Uveitis is thought to cause around 15% of severe sight loss in the UK. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty explores both punctate inner choroidopathy or PIC, a form of posterior uveitis, and the more common presentation of anterior uveitis, with Consultant Ophthalmologist Professor Alastair Denniston and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Dr Balini Balasubramaniam, from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. We also hear about patient Alison’s lived-experience with PIC and what may have improved the accuracy and speed of her diagnosis. (A fundus image and OCT scan showing Alison's PIC is available on the course page.)
This episode covers the GOC domains: Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

Many optometrists will have experienced a patient calling and saying that they suddenly can't see. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty travels to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital to explore the loss of vision, focussing on artery and vein occlusions, with optometrists Helen Wilson and Amanda Harding. The discussion addresses how optometrists can ensure that people can access care in the most efficient way. Michelle also asks a patient, called Helen, about her experience with a branch retinal artery occlusion.
This episode covers the GOC domains:  Professionalism and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

Fitting contact lenses might be a straightforward task, but modern contact lens practice  is constantly evolving. Last year, the British Contact Lens Association released a series of reports, called CLEAR, to help harness the most recent contact lens research and modernise contact lens practice, in an evidence-based manner. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the CLEAR reports’ findings with Professor James Wolffsohn, the Executive Chair of the CLEAR reports and Head of Optometry at Aston University. Michelle also discusses the resources that can put theory into practice with Neil Retallic, President of the British Contact Lens Association, and she puts optometrists’ questions to him, following his Docet webinar. 

This podcast will provide some highlights of the research, but is primarily aimed at encouraging further reading. You can find the full CLEAR reports in the Contact Lens and Anterior Eye journal, the Summary report on the BCLA’s website or summaries of each individual report, published by Contact Lens Update.

This episode covers the GOC domains:  Communication and Clinical Practice. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

The four nations of the UK each have their own Enhanced Optometric Services. This is the second of two episodes which explore how these pathways benefit patients, practitioners and the NHS. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty explores the services available in Scotland with Kathryn Trimmer, an IP optometrist based in Grampian, and in Northern Ireland with Mairead O’Kane, an IP optometrist based in Omagh. We also talk to a patient called Doug, who used the enhanced service in Scotland when he was diagnosed with uveitis, and continues to visit the optometrist when the condition flares up.
This episode covers the GOC domains: Professionalism, Clinical Practice and Independent Prescribing. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

The four nations of the UK each have their own Enhanced Optometric Services. This is the first of two episodes which explore how these pathways benefit patients, practitioners and the NHS. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the Enhanced Optometric Services in Wales with Clare Pearce, an optometrist based in Cardiff and in England with Kevin Liu, an IP optometrist based in Greater Manchester. We also hear about the experience of Ffion, who used the Wales Eye Care Service (WECS) due to a foreign body incident while playing at school. Ffion’s mother, Ruth, discusses their experience after using the service.
This episode covers the GOC domains: Professionalism, Clinical Practice and Independent Prescribing. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

Binocular Vision disorders present themselves frequently to optometrists but the most appropriate solution is not always obvious. In this episode, Michelle Hanratty discusses the path to single vision with Dr Aleks Mankowska, an optometrist and lecturer in the Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science. We also hear about the experience of Eleanor, who was treated for excessive convergence.

This podcast relates to and builds on a recent webinar from Docet, which can be accessed here.

This episode covers the GOC domains: Clinical Practice and Professionalism. Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

Vitreomacular conditions can be sight-threatening if they are not picked up by practitioners. In this episode, optometrist Michelle Hanratty speaks to Mr Kam Balaggan, consultant ophthalmologist and consultant vitreoretinal surgeon. They discuss how to recognise vitreomacular disorders and how to decide when referral is required. Also, to gain an insight from a patient’s perspective, they explore the story of Andy Parkes, who was diagnosed with epiretinal membrane and underwent several surgical procedures.

Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

Glaucoma is a difficult condition to diagnose. Optometrist Michelle Hanratty discusses referral dilemmas and the impact of the NHS backlog with optometrist, Paddy Gunn, and consultant ophthalmologist, Mr Imran Masood. 

Paddy Gunn, Principal Optometrist Education and Training at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, has a specialist qualification in glaucoma. Mr Imran Masood is director of the glaucoma service at Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre.

Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of infection control measures in all professions. As optometrists, there are particularly important precautions to take. In this episode, optometrist Michelle Hanratty discusses the mechanisms of transmission for respiratory infections, gastrointestinal pathogens and eye illnesses with microbiologist Dr Conor Meehan. They also discuss the recommended measures to stay safe in practice. And Michelle explores a life-changing case of viral conjunctivitis with consultant ophthalmologist Arijit Mitra. Mr Mitra reflects on how to minimise the risk when seeing infectious patients.
Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.

Discovering a new ocular lesion whilst carrying out an eye examination can lead to a management dilemma for optometrists. Michelle Hanratty talks to Professor Heinrich Heimann, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Clinical Lead of the Ocular Oncology Unit at Royal Liverpool Hospital. They discuss what to look out for, when to monitor and when to refer patients that optometrists suspect might have a tumour. We also hear from a patient, Deborah, who first noticed that her eye looked bloodshot and was eventually diagnosed with a conjunctival melanoma.
This podcast relates to and builds on a webinar from Docet, which can be accessed here.

Docet - dedicated to providing quality optometric education and professional development.