Ophthalmology
Deliberate darkness: The systematic weaponisation of blinding in global protests
As eyecare professionals, we spend our entire professional lives fighting to preserve light. We train to master the delicate microscopic topography of the cornea, the retina and the optic nerve, all with the objective of saving our patients from the...
From paper to digital: Real lessons for a sustainable NHS digital future
Portsmouth's OpenEyes implementation reveals why healthcare digital transformation needs honest evaluation, proper clinical leadership resourcing and realistic expectations about technology efficiency promises. Like many eye departments across the NHS, we at Portsmouth were drowning in paper. Notes went missing, handwriting...
Everyone has a plan, until their hand goes numb…
Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the UK [1]. With financially strained NHS trusts and the rise of independent sector cataract providers, the drive from initiatives like Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) and market pressures...
Money is a problem, but the problem is bigger than money
The argument surrounding doctors’ pay remains an ongoing battle. At the time of writing, Foundation Year 1 doctors have voted in favour of industrial action due to the lack of substantive employment or regular locum work at the end of...
Sustainability in cataract surgery: Everyday practice at Kabgayi
Reading the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ (RCOphth) ‘Sustainable Cataract Surgery’ guidance (September 2025) was a pleasant surprise [1]. Many of its recommendations mirror what we have been doing at Kabgayi Eye Unit for years, not because of formal policy, but...
Beyond vision loss: Why doctors should know about Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Over 250 years have passed since Charles Bonnet’s seminal essay, in which he described the symptoms of the syndrome that now takes his name [1]. Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) describes the occurrence of visual hallucinations in people with significant visual...
Through the bubble: A patient’s perspective on macula hole surgery pre- and postoperatively
The evolution of ophthalmic surgical practice over the past seven decades has been extraordinary. Within this period, the first vitrectomy was performed, establishing a foundation for what is now an operation performed thousands of times per year in the UK...
The lived experience of benign essential blepharospasm
Benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) is a rare neurological condition which causes involuntary sustained or intermittent muscular contraction of both eyelids and upper facial muscles which cause closure of eyelids, abnormal facial expressions and distress [1]. The term dystonia is an...
Low vision support in teenagers
As society places increasing emphasis on mental health and access to technology increases, the structure and prioritisation within low vision appointments is evolving. These changes bring new challenges and demands in terms of our clinical support, requiring us to consider...
The use of toxin in paediatric strabismus
Strabismus is a common condition that affects up to 5% children and can be associated with abnormal visual development, double vision, loss of depth perception and impaired binocularity [1]. It can also cause cosmetic concerns, negatively impact psychosocial wellbeing and...
Congenital and paediatric cataract: Advances in diagnosis and management
Congenital and paediatric cataracts are relatively rare, although prevalence varies significantly between countries, influenced by factors such as nutrition, immunisation policy and population genetics [1]. In the UK, around 3–4 of every 10,000 babies are born with cataracts. It’s a...
Ophthalmic imaging in children
Ophthalmic imaging has in recent years become an integral part of the diagnosis and monitoring of patients. There is now a wide range of instruments available for imaging children and assisting in the provision of detailed clinical information for the...
