Trainees
An elective in the land down under
My clinical elective was spent at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) in Melbourne. As Australia’s only specialist tertiary hospital dedicated entirely to eye disease, RVEEH gave me significant exposure to, and enhanced my clinical understanding of, ophthalmology....
From Moorfields to Mombasa: The tale of two ophthalmology electives
Ophthalmology fascinates me because the field uniquely combines microsurgical precision with immediate, life-changing outcomes, spanning nine distinct subspecialties that seamlessly integrate medicine, surgery and cutting-edge technology. Put simply, few single organs can match the breadth and depth of pathology the...
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...
Communication in ophthalmological surgery: Perspectives from an observer
"Please don’t move” is a common phrase I have heard whilst shadowing in theatres as the ophthalmologist contends with the eye of a patient looking around and tilting their head during surgery. As the average corneal diameter is approximately 12–12.5mm...
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...
Preparing to start as a consultant
I was just coming to the end of a fantastic glaucoma fellowship at Moorfields, during which Samad Ansari had been a colleague and friend, and soon to start as a consultant in Oxford where Rebecca Turner is Clinical Director, and...
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...
