About this course
This focused course helps optical teams embed clinical safety and hygiene into everyday care, aligned with the General Optical Council's Standard 12. It turns infection prevention and control (IPC) into simple, repeatable routines that protect patients and staff while keeping services running.
This course is relevant to the whole optical team.
CPD Time: 90 minutes (1.50 CE Credits)
Assessment: 10 MCQs. Pass mark 80%. more…
On passing the assessment you will immediately receive a CPD Certificate.
Customer feedback on this course
- Clear, practical steps I could implement the same day.
- Very relevant to clinic workflows and domiciliary visits.
- Excellent checklists for tonometer and slit‑lamp cleaning.
- Helpful scenarios that make escalation decisions straightforward.
- Concise, evidence-based and easy to apply across teams.
Aim:
The aim of this course is to ensure optical staff understand and can apply infection prevention and control measures to maintain a safe environment for patients in line with GOC Standard 12.
Course objective:
- Explain and apply standard infection control precautions (SICPs) relevant to optical practice, including hand hygiene, PPE and environmental cleaning.
- Implement safe cleaning and disinfection of optical equipment, manage incidents, and adapt IPC for domiciliary and community settings.
Anticipated learning outcomes:
The learner will:
- define IPC responsibilities and key principles relevant to optical practice.
- recognise common infectious eye conditions and appropriate escalation triggers.
- perform effective hand hygiene and select appropriate PPE for routine tasks.
- apply correct cleaning and disinfection procedures for tonometers, slit lamps and trial frames.
- respond safely to spills, sharps injuries and manage domiciliary IPC preparations.
GOC Development Outcomes:
Standard 12
Learning content:
Why Infection Prevention Matters | Basic Concepts of Infection | Infectious Eye Diseases in Optical Practice | Scenario Page 1: Infectious Eye Disease | Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) | Cleaning & Disinfection of Optical Equipment | Scenario Page 2: Cleaning Lapses | Environmental Cleaning and Waste Disposal | Vaccination and Public Health Links | Scenario Page 3: Vaccination & Staff Health | Incident Response | Scenario Page 4: Incident Management | IPC in Domiciliary Practice | Reflection and Continuous Improvement | MCQ | Reading List
View full course description
GOC Standard 12: Infection Prevention in Optical Practice
Course Description
GOC Standard 12: Infection Prevention in Optical Practice
This course equips you to embed clinical safety and hygiene into routine optical care. It emphasises visible, repeatable actions—room‑reset checks, brief records and simple audits—that reduce cross‑infection risk and support regulatory requirements.
Why Infection Prevention Matters
Covers patient safety, trust and regulatory links. You will learn how visible routines, brief records and clear induction for locums and visitors support Standards 7 and 8 as well as Standard 12.
Basic Concepts of Infection
Explains transmission routes relevant to optics, the chain of infection, and how hands and equipment act as vehicles. You will learn practical points on dose, time and environment.
Infectious Eye Diseases in Optical Practice
Describes adenoviral conjunctivitis, herpes simplex and zoster ophthalmic risks, bacterial eye infections and respiratory viruses with ocular features. Clear red flags and escalation criteria are provided.
Scenario Page 1: Infectious Eye Disease
Practical precautions for suspected adenovirus, staff with cold sores, recording decisions, patient advice and reception management.
Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs)
Adapts WHO 5 moments and hand hygiene to optics, covers hand care and dermatitis prevention, PPE selection and correct doffing, aseptic small‑task technique, and basics of waste and linen.
Cleaning & Disinfection of Optical Equipment
Guidance on following manufacturer instructions, tonometer tips and prisms (single‑use vs disinfect), trial frames and lenses, contact time and correct technique to prevent damage.
Scenario Page 2: Cleaning Lapses
How to respond to missed disinfection steps: containment, patient contact, notification, workflow changes and coaching.
Environmental Cleaning and Waste Disposal
High‑touch area routines, cleaning schedules and tick sheets, spill kits, blood/body‑fluid management, waste segregation, sharps basics and laundry protocols.
Vaccination and Public Health Links
Staff vaccination priorities (influenza, COVID‑19, MMR, varicella, hep B), vaccines with ocular relevance, signposting patients to NHS services and managing declinations confidentially.
Scenario Page 3: Vaccination & Staff Health
Protective steps when staff decline vaccination, recording controls, signposting patients and balancing autonomy with patient safety.
Incident Response
Sharps and inoculation injury management, chemical and biological exposures, escalation routes, documentation, investigation and stock readiness.
Scenario Page 4: Incident Management
Immediate sequence for sharps injuries, managing blood spills in public areas, first aid and return‑to‑service steps, and learning for procurement and process change.
IPC in Domiciliary Practice
Preparing portable hygiene kits, setting clean/used zones in homes, hand hygiene and PPE during visits, care‑home interfaces, lone‑worker safety and end‑of‑day checks.
Reflection and Continuous Improvement
Measuring key indicators, short audit cycles, personal reflection and near‑miss reporting, embedding IPC in culture and updating procedures after incidents.
Reading List
Links to national IPC manuals, College of Optometrists decontamination guidance, NICE and cleanliness standards, HSE sharps and RIDDOR guidance, and UKHSA resources for adult social care and domiciliary practice.
Practice Completion
On completion you will be asked to complete a feedback survey, pass the multiple‑choice exam, and you will receive a CPD certificate. Apply the checklists and brief audits in your practice to sustain improvement.
You can copy and adapt this example PDP entry for your own needs and circumstances.
| PDP Learning or Maintenance need |
| Meet GOC Standard 12 through practical IPC skills for optical practice |
| How does this relate to my field of practice? |
| Ensures safe environment for patients and supports routine clinical care and records during seasonal pressures and outbreaks. |
| Which development outcome(s) does it link to? |
| Standard 12 (IPC), Standards 7 and 8 links |
| What benefit will this have to my work? |
| Reduces cross‑infection risk, improves patient confidence, and standardises cleaning and incident responses. |
| How will I meet this learning or maintenance need? |
| Complete this course, apply room‑reset checks, follow manufacturer decontamination guidance and update practice protocols. |
| When will I complete the activity? |