Graduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Program Overview
The Graduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery equips medical graduates with advanced knowledge and skills in cataract and refractive surgery. This one-year program includes online lectures, a week of workshops and wet labs, and a clinical placement. It prepares ophthalmologists for specialized roles and enhances their ability to provide exceptional patient care in this growing field.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Graduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery is a one-year full-time program (part-time availability) designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of cataract and refractive surgery theory and practice. It is specifically tailored for medical graduates who are:
- In their final year of training with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology (RANZCO), or an equivalent body.
- Eligible for subspecialty fellowship.
- Registered to practice ophthalmology in their relevant state/territory or country. The program aims to help ophthalmology practitioners:
- Advance their skills and experience in providing superior care to their patients.
- Gain a solid understanding of surgical techniques and how to deal with complications that may arise.
Outline:
The program consists of 36 credit points of core units of study, covering:
- Ophthalmic anatomy
- Ophthalmic optics
- Refractive surgery
- Practical refractive surgery The online component of the course includes lectures from internationally recognized corneal and refractive surgeons and interactive online discussions with the course coordinators. Students will also have the opportunity to attend a week of workshops and wet labs at the Sydney Eye Hospital, as well as undertake placements in accredited refractive surgical centers.
Teaching:
The program utilizes a multi-modal approach, with units of study predominantly online or mostly online, with no more than one third of required units of study offered in face-to-face mode. The program features lectures from internationally recognized corneal and refractive surgeons.
Careers:
The Graduate Diploma in Cataract and Refractive Surgery prepares graduates for advanced roles in ophthalmology, enabling them to provide superior care to patients and make informed decisions regarding refractive surgery.
Other:
- The program is the first of its kind in the world.
- The course offers a flexible curriculum structure suited to busy professionals.
- Refractive surgery is an ever-expanding area within the field of ophthalmology, encompassing both laser and non-laser vision correction.
- Laser eye surgery is now the most frequently performed eye operation in Australia.
