Vision Sciences trio awarded rare accreditation

Three optometrists in Vision Sciences are now NESGAT (NHS Education for Scotland Glaucoma Education and Training) accredited.

It is the first qualification designed to allow optometrists to manage glaucoma independently in the community and there are only 56 across the Scotland with the accreditation.

Dr Lorraine Cameron, Dr Lucy Stevenson and Dr Laura Sweeney are all delighted to have been awarded the qualification to become NESGAT optometrists.

Dr Cameron said: “As an academic heavily involved in the delivery of case based and clinical teaching, this qualification will allow me to further enrich the learning experience for our students in Vision Sciences.

“Working in this advanced clinical role in a student facing environment serves as an example of what our students can aspire to achieve as well as providing support for eyecare out of hospitals and into the community.”

Although Dr Stevenson has only recently joined the Vision Sciences team at GCU, she did her undergraduate studies and PhD at the University.

She said: “I am delighted to be in my role and to bring my experience from practice into my teaching at GCU.  I have always been committed to building my knowledge and skills, and I am now one of 56 optometrists in Scotland who are NESGAT accredited across Scotland.”

Dr Sweeney said that becoming a NESGAT optometrist is another stage in her clinical development.

“It allows me to act as a role model for our students who are able to see the development opportunities available to them when they enter clinical practice and also showcases the high level of clinical care optometrists can provide in specialist roles,” she said.

“My key aim when teaching students is to develop robust clinical decision-making skills. Students being part of these patient experiences where complex decision making is needed to ensure optimum patient outcomes, provides highly valuable learning experiences delivered within the GCU Vision Centre,” added Dr Sweeney.