This unit reviews the range of legislation that governs optical businesses; from consumer rights to the Opticians Act and GDPR. The importance of Health and Safety is also covered, along with, COSHH, risk assessment, and waste disposal. Special emphasis is placed on the supply of contact lenses. This is an important unit for anyone who is in a supervisory capacity or management position.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the legal requirements in optical practice
• Understand the importance of health and safety in the workplace
• Understand the legal requirements that relate to the supply of contact lenses

Studying this unit expands the learner’s knowledge about more advanced areas of dispensing, such as occupational lenses and safety eyewear. This unit also looks at the range of frame, lens, and facial measurements required to order a pair of spectacles. There is also time spent reviewing the NHS voucher system for the supply of spectacles.

Your learning goals:

• Understand the considerations on lens selection
• Understand the use and recommendation of occupational lenses
• Understand the range measurements required to order a pair of spectacles
• Understand the fitting of spectacles, their adjustment and aftercare
• Understand the NHS provision for spectacles in Scotland
• Understand safety lenses and eyewear

There are 2 million people in the UK living with sight loss, making this unit an important aspect of modern practice. The unit starts by reviewing the terminology used and moves on to reviewing the low vision assessment journey, with an emphasis on the range of support available. The unit then covers the range of low vision aids available and the importance of good lighting. Studying this unit will help you to empathise and understand people’s needs.

Your learning goals:

• Understand what we mean by low vision
• Understand the low vision assessment process
• Understand the range of low vision aids available
• Understand the common eye conditions
• Understand the importance of light for the visually impaired

A more advanced unit than the level 5 unit on optical screening; this unit considers a greater understanding of procedures such as visual field testing, auto-refraction, tonometry, fundus photography, and OCT. The unit finishes with how to deal with triaging ocular emergencies, which will boost the confidence of optical support staff.

Your learning goals:

• Understand optical prescriptions
• Understand the results of visual field screening
• Understand different methods of measuring intraocular pressure
• Understand how to improve imaging of the fundus
• Understand optical emergencies and triaging