The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Summer School 2025 was held in collaboration with Moorfields Eye Hospital run by Gordon Hay and Tara Bader. This was a comprehensive five-day course attended by medical students and resident doctors from around the world. It offered an immersive introduction to ophthalmology subspecialties through lectures and practical sessions delivered by leading consultant ophthalmologists.
The course began with an introduction from Tara Bader, who covered the ophthalmology training pathway in the UK, followed by essential eye anatomy and clinical history taking. Luke Nicolson then delivered a lecture on medical retina, clearly explaining imaging modalities and methods to accurately interpret OCT scans. He also covered common retinal pathologies and gave insights into a career in medical retina. Oncology was covered by Gordon Hay, who lectured on various melanomas, imaging techniques, and treatment options with illustrative images. The keynote lecture by Professor Andrew Dick focused on uveitis, offering an inspiring overview of the evolution of immune theories, new perspectives on uveitis, and potential future therapeutic targets. The day concluded with a well-received drinks reception that fostered networking and allowed participants to share insights about ophthalmology globally.
The second day featured a practical session on intravitreal injections led by Adam Mapani. After an in-depth lecture, delegates practiced injections independently on models, receiving feedback from supervisors and peers. Later, Victoria Barnett, an ST5 trainee, provided an engaging lecture and Q&A about the trainee experience and the UK residency application process, offering valuable advice to aspiring ophthalmologists. The afternoon included a tour of the Moorfields library and museum, where participants explored historic ophthalmologic tools, original books, and the history of the specialty, followed by visits to the Moorfields laboratories that showcased cutting-edge research developments.
On day three, Mohsan Malik guided an insightful journey through oculoplastics, adnexal, and neuro-ophthalmology, illustrating key pathologies with high-quality images and covering identification and management of orbital emergencies. Elizabeth Yang delivered an engaging vitreoretinal lecture featuring surgical videos that allowed delegates to visualise vitreoretinal surgery while Miss Yang explained each step thoroughly, offering a unique learning opportunity. She also provided insights into pursuing vitreoretinal surgery as a career.
Day four involved small group clinical skills sessions rotating through stations on fundoscopy, slit lamp skills, visual acuity assessments, corneal assessment, corneal foreign body removal, and a virtual reality-based simulation session. This session was run by Tara Bader, Thushika Mahendiran, Urvi Patel, Jameel Mushtaq, Meriam Islam, and Ishani Barai. This was followed by Su Yin Koay presenting on external eye and corneal diseases. The day also included a glaucoma surgical simulation session led by Professor Rashmi Mathew and Dr Yarrow Scantling-Birch, offering an innovative, low-fidelity simulation for practicing trabeculectomy in a safe environment. This session was a unique and inspiring session for budding ophthalmologists to develop microsurgical skills.
The final day, opened with Christopher Leak presenting on vision and optics, explaining optics concepts clearly and concisely. Professor David Gartry delivered two excellent lectures sharing wisdom from over 40 years of experience as a consultant. The first covered the history and current advancements in cataract surgery, including femtosecond laser techniques and future directions, supplemented by videos demonstrating various cataract procedures as well as historic footage of early intraocular lens insertion. The second lecture addressed refractive surgery, tracing its evolution and innovations aimed at reducing side effects. The Summer School concluded with a poster session and prizes awarded to the best submissions.
