Ophthalmology
A case of retinal cavernous haemangioma – don’t let it slip through the grapevine
We present a case of a seven-year-old male who presented to the emergency eye referral clinic with red eye. He was diagnosed and treated for allergic conjunctivitis, however, on clinic review, wide field retinal imaging was performed (as has been...
Lessons from an unusual case of syphilis
The rise of syphilis transmission rates over the past two decades has been one of public health’s great puzzles. In the UK, the situation has reached epidemic levels, with a 126% increase between 2013 and 2018 [1]. We present a...
Navigating the retina: the nitty-gritty of slit-lamp fundus examination
The slit-lamp fundus examination can be a difficult and disorientating task for beginners due to the retina being viewed in a non-anatomical orientation, the small area of retina illuminated, and the counterintuitive technique of the examination. This article provides a...
Retinal sequelae of high voltage electric current injury
Introduction High-voltage electrical currents may result in significant ocular complications, ranging from mild cataracts to vision-threatening retinal and optic nerve problems [1]. The severity of damage depends on various factors, including intensity and type of current, duration of exposure, entry...
Birdshot retinochoroiditis
Birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC) is a chronic, sight-threatening uveitis, most commonly affecting caucasian individuals in their fourth to sixth decades [1]. The disease is associated with HLA-29 and is characterised by progressive inflammation at the level of retina and choroid, with...
Possible COVID-19 related maculopathy
COVID-19 is being investigated as a potential cause for various ocular diseases, with growing evidence of related retinal vascular changes, that vary from isolated cotton wool spots and retinal haemorrhages to retinal vascular occlusions [1.2]. COVID-related macular affection has also...
Prevalence of acute anterior uveitis in diabetic patients attending diabetic eye disease clinics
The authors share their investigation at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital into the association between diabetes and AAU. The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is rapidly rising from an estimated 9.3% in 2019 to 10.2% by 2030 [1]. The link...
Does vitrectomy increase the risk of glaucoma? A retrospective review from a UK hospital
The authors investigate what proportion of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy subsequently developed ocular hypertension or a diagnosis of glaucoma. A systematic review carried out in 2017 including seven studies found that there is evidence that pars plana vitrectomy (PPV)...
Safety and efficacy of a nurse-led intravitreal injection service using an Precivia® injection assist device
Nurse-led intravitreal injections have become of great importance for busy eye units. In this article, the authors present safety data from five years of a nurse-led service with the use of the Precivia® intravitreal injection assist device. Intravitreal injections of...
Gene therapy for inherited retinal disease: the Manchester Ocular Gene Therapy Group MDT service
The authors describe the process set up in Manchester for the optimum delivery and assessment of a new gene therapy treatment for patients with RPE65 IRD. Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are the second commonest cause of severe visual impairment in...
My top five Instagram accounts to keep your scrolling educational
There’s no denying that now, more than ever, we are better connected to our electronic devices; 24/7, around the clock. The phenomenon of ‘Zoom’ and ‘Microsoft Teams’ is shaping the future of medical education, national trainee recruitment and conference access....
Sustainability in eyecare: Intraocular gases and the climate emergency
In 2020 the NHS became the first national health system to commit to delivering ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040. The author investigates how the impact of ophthalmic surgery can be reduced. Medical gases have been used in ophthalmic surgery...
