The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) is reminding optometrists they have less than two weeks to enrol in its new Certificate in Advanced Ocular Therapeutics, which begins on 27 July.
The four-month course has been developed to prepare practitioners for the growing complexity of managing ocular disease alongside systemic conditions and medication use. It aims to strengthen advanced pharmacology knowledge, prescribing considerations, and clinical decision making to support safe, evidence-based therapeutic care.
The program covers topics including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, adverse drug reactions, ocular side effects of commonly prescribed medicines, diabetes pharmacology, and renal, hepatic, and cardiovascular pharmacology.
One module, Managing Ocular Side Effects of Pharmaceuticals, presented by ACO optometrist and researcher Dr Suhyun Kweon, focuses on identifying and managing medication-related ocular complications through case-based learning.
The certificate combines team-based learning with experienced facilitators and peers, alongside a short clinical placement observing another healthcare practitioner. According to the ACO, the course is designed to help optometrists apply new knowledge in everyday practice while strengthening interdisciplinary relationships.
The ACO said the program is intended to build practitioners’ confidence in managing increasingly complex therapeutic care and support a broader scope of primary eye care as the profession evolves.
Enrolments remain open ahead of the 27 July commencement date.
