Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology qualification is to produce learners and professionals who are progressive and rooted in our "Afro-centric" ways, who will promulgate professional thinking and behaviours and have the required set of skills and depth of knowledge while exhibiting humane attributes of honesty, sound ethics, compassion, empathy, and social accountability.

Learners will in essence be able to sustain and improve the important areas of Ophthalmic learning and training, including research, academic knowledge, skills development, and community involvement, and will be adaptable to promulgate and enhance the profession at a local, national, and international level.

The graduate of the qualification will learn through the programme, the skills, knowledge and affective models or attributes that are related to the exit level outcomes in as much as achieving an obtainable and sort after qualification which by their learning and training enables them to be able to adapt and improvise in a wide area of their chosen career, be it research, academics or clinical.

The expected exit level outcome will ensure that the learner has an appreciation of the technological and as well as Afro-centric attributes. The agreement between the university and the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH) has allowed learners to be appointed at the hospital as registrars in Ophthalmology and this allows learners to gain experience in applying theory in practice. This also assists the registrar's knowledge to be relevant to the needs of the profession.

Upon completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Complete tasks and duties and explain meaningfully and with clinical correlation all the clinical skills required for the practice of/ in Clinical Ophthalmology (history taking; clinical examination; appropriate investigations, and Ophthalmic interventions).
• Describe and explain in the form of formal communication to patients with empathy and sensitivity about their clinical ophthalmic condition.
• Judge, criticise and appraise in terms of diagnosis, investigation(s) and management of all clinical Ophthalmic conditions.
• Facilitate the learning of subordinates, including medical officers, medical interns and undergraduate medical learners.
• Cultivate and maintain high ethical standards in the practice and field of Ophthalmology.
• Learn scientific research methodology, implement a research project and write a mini dissertation.

Rationale

Because of the scarcity of Ophthalmologists in the country and the continent and indeed worldwide, there is a scarcity of Ophthalmologists in our region (District, Municipality, Province, Country and Continent), especially in the rural settings.

It is unfortunately also these rural settings that are inhabited by the poorest of the poor in our communities while the Metropolitan areas have a relative abundance of these specialists. As a result, more than 50% of the Ophthalmologists in the country reside and work in the urban Metropolitan areas and are distributed between Gauteng, Western Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and the Free State Province, this leaves very few Ophthalmologists to carry the load of teaching and learning and academic and research output for the more "disadvantaged" and "outlying" areas of our country.

It is therefore envisaged that the learners that undergo the qualification and eventually attain the qualification will be graduates that are well rounded and adapted, relevant, with the required in-depth knowledge and skills to cater for all levels of society.

This qualification allows for structured training in the field of Ophthalmology and full registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as an independent specialist Ophthalmologist.

The qualification further aims to be an impactful and technology-infused or guided programme that is situated in Africa. It responds to our society's needs in equipping and producing highly ethical, scholarly and futuristic leaders.

As such the programme and qualification will allow the graduates to function effectively and with impact within the field of Ophthalmology and to allow the graduates to be adaptable, adjustable and innovative in the research, academic and technological field of Ophthalmology.

The graduates will excel in their careers and will be pillars and examples of academic, technical, psychosocial and technological excellence in our community, region, continent and internationally.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify.

RPL for access

• Because of the specificity of the programme to Ophthalmology training and learning, recognition of prior learning may be recognized if the candidate was in a similar training programme without finishing the duration of the training time in that programme.

For example, in the case that a candidate was enrolled in a similar programme of another university in the country and did not complete the four years of training and has the required evidence in writing, then that candidate may be credited for those modules that they had already passed and completed, this may be done for up to 12 months of the current training programme.

RPL for credit

• In the case of learners that join the training programme having already obtained their Primary exam of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), these learners may also be credited against the modules that they have completed and passed, and the time also may be credited to a maximum of 12 months.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, NQF Level 8.

And

• Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
• Be in year three post-qualification for MBChB and equivalent and must have completed the medical internship qualification and community service posting.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 480 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 9, totalling 480 Credits.

• Anatomy of the eye and adnexa; Neuroanatomy; Head and neck; Histology; Embryology, 25 Credits.
• Ocular Physiology; General Physiology; Genetics; Molecular and Cell biology, 25 Credits.
• Pharmacology, 23 Credits.
• Community Ophthalmology, 23 Credits.
• Quality Assurance, 24 Credits.
• Pathology, General principles; Microbiology; Immunology, 40 Credits.
• Optics and Refraction, 40 Credits.
• Basic Principles of Ophthalmic Surgery, 40 Credits.
• External diseases and Cornea, 20 Credits.
• Orbit, Eyelids and Lachrymal System, 20 Credits.
• Lens and cataract, 20 Credits.
• Glaucoma, 20 Credits.
• Intraocular inflammations and Uveitis, 20 Credits.
• General Medicine, 20 Credits.
• Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 10 Credits.
• Retina and Vitreous, 15 Credits.
• Neuro-Ophthalmology, 15 Credits.
• Ophthalmic surgery, 20 Credits.
• Research Project, 60 Credits.

1. Critically explain and apply clinical correlation of all the clinical skills required for the practice of Clinical Ophthalmology (history taking; clinical examination; appropriate investigations, and Ophthalmic interventions).
2. Describe and explain in the form of formal communication to patients with empathy and sensitivity about their clinical ophthalmic condition.
3. Apply judgment, critique, and appraisal in terms of diagnosis, investigation(s) and management of all clinical Ophthalmic conditions.
4. Facilitate the learning of subordinates, including medical officers, medical interns and undergraduate medical learners.
5. Cultivate and maintain high ethical standards in the practice and field of Ophthalmology.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific research methodology and write a mini dissertation research project.
7. Identify and take part in self-directed learning, and creativity in solving problems.
8. Apply formal communication to communicate professionally.
9. Demonstrate an ability to develop cultural sensitivity across a range of social contexts, in your own practice of Ophthalmology.
10. Prioritize reflection and learn from your own experiences in the practice of Ophthalmology.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria are assessed in an integrated manner across all the Exit Level Outcomes

• Illustrate competence in all the clinical skills required for the practice of and in Clinical Ophthalmology (history taking; clinical examination; appropriate investigations, and Ophthalmic interventions).
• Communicate with patients empathetically and sensitively about their clinical condition.
• Facilitate the learning of subordinates, including medical officers, medical interns and undergraduate medical learners.
• Cultivate and maintain high ethical standards in the practice and field of Ophthalmology.
• Implement a research project, learn scientific research methodology and write a mini dissertation.
• Collect, analyse, organize, and critically evaluate information to generate answers to clinical and administrative challenges.
• Practice cultural sensitivity across a range of social contexts and reflect on your own experiences.