OVC Nov 2025: How far could your scope go? Oral prescribing and beyond (Recorded Webcast)
Available from: 16/11/2025 (AEDT)
Where to publish: https://lms.optometry.org.au/course/view.php?id=947
Provider: OA National Provider
Contact: Optometry Australia Optometry Australia, [E] cpd@optometry.org.au, [P] 96688550
Activity Outline
This session explores the evolution and practical application of oral prescribing rights for optometrists in New Zealand, with insights from my role as an oral-prescribing hospital optometrist at Greenlane Clinical Centre. We will review the legislative pathway to becoming authorised prescribers, the impact on patient care - particularly in acute eye services - and the decision-making process behind choosing oral over topical medications. Through a series of real hospital case studies, this session will illustrate how oral prescribing improves efficiency, accessibility, and outcomes, while also highlighting key safety considerations, evidence-based prescribing choices, and the broader implications for scope expansion in optometry.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the current scope of oral prescribing rights for optometrists in New Zealand and how it has evolved over time.
- Identify key clinical scenarios where oral medications may be preferred over topical treatments in optometric practice
- Interpret the rationale and decision-making process behind oral prescribing for ocular and periocular conditions, using real hospital-based case studies
- Compare the evidence supporting oral vs topical antibiotics for conditions such as MGD and chlamydial conjunctivitis
- Recognise the systemic implications and responsibilities of oral prescribing, including drug safety concerns like QT prolongation and co-management of systemic diseases.
- Describe how hospital optometrists collaborate in acute care services, including multidisciplinary cases involving neuro-ophthalmology, trauma, and systemic infections
Max CPD hours awarded: 1.5
Session Information
| Name |
|---|
| How far could your scope go? Oral prescribing and beyond |
| Clinical? |
| Yes |
| Interactive? |
| No |
| Therapeutic? |
| Yes |
| Duration of CPD Session/Module |
| 1 |
| Duration of CPD Session/Module inclusive of Assessment Component |
| 1.5 |