Global Blindness: Planning and Managing Eye Care Services from FutureLearn

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is intended for all health care providers, health managers, NGO staff with an interest and some experience of, eye care health services. The course will especially benefit: You can use the hashtag #FLeyehealth to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Epidemiological data on the causes and prevalence of blindness and visual impairment
VISION 2020: The Right to Sight
The Global Action Plan 2014-2019
Key public health strategies for cataract and refractive error
Health systems strengthening
The essentials of the planning process for eye care programmes
The principles of monitoring and evaluation
Eye health providers who lead or manage the service provision of an eye unit or eye care team
All clinical eye care providers who work in isolated and remote settings
Eye care providers with an interest in public health approaches
Any health providers and managers with an interest in resource limited eye care services
Non-governmental staff involved in developing eye care projects in low- and middle-income countries
Charity organisations and philanthropists involved in supporting eye care service provision
Ophthalmic residents and nurses in training programmes with an interest in low- and middle-income health services
Trainers in academic institutions with an interest in developing training in public health approaches for eye care service provision for their local setting.

Reviews summary

Practical global eye care planning & management

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive overview and solid foundation in planning and managing global eye care. Reviewers praised its practical relevance for professionals in low-resource settings, finding it highly applicable to their work. Key topics like Global Action Plan, VISION 2020, and M&E were noted as informative and useful. While some felt parts were rushed or lacked deep technical detail, the consensus highlights it as an excellent and relevant course for managers and public health practitioners.

Insights into global strategies like VISION 2020, GAP.

"It was helpful to hear about the Global Action Plan and VISION 2020 and how these frameworks guide policy and planning."

"I learned so much about the global burden of blindness and the strategies to combat it."

"It covers the basics well, including epidemiology and global initiatives."

Specific modules like M&E, health systems are valued.

"The section on monitoring and evaluation was particularly relevant to my work."

"The modules on health systems strengthening and planning processes were insightful."

"The module on health systems was particularly useful."

Provides a solid foundation and broad understanding.

"Excellent course! Provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges and strategies in tackling global blindness."

"This course is a solid foundation for understanding the public health approach to eye care."

"The course gives a good perspective on global eye care from a planning and management angle."

Directly applicable to work in resource-limited settings.

"The principles discussed are directly applicable to the challenges we face."

"The planning and management focus is its strength. It's very practical and relevant for anyone working in global eye health programs."

"The course was very informative and useful... particularly relevant to my work. I recommend this course... especially in low-resource settings."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Might not be detailed enough for specialists.

"Some areas felt a bit rushed, and I would have appreciated more detailed case studies or examples..."

"While it provides a broad overview, it doesn't go into deep technical detail, which is fine for a general audience but might leave specialists wanting more."

"It's a good starting point, but further reading would be necessary for in-depth knowledge."

Career center

Learners who complete Global Blindness: Planning and Managing Eye Care Services will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers: