Trainees
Preparing to sit the FRCOphth Part 1 as a new FY1: A modern financial, educational and AI-enhanced study guide
One week into my first year as a doctor, buried under a mountain of ward jobs, night shifts and the sheer vertical learning curve of FY1, I decided to challenge myself further: I booked the FRCOphth Part 1 exam. The...
Getting started in ophthalmology: Advice for new doctors
Starting your first rotation in ophthalmology is exciting and a little daunting. As the start date approaches, the nerves may start to creep in. What’s expected of me? How much ophthalmology am I supposed to know? How will the on-calls...
What intentional eyecare looks like: Lessons from Aravind Eye Hospital
Jet-lagged, following 24 hours of travel from Boston, sweat rolled down my forehead only to return moments after I had wiped it away. Even the English signs seemed suddenly indecipherable in the humid midday heat of Pondicherry, India. I’ll never...
Applying for ophthalmology ST1 in 2026: What’s new?
Competition for ophthalmology ST1 has intensified steadily over recent cycles, rising from ~9:1 (2022) to ~10:1 (2023), ~14:1 (2024) and ~22:1 (2025) [1]. Against this background, applicants benefit from a structured approach: mapping achievements to portfolio domains early, identifying gaps...
Navigating challenges and embracing growth
Embarking on a career in ophthalmology is both exhilarating and challenging. Moving through the various stages of training, from foundation years to specialty training, brings a steep learning curve and intense demands, often necessitating significant adaptations in both professional and...
Reflections as an international trainee
I had the privilege of undertaking two glaucoma fellowships in the UK – first at the St Paul’s Eye Unit in Liverpool (2022–23), followed by a second year at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London (2023–24). Many of my seniors had...
The expanding role of the optometrist
Eyecare in the UK has seen significant changes in recent years, with new models of care, technological advancements and an increased emphasis on primary eyecare in some UK nations. Crucially, an ageing population demographic is set to escalate further both...
Scholarships, awards and prizes
Perhaps one of the less well-known benefits of being a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is access to the range of scholarships, awards and prizes that we offer. Many of you will be aware of the annual...
Postgraduate training for ophthalmic practitioners
The UK currently spends £25 billion per year on ocular disease, and there is expected to be a 40% increase in those affected by visual impairment by 2050 [1]. To manage this demand, 82% of ophthalmology units across the UK...
Behind the curtain: What trainees wish they knew before starting in ophthalmology
As a foundation year doctor, I didn’t expect ophthalmology to feature much in acute medicine or surgery. Yet it kept appearing at the periphery – and when it did, it was often complex and unexpectedly urgent. A confused older patient...
An ophthalmology elective in Kandy, Sri Lanka
On my first day at The Centre for Sight, Kandy General Hospital, I observed an enucleation. The surgeons worked with quiet precision, preserving the extraocular muscles for prosthesis placement. But when the time came, it became clear that the prosthesis...
Ophthalmology elective: A reflection from Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
I was fortunate enough to undertake an eight-week ophthalmology elective at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. It was an unforgettable two months, filled with once-in-a-life-time experiences and also the opportunity to gain invaluable clinical knowledge. KCMC...
