The North of England Ophthalmological Society (NEOS) Summer Meeting 2025 was convened by Lawrence Gnanaraj, Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmologist at the Sunderland Eye Infirmary. The opening morning programme was titled ‘Is Small a Big Problem?’ and addressed a wide range of subjects relating to the implications of small ocular structures and paediatric management considerations.
The morning session was opened by Consultant Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgeon Lucy Clarke. She shared practical insights in her talk ‘Small Socket – Prevention and Cure’, offering valuable tips on managing orbital volume loss in paediatric patients and sharing an invaluable selection of complex cases she personally has managed over the years.
Following this, Mike Burdon, a stalwart of neuro-ophthalmology, posed the provocative question: ‘Better to be too big than too small?’ His presentation explored the breadth of pupil pathology, underscoring the challenges associated with an approach tailored for both residents and generalists alike.
The final talk of the morning, ‘What’s the Big Deal about Anaesthetising Small Children in Ophthalmology?’, was delivered by Consultant Anaesthetist Quentin Smith. He provided a compelling overview of the anaesthetic considerations in paediatric ophthalmology, addressing both safety concerns and the nuances of managing children in theatre.
The mid-morning session featured the NEOS Annual Paper Competition, which involved rapid-fire oral presentations, moderated by Steve Winder. Yvonne D’Souza, President of NEOS, later presented the prize winners who this year were Dr Hui Yun Ng, Specialist Resident Y2, for her presentation on ‘The epidemiology, management, and outcomes of open globe injuries in a major trauma centre in the United Kingdom’ and Mr Boon Lin Teh, Vitreoretinal Fellow, for his presentation on ‘Microbiological sampling has limited value in managing acute postoperative bacterial endophthalmitis’. In recognition of their superb projects, both were warmly applauded and received £300 in prize money. Entries to this competition are judged on originality, findings, methodology, clinical impact and presentation skills by the NEOS executive panel.
After lunch, there was a short presentation from the Travel Fellowship Prize-winner Boon Lin Teh, who shared insights from his incredible recent experience in Bali, highlighting that without the prize funds from NEOS, this may not have been possible.
This led onto the PJ Hay Lecture 2025, delivered by the eminent Professor Chris Lloyd. His lecture, ‘Congenital and Paediatric Lens Abnormalities: Why Is Making a Precise Diagnosis Important?’ was a masterclass in paediatric cataract diagnostics, combining a career’s worth of clinical experience with the latest genetic insights in paediatric ophthalmology.
The day continued with the afternoon programme centred around ‘Functional and Medically Unexplained Vision Loss’. Finally, Clinical Psychologist Rosey Ferris provided the fascinating psychological perspective on ‘Medically Unexplained Symptoms in Paediatric Ophthalmology’, emphasising the importance of multidisciplinary care and communication with some of our most vulnerable patients.
Overall, the NEOS Summer programme 2025 successfully balanced clinical knowledge for both generalists, specialists and residents alike, covered a range of surgical techniques, highlighted diagnostic insights including emerging research, and shared the impact of psychosocial problems in ophthalmology.
We look forward to seeing you again for the NEOS Autumn meeting on 11 November 2025 at the DoubleTree Hotel, Hull – where oculoplastics and glaucoma are the main themes.
