| Descriptors |
- Initiate a management plan, including referring to more experienced clinicians when appropriate.
- Involve other health care professionals in patient management when appropriate.
- Make appropriate referrals in a timely and efficient manner and in accordance with local protocols and guidelines.
- Recognise when a patient’s clinical presentation needs priority and make appropriate arrangements to expedite their care.
- Recognise where the patient’s vision may not meet the visual standards for driving and provide appropriate counselling.
- Explain diagnoses to patients in simple language, using visual aids, online patient resources, leaflets, 3D models of eyes and posters available in clinic.
- Deliver information in an accessible way, including identifying and making arrangements for patients with hearing, speech or sight impairment, or those with English as a second language.
- Communicate effectively and sensitively when breaking bad news and be prepared to give clear and honest information.
- Utilise translators appropriately and in accordance with local policy.
- Understand and apply knowledge of general medicine and surgery relevant to ophthalmic practice.
- Understand the associations between drugs and ophthalmic disease including biologics.
- Recognise when a patient is seriously ill and make appropriate arrangements for the patient’s care.
- Prescribe local and systemic medications safely.
- Be aware of the indications, contra-indications, side-effects, and possible interactions of the drugs that are prescribed.
- Be aware of the services and support available to patients and signpost appropriately.
- Initiate appropriate referral to low vision and social services, and to eye clinic liaison officer where available.
- Make accurate, legible, signed and dated records and use Electronic Patient Records (EPR) if available.
- Contribute to the preparation of patients for surgery, including review of medical therapy prior to surgery (e.g. anticoagulants) to optimise the patient’s outcome.
- Understand the process of informed consent, following the principles set in law and by GMC guidance.
- Be aware of ongoing research and offer research participation opportunities to patients as appropriate.
- Contribute to the pre-operative assessment for local and general anaesthesia as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Recognise patient conditions that render either local or general anaesthetic hazardous.
- Use appropriate aseptic technique when assisting with or performing surgery.
- Use the operating microscope competently, ensuring optimum operating position.
- Use suturing techniques appropriate for different ocular tissues, demonstrating understanding of different sutures and knots.
- Identify suture types, remove sutures from the eye and adnexa at the appropriate time and manage any retained material or wound problems.
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