This unit introduces the roles and responsibilities of staff within the optical professions and the organisations involved in optical care, with particular focus on the role and functions of the General Optical Council (GOC). It also explores the customer journey, from initial enquiry through to the collection of new spectacles.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the different professions in optics
• Understand the range of different bodies involved in optics
• Understand the customer journey in an optical practice

The aims of this unit are for the learner to know how to provide customer service within optics and the skills required for effective communication. This unit breaks this down by focusing separately on verbal, written and non-verbal communication, including body language, questioning skills and active listening. The handling of different customer types and dealing with complaints are also covered in this unit.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the components of effective oral communication
• Understand the components of effective written communication
• Understand how to handle and communicate with different customer types
• Understand the delivery of excellent customer service

The aims of this unit are for the learner to understand the basic anatomy, function, and pathology of the eye and the refractive eye conditions including myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. The learner will understand optical prescriptions and transposition and gain a basic understanding of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, AMD, and their treatment or management options. The final section introduces common refractive surgery procedures, including SMILE, orthokeratology (Ortho-K) and lens replacement, together with their potential advantages and applications.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the parts of the eye and their function
• Understand the different types of refractive errors
• Understand the optical prescription
• Understand the common eye conditions
• Understand the common refractive surgery procedures

This unit gives learners an understanding of the wide range of lens options available. The first section looks at how lenses work. This is then followed by an in-depth section on the correction of presbyopia, which covers the features, benefits and limitations of bifocal, trifocal, and progressive lenses. The unit then considers the properties of different lens materials, with the final section being dedicated to the important lens measurements that are required to place a spectacle order. An essential unit for Optical Assistants and others involved in spectacle dispensing.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the principles of spectacle lenses
• Understand multifocal lenses
• Understand the materials used to produce lenses
• Understand lens coatings and finishes
• Understand the measurements necessary for dispensing spectacle lenses
• Understand the use of prism in spectacle lenses

This unit introduces the purpose and use of common screening equipment in optical practice. It explores the conditions these procedures can help identify, the limitations of delegated screening and practical techniques for obtaining reliable results.

Your learning goals:

• Understand tonometry
• Understand visual field testing
• Understand auto-refraction
• Understand retinal photography
• Understand optical coherence tomography
• Understand how to deal with common emergencies in practice