Exam Pass Notes

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Key definitions

• Cleaning removes visible dirt and contamination.
• Disinfection reduces harmful microorganisms using an approved method or product.
• Decontamination makes an item or area safer to handle or use.
• Sterilisation is not part of routine environmental cleaning in optical practice.

Standard precautions

• Apply standard precautions for all patients because infection is not always apparent.
• Core controls include hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, suitable PPE, clean equipment and environments, correct waste handling, spill response and prompt reporting.
• Use soap and water when hands are visibly dirty, after toilet use, and after vomiting or diarrhoea risk, or where local policy requires it.
• Alcohol hand rub is appropriate when hands are not visibly soiled; it does not replace soap and water in all situations.

PPE and cleaning

• Choose PPE to match the task and the assessed risk. Do not wear gloves continuously for an entire shift.
• Remove gloves after the task and perform hand hygiene immediately afterwards.
• High-touch optical surfaces include counters, card machines, pens, trial frames, dispensing tools, chin rests, head rests, keyboards, phones, tablets, doors, chairs and toilets.
• Cleaning schedules should specify what is cleaned, when and how, which product to use, who is responsible and how the work is recorded.

Equipment and escalation

• Only clean optical equipment for which you are trained and authorised.
• Follow manufacturer instructions, local standard operating procedures and directions from the registrant.
• Do not invent cleaning methods for devices that contact the eye or mucous membranes.
• Support staff should report possible infection risks; they must not diagnose eye disease or decide treatment.

Incidents and readiness

• Report cleaning failures, damaged equipment, unclear logs, body-fluid spillages, exposure incidents, staff illness concerns and outbreak patterns without delay.
• When escalating, state facts: what was said, what was seen, what was touched and who has been informed.
• Domiciliary work requires separation of clean and used items, adequate portable supplies and clear return-to-base procedures.
• During infection waves, increase attention to hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, ventilation and cleaning of high-touch surfaces.

For the assessment, focus on standard precautions, hand hygiene choices, common PPE errors, high-touch cleaning, limits on cleaning optical equipment, escalation of possible infection risks, waste and spill response, and reporting.