Standards for Optical Students

You will develop your clinical skills over the course of your training, becoming more proficient as you near the end of your studies. As part of your training, you will apply these clinical skills in a real-life setting under the direction of your tutor or supervisor gradually taking more responsibility for patients as your skills develop. In conjunction with your tutor or supervisor:

6.1 Conduct an adequate assessment for the purposes of the optical consultation, including where necessary any relevant medical, family, and social history of the patient. This may include current symptoms, personal beliefs, cultural factors, or vulnerabilities.

6.2 Provide or arrange any further examinations, advice, investigations or treatment if required for your patient. This should be done in a timescale that does not compromise patient safety and care.

6.3 Only prescribe appliances, drugs, or treatment when you have adequate knowledge of the patient’s health.

6.4 Check that the care and treatment you provide for each patient is compatible with any other treatments the patient is receiving, including (where possible) over-the-counter medications.

6.5 Provide effective patient care and treatments based on current good practice.

6.6 Only provide or recommend examinations, treatments, drugs or appliances if these are clinically justified and in the best interests of the patient. Give patients information about all the relevant options available to them, including the option of no further treatment or intervention, in a way they can understand.

6.7 When in doubt, consult with your tutor or supervisor appropriately for advice on assessment, examination, treatment and other aspects of patient care, bearing in mind the need for patient confidentiality.

6.8 Apply your professional judgement when utilising data generated by digital technologies to inform decision making.