Trainees archive for October 2025
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...
My message to future ophthalmology teaching fellows: Organising an effective ophthalmology placement
Globally, teaching ophthalmology during the undergraduate period presents challenges. The time allocated for it is minimal with substandard exposure [1,2]. Additionally, the number of universities mandating formal ophthalmology education has significantly declined [3]. Research supports the observation that doctors in...
Eyes on Rwanda: Lessons from an international ophthalmology experience
On the 26 February 2025, I travelled to Rwanda on the invitation of a former Belfast trainee, Michael Mikhail. Michael is now one of only two vitreoretinal (VR) surgeons in Rwanda, a country with a population of 14 million. Born...
Record rise in competition ratios for ophthalmology: What does this mean for the future of the ophthalmology training programme?
In this article, Adina Smith discusses factors likely to contribute to the record rise in competition ratios and the impact this may have on the future of OST. Ophthalmology specialty training (OST) is the fifth most competitive training programme in...
