ASTON UNIVERSITY REG/03/53(2)

QUALITY AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Module Specification
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Please complete all sections of the form, referring to the guidance notes where necessary.

School and Subject Group Life and Health Sciences / Optometry

Module Code OP4OT1

Module Title Ocular pharmacology and therapeutics

Module Type Taught

Module Replaces (where appropriate) -

Date of introduction of new module April 2009

Level M Credit Value 20

Programme(s) in which module is available Ophthalmic Doctorate

Involvement of Other Schools None

Resource Split -

Name of Module Co-ordinator Professor James Wolffsohn

Related Modules Pre-requisites None

Co-requisites -

Prohibited Combinations -

Minimum and Maximum Max 50

Intake Sizes
Aims of the Module

Following successful completion of this module, the students should be able to:
§ Demonstrate knowledge of ocular immunology and microbiology
§ Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacology and relate this to ocular therapeutic drugs
§ Interpret the legal basis and frameworks for prescribing
§ Prescribe safely and professionally as an individual or as part of a team

Summary of Content

General and ocular immunology and microbiology Dr Richard Armstrong

• Characteristics of infectious agents (including bacteria,
fungi, viruses, protozoa)
• Normal flora
• Recognition and diagnosis of microbial infection of the
eye and adnexa
• Transmission and (in vitro and in vivo) control of
infectious agents
• Natural and acquired immunity
• Cells of the immune system and communication
between cells
• Hypersensitivity
Principles of pharmacology Prof John Marriott
• Pharmacokinetics
• Pharmacodynamics
• Drug formulation and delivery
Ocular pharmacy and therapeutics Miss
• Adverse reactions to drugs Janet Vale
• Drug use in special groups, genetic and ethnic
influences on drug responses, contraindications,
interactions
• Drug development and testing
• Analgesics
• Anti-infective drugs
• Vasoconstrictors, anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory
drugs
 • Drugs used in the treatment of dry eye
• Drugs used in the treatment of retinopathy and
maculopathy
• Drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma
Medicines and the law Prof Keith Wilson and
• Drug legislation, licensing, legal and professional Dr Chris Langley (4 x
frameworks short lectures)
• Relationships between the non-medical prescriber and
statutory professional bodies
• Working within clinical governance frameworks that
include audit of prescribing practice
• Risk management
Effective prescribing Dr Anthony Cox
• Utilising sources of drug information
• Prescription writing
• Record keeping
• Data protection
Medication errors and pharmacovigilence Dr Anthony Cox
Influences on prescribing practice and prescribing context Prof John Marriott
(misuse of medicines)
Public health policy Dr Joe Bush and Prof
• Antibiotic use and resistance John Marriott
Monitoring concordance with and response to treatment Prof John Marriott
• How to review the working and differential diagnosis
• How to modify treatment or refer, consult and seek
appropriate guidance
Ethical issues in healthcare practice David Roberts and Dr
• Ethical codes of practice Peter Nelson
• Ethics in professional-patient relationships
• Ethics in inter-professional relationships
• Patient confidentiality
• Consent and prescribing
• Shared approach to prescribing (taking account of
preferences and values of patients and carers)
Summary of Methods and Frequency of Teaching

The module consists of 10 approximately two hour lectures available from the candidate’s virtual learning environment (VLE). Self assessment
multiple choice questions will be available for each lecture on the VLE. A list of publications to read to support the lecture will be provided. The
module will be run at least once each year. Guidance on progress can be sought from module leader j.s.w.wolffsohn@aston.ac.uk. The total
module notional effort is 200 hours.

Summary of Methods of Assessment

Assessment Type Status Percentage Requirements

MCQs Compulsory 25 Completed after viewing the lecture content at students convenience

Assignment Compulsory 75 Submission of 2 cases records highlighting you therapeutic

management of patients with anterior eye conditions (such as dry
eyes, ocular allergy, red eye or glaucoma). These should cover patient
presentation, results of the examinations carried out, management and
a fully referenced reflection of how this would have altered with
Independent Prescribing.

Mini essay (up to 3 A4 sides) based on the published evidence basis

on the misuse of medications reflecting how practitioners and patients
may misuse ocular medications and how to minimise the likelihood of
this happening.

Critiqued of a provided record card to assess record keeping skills (up

to 3 A4 sides).

Module Outcomes – what the student should gain from successful completion of the Learning and Teaching and Assessment Strategies to
module: enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated

Learning and Teaching Assessment Methods

Methods
Knowledge and Understanding Lectures MCQs and marked
Knowledge of ocular immunology and microbiology assignment
An understanding of pharmacology and relate this to ocular therapeutic drugs
Ability to interpret the legal basis and frameworks for prescribing
Knowledge of how to prescribe safely and professionally as an individual or as part of
a team

Intellectual Skills Lectures and assignment MCQs and marked

Ability to draw on technical information and research evidence to inform clinical assignment
practice
Decision making

Professional/Subject Specific Skills Lectures and assignment MCQs and marked

Ability to understand the management of ocular disease in relation to its immunology assignment
and microbiology
Ability to prescribe safely based on pharmacology, ocular therapeutics drugs and the
legal framework

Transferable Skills Lectures and assignment MCQs and marked

Independent study assignment
Patient management
Report writing
Knowledge acquisition
Accurate observation and measurement
Problem solving
Clinical optometry skills

Please provide either or both of:

Introductory Learning Resources Lectures and notes on WebCT

Core Texts Rating Authors Title

A Onofrey BE, Skorin L &
Holdeman NR
A Bartlett J & Jaanus S
B Yorio T, Clack A, Wax MB
Reading Lists Attached/Not Attached
Ocular therapeutics handbook: a clinical
manual. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005
Clinical ocular pharmacology.Elsevier, 2007
Ocular therapeutics – Eye on new discoveries
Elsevier, 2007
Specification completed by: Professor James Wolffsohn

Date
20th July 2011

Date module approved by Teaching

Committee(s)

Date module approved by School

Board(s)
RPS/SJD/DLL/Module Specification/24 March 2003(f)
SJD/LAP/Module Programmes