Optometry CUrriculum for Lifelong Learning through ErasmUS

The majority of blindness and vision impairment can be avoided by good eye and vision care and in many regions optometrists are the primary providers of this service. OCULUS is a consortium of educators from optometry schools in Europe (Norway, UK, Spain and the Netherlands) and beyond with a three-pillar strategy to reform optometric education in Israel and India and harmonise it with European standards. This will mean greater employability and job mobility for graduates, and better trained optometrists will lead to a reduction in blindness and vision impairment.In pillar 1, new educational resources will be developed to reform the curricula in Israel and India, meeting the high standards of the European Diploma in Optometry (DipE), harmonising optometric education and scope of practice. The DipE was designed almost 20 years ago and is missing elements of education that lead to lifelong learning. Therefore, pillars 2 and 3 bring innovations to optometic education, enhancing the standard even further, beyond DipE. In pillar 2, educational resources for evidence based optometric practice (EBP) will be developed. EBP is a vital part of effective patient care but is still a novel concept in optometric education, and there is a recognised need for better EBP education in optometry, making this an important addition to the DipE. In pillar 3, a personal learning network (PLN) will be created for optometry students and practitioners, as an online portfolio of patient encounters and platform for peer review and discussion. OCULUS has the support of global optometry governing and education bodies. The Israel Council of Optometry and the Association of Colleges and Schools of Optometry in India are full partners. European Academy of Optometry and Optics and the Norwegian Association of Optometry are associate partners. These organizations will ensure that OCULUS outputs are disseminated globally for maximum exploitation and impact.