any remaining competencies in Stage 1 and 2. The price will depend on the content and the time needed to write this presentation – please contact us for more information
Stage 1 bundles
- Visit 1 bundle
Includes the popular Visit 1 tutorial and Visit 1 quiz handout with answers – based on the competency framework and includes nearly 50 possible questions that may be asked during the assessment
- Visit 2 bundle
This bundle includes Visit 2a and 2b tutorials as well as the Visit 2 quiz handout with answers – based on the competency framework and includes nearly 100 possible questions that may be asked during the assessment
- Visit 3 bundle
This bundle includes Visit 3a and 3b tutorials as well as the Visit 3 quiz handout with answers – based on the competency framework and includes around 60 possible questions that may be asked during the assessment
Stage 2 survival bundle – Found on OA Optomise
This comprehensive survival bundle includes the sight test and soft contact lens tutorials to help you with your direct observations as well as completed templates for the record cards to help you know what to write and where. 44 case scenarios are broken down in detail to help you to pass the overarching assessment.
Videos are available to watch as many times as you like for a period of 8 weeks
Save 20% and give yourself the best chance of passing Stage 2 first time
Available Stage 2 handouts – Found on OA Optomise
- Stage 2 case scenarios Part 1: handout available to purchase
This handout covers 8 different cases in detail and will give you a guide on how to approach the cases as well as answers and detail to common questions that may be asked
Cases: 4, 35, 36, 37, 64, 86, 99, 103
Only £32 (8 cases)
There will be no tutorial for this as all information is included in the handout, if you have any questions you are welcome to ask us
Please register on OA Optomise to purchase
- Stage 2 case scenarios Part 2: handout available for purchase
This handout covers 9 different cases in detail and will give you a guide on how to approach the cases as well as answers and detail to common questions that may be asked
Cases: 5, 9, 13, 16, 17, 18, 28, 40, 72
Only £36 (9 cases)
There will be no tutorial for this as all information is included in the handout, if you have any questions you are welcome to ask us
Please register on OA Optomise to purchase
- Stage 2 case scenarios Part 3: handout available to purchase
This handout covers 8 different cases in detail and will give you a guide on how to approach the cases as well as answers and detail to common questions that may be asked
Cases: 6, 10, 12, 19, 24, 69, 91, 100
Only £32 (8 cases)
There will be no tutorial for this as all information is included in the handout, if you have any questions you are welcome to ask us
Please register on OA Optomise to purchase
- Stage 2 case scenarios Part 4: handout available to purchase
This handout covers 9 different cases in detail and will give you a guide on how to approach the cases as well as answers and detail to common questions that may be asked
Cases: 3, 7, 20, 41, 47, 51, 63, 70, 88
Only £36 (9 cases)
There will be no tutorial for this as all information is included in the handout, if you have any questions you are welcome to ask us
Please register on OA Optomise to purchase
- Stage 2 case scenarios Part 5: Soft & RGP contact lenses handout available to purchase
This handout covers 10 different contact lens cases in detail – including the challenging RGP cases and will give you a guide on how to approach the cases as well as answers and detail to common questions that may be asked
Cases: 25, 54, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 101
Only £45 (10 cases)
There will be no tutorial for this as all information is included in the handout, if you have any questions you are welcome to ask us
Please register on OA Optomise to purchase
If parts 1-5 are purchased as a bundle, it will cost only £155, saving £26!
If you wish to mix and match (purchase specific cases from each part) – this can be arranged, please contact us to arrange
Mock OA assessment can be arranged too!
FREE tutorials
Found on OA Optomise under Free tutorials
1) NHS Sight testing in England
Aimed specifically at pre-reg’s and newly qualified optometrists, this talk is given by clinical advisors from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)
There is uncertainty we sometimes have in selecting the most appropriate recall for many of our NHS patients. This talk helps to guide you in making the right selection. Common scenarios that you are likely to encounter in practice will be discussed as well as essential tips on how you can satisfy the NHS, your patients and yourselves in selecting the correct recall code. By the end you should have a clearer understanding of what to write on your records, the steps needed to make an appropriate decision and how to correctly interpret the College of Optometrists guidance and Vouchers at a glance.
2) College of Optometrists case scenarios
This lecture consists of Optom Academy asking a series of questions to the College advisors on awkward case scenarios and then guidance around these are discussed.
A very informative lecture – ideal for pre-reg’s and newly qualified optometrists
3) Brain tumours and the eye
This lecture consists of Lorcan Butler from the Brain Tumour charity going through the visual symptoms that may be signs of a tumour as well as recognising the signs of a swollen optic nerve.
Tutorial information
Visit one tutorial
This tutorial consists of an introduction to the pre-reg year along with an interactive journey through the first 12 competencies, including the Opticians act, focimetry, systemic disease and risk factors for common ocular conditions (New content added)
Get ahead of others with top tips about how to prepare for assessments and the common errors pre-reg’s make during their first visit and beyond.
Units of competence for Visit 1: communication, professional conduct, methods of ocular examination, optical appliances, contact lenses, ocular disease and assessment of visual function
Systemic disease, medications and the eye tutorial
Unsure what Lupus is? How does ulcerative colitis affect your eyes? Want to learn more about systemic diseases and how they affect eyes?
This tutorial covers common systemic conditions that patients typically present with, that they are, their signs and symptoms, treatment and most important, how they affect they eyes.
This also covers ocular adverse reactions to common systemic medications
This is perfect prep for both Visit 1 (competency 1.2.3), Visit 2 (competency 6.1.13) as well as for the OSCEs, where a lot of systemic conditions and medications can appear. Duration: 1hr-1hr 15min Units of competence: communication and ocular disease
Pathology tutorial part 1
Management of patients using real life case scenarios of patients that attended practice, including flashes and floaters, papillitis, hypertensive retinopathy, orbital cellulitis, age related macula degeneration and many more. 10 cases discussed
Great prep for Stage 1
Units of competence: ocular disease
Pathology tutorial part 2
This will cover many other ocular conditions including HSK, HZK, anterior uveitis, angle closure glaucoma, optic neuropathies and vascular occlusions.10 cases discussed
Great prep for Stage 1
Units of competence: ocular disease
Soft contact lenses tutorial
This will cover CLs fit, CLs aftercare and a summary about CLs complications and their management (this is discussed in more detail in our dedicated CLs complication talk later in the year). Ideal for Visits 1-3 and Stage 2
Units of competence: contact lenses
RGP contact lenses tutorial
This will cover the features and benefits of spherical RGP lenses and materials, RGP selection, lens assessment (in detail, with pictures) and final lens modification. New contented added on RGP toric CLs as well as complications from RGP CLs wear
Units of competence: contact lenses
Visit 2a tutorial
A useful guide on how to tackle the competency sections 1-4, including notes, tips and questions you may be asked by assessors
Units of competence for Visit 2: communication, professional conduct, methods of ocular examination, optical appliances
Visual fields tutorial
An interactive journey through the visual pathway as well as a detailed discussion on how to interpret visual field plots, with specific attention to Humphrey plots. To test your learning, there will be a field defect quiz at the end.
Units of competence: methods of ocular examination
This covers in detail the remaining visual field competencies for Visit 2 and Stage 2 and the OSCEs
Visit 2b tutorial:
A useful guide on how to tackle the competency sections 5-8, including notes, tips and questions you may be asked by assessors
Units of competence for Visit 2: contact lenses, ocular disease, assessment of visual function, assessment and management of binocular vision
Binocular vision tutorial
This will be a lecture on extraocular muscles and cranial nerve palsies, along with information on how to manage phoria and tropias. Newly added: maddox rod, maddox wing and fixation disparity to help with OSCE prep
Units of competence: binocular vision
Dispensing tutorial
This will cover common topics such as calculations on BVD, MSU and differential prismatic effect as well paediatric and high prescription dispensing along with tips on dispensing different prescriptions and lens types to help with Stage 1 prep
Units of competence: optical appliances
Communication and history & symptoms
This online tutorial will go through how to take a detailed history and symptoms for a routine sight test along with patients presenting with sudden onset diplopia, vision loss, red eye, headaches, contact lens problems amongst others.
How to communicate in lay terms to patients about eye conditions such as myopia, astigmatism, cataracts, AMD, glaucoma and many others will be discussed.
Perfect for those in Stage 1, Stage 2 and for OSCE prep
Units of competence: communication
Slit lamp techniques and contact lens complications
The first part of this online tutorial will go through how to conduct slit lamp techniques, focussing on the theory elements along with a pathology quiz with images captured with specific techniques. The second part will discuss contact lens complications and their management
Units of competence: methods of ocular examination and ocular disease
Visit 3a tutorial
A useful guide on how to tackle the competency sections 1-4, including notes, tips and questions you may be asked by assessors
Units of competence for Visit 3: communication, professional conduct, methods of ocular examination, optical appliances
Sight test tutorial with practical demonstrations
Online tutorial with practical demonstrations on how to conduct a sight test for your Visit 3 and Stage 2 assessments along with tips and suggestions on how to tailor your routine.
Units of competence: methods of ocular examination and assessment of visual function
Visit 3b tutorial
A useful guide on how to tackle the competency sections 5-8, including notes, tips and questions you may be asked by assessors
Units of competence for Visit 3: contact lenses, ocular disease, assessment of visual function, assessment and management of binocular vision
Low vision: management of patients with visual impairment by Dr Jane Macnaughton Prof Cert Low Vision
This is a comprehensive tutorial discussing how to perform a low vision assessment and the management of patients with visual impairment
Units of competence:
1.2.1 Understands the patient’s expectations and aspirations and manages situations
2.2.1 Is able to manage all patients including those who have additional clinical or social needs.
4.2.1 Advises on the use of and dispenses simple low vision aids including simple hand and stand magnifiers, typoscopes and handheld telescopes.
4.2.2 Understands the application of complex low vision aids.
7.1.5 Assesses patients with impaired visual function and understands the use of specialist charts for distance and near vision and the effects of lighting, contrast and glare.
OCT: medical retina
This tutorial is useful for any novice or semi-experienced user to develop a better understanding of the retinal layers, how to interpret OCT scans and how to differentiate between normal and abnormal
Units of competence: standards of practice and ocular disease
