Please note: Practice team training modules have no CPD points allocated to them

Practice team training

Welcome to OT's Practice team training, an area where the whole practice team can brush up on a range of skills used in practice. You will receive a certificate of completion when you take and pass a module which can be found in your MyAOP, allowing you to keep track of your training and development as you go.

This offering is designed for the whole practice team, whether you are a receptionist, an optical assistant, a dispensing optician, an optometrist or a manager. If you are not a member of the AOP or a subscriber of OT and wish to complete our Practice team training, register here for access.

Contact lens application and removal training

This Practice team training video will give you helpful guidance on how to communicate with patients in the early stages of their contact lens journey. We’ll help you do some myth-busting for your patients and give tips on teaching a patient to apply and remove contact lenses for the first time

Author/s: Risha Patel BSc(Hons) MCOptom

Published on: 27 June 2025

In partnership with:

Take this module
Improving the quality of visual field tests

How can you influence a patient to perform a visual fields test more accurately? Why are we doing this boring test anyway and what kind of eye and brain problems can be found?

Author/s: Dr Lindsay Rountree BSc PhD MCOptom

Published on: 27 June 2025

In partnership with:

Take this module
Effective triage

When a patient phones or presents at reception with an eye problem, how do you decide what is urgent and what can wait? Should you interrupt the optometrist and alert them, or book it in for tomorrow? In this Practice team training video we will arm you with the right questions and show you the ‘red flag’ symptoms that can’t wait

Author/s: Kevin Wallace

Published on: 27 June 2025

In partnership with:

Take this module
From complaints to compliments

How can you turn unhappy customers into loyal advocates? Using example scenarios that commonly present in practice, this video teaches you communication skills to help you manage complaints effectively

Author/s: Henry Leonard BSc (Hons) MCOptom, Paul Chapman-Hatchett BSc (Hons) MCOptom MBA

Published on: 27 June 2025

In partnership with:

Take this module
Selling in practice: you’re not really selling

In this video lecture you’ll learn about creating a great retail experience in an optical practice. Lynsey Arguello reveals the foundations of the environment, merchandising and product mix, before explaining how to make honest and individualised recommendations, to take the effort out of selling.

Author/s: Lynsey Arguello

Published on: 22 July 2024

In partnership with:

Take this module
What is myopia management and why does it matter?

In this video lecture you’ll learn how to communicate about myopia to parents and patients. Yasmin Whayeb explains why children become myopic and the impact that has on their life and eye health. She examines the current spectacle lens and contact lens options for managing myopia.

Author/s: Yasmin Whayeb BSc (Hons) MCOptom AFHEA

Published on: 22 July 2024

In partnership with:

Take this module
Contact lens communication for the practice team

In this video, Gemma Hill shares her tips for perfecting contact lens communication along the whole patient journey

Author/s: Gemma Hill

Published on: 18 June 2024

In partnership with:

Take this module
Solving the mystery behind the opticians' counter

This video guides you through the types of products sold in high street practices: dry eye drops, gels and ointments, eyelid hygiene products, contact lens solutions, magnifiers and ready-made reading glasses, and vitamins aimed at ocular health

Author/s: Roshni Kanabar

Published on: 18 June 2024

In partnership with:

Take this module
Mastering social media

In this video lecture you will learn how to plan and run successful social media for an optical practice. Using plenty of examples, Leah Boyle, OT’s web content and social media manager, explains why social media is important, how to set goals, and how to make it work for your team. Leah also gives guidance on professionalism in social media.

Author/s: Leah Boyle

Published on: 04 October 2023

In partnership with:

Take this module
Working as a team

In this video lecture, optometrist, coach and leadership consultant, Peter Greedy, explains why a good team is more about values than skills. You’ll learn about five key principles of working in a team: trust, belonging, communication, accountability and prioritising team goals

Author/s: Peter Greedy BSc (Hons) MCOptom PCC

Published on: 11 September 2023

In partnership with:

Take this module
Lifestyle dispensing considerations

In this video lecture you’ll learn how to gather information about a person’s lifestyle and tailor your lens dispensing recommendations accordingly. Using case studies, Lil Creighton-Sims explains how you can help your patients with different lens designs and treatments.

Author/s: Eluned Creighton Sims FBDO

Published on: 01 August 2023

In partnership with:

Take this module
Can presbyopes wear contact lenses?

This video lecture will give you the confidence to explain all the contact lens options to a patient who wears varifocal spectacles. Robyn Marsden, optometrist and professional affairs consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision, explains what presbyopia is and how it affects our patients’ lifestyles. She will show how to explain the pros and cons of different contact lenses in patient-friendly language, so the patient can decide which might best suit their needs.

Author/s: Robyn Morgan BScHons MCOptom

Published on: 23 June 2023

In partnership with:

Take this module