Professional Practice, Ethics and Dubai Health Regulation
Concepts
Understand the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulatory framework: licensure, scope of practice, continuing professional development (CPD), and patient record requirements. Know the principles of informed consent, confidentiality, and referral pathways. Understand the difference between the optometrist's scope (refraction, contact lenses, low vision, screening) and the ophthalmologist's scope (surgery, invasive procedures). Know the DHA's requirements for infection control and the handling of patient complaints.
Traps
Questions often test the boundary between optometry and ophthalmology - optometrists do not perform surgery or prescribe systemic medications. Watch for the CPD requirement (typically 40 hours per year in Dubai) and the need for informed consent before any procedure. Also know that patient records must be retained per DHA guidelines and that confidentiality applies to all staff.
Worked rule of thumb
When in doubt about scope, refer. If a patient presents with a condition outside optometric scope (e.g., suspected retinal detachment, acute glaucoma), the correct action is urgent referral to an ophthalmologist, not observation. Document the referral and the reason in the patient record.