Independently assess and manage moderate complexity patients, demonstrating an understanding of cornea procedures and selecting the most appropriate treatment according to current accepted practice.

Domain of Clinical Practice Patient Management
Level Level 3
Special Interest Area Cornea and Ocular Surface
Code COS3.1
Descriptors
  • Understand and apply knowledge of medicine and surgery relevant to cornea and ocular surface disease practice to make diagnoses and recommend a management plan.  
  • Be informed by the patient’s unique medical, psychological and social circumstances. 
  • Understand the tests and imaging techniques that might be helpful in deciding about and guiding treatment. 
  • Use with accuracy and efficiency instruments available to assess the patient (e.g. corneal topography, specular microscopy and Anterior Segment OCT). 
  • Implement a detailed management plan to include care from triage to discharge. 
  • Acknowledge and follow relevant guidelines or protocols. 
  • Practise in line with the latest evidence. 
  • Understand the indications, risks and limitations of laser treatment and surgery of the cornea.  
  • Involve the patient, and where appropriate, their carer, partner or relatives, in the choices about their care and enable them to express their informed consent. 
  • Share decision-making by providing patients with appropriate and comprehensible information, prioritising the patient’s wishes and respecting the patient’s beliefs, concerns and expectations. 
  • Communicate the uncertainty of options in a manner that patients will understand. 
  • Manage difficult or challenging conversations. 
  • Develop situational awareness and an understanding of the impact of cultural and social issues. 
  • Enable patient self-management where possible. 
  • Understand and apply knowledge of clinical genetics relevant to corneal and ocular surface conditions. 
  • Advise patients about patterns of inheritance and recognise when it is appropriate to refer a patient for genetic counselling. 
  • Recognise when it is important to offer a consultation with family members. 
  • Recognise when a patient has had or is developing a complication or side effect from treatment and be able to manage this in an appropriate and timely manner. 
  • Maintain an understanding of new developments in relevant technologies. 
Method of Assessment
Other information