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DMEK vs. UT-DSAEK: has the debate been finally concluded?

In recent years the surgical treatment of corneal endothelial dystrophy has progressed tremendously. Descemet’s membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) is the newest iteration in the line of rapid surgical advances that has taken place. However, the previously accepted gold standard prior...

Exploiting nature’s randomised trials of eye disease

Confounding and reverse causation in observational ophthalmic epidemiology Traditional observational studies are inherently limited in establishing a causal effect of an exposure on an outcome of interest. One fundamental limitation is confounding, whereby causation is incorrectly attributed to a third...

The eye surgeon and eye physician together: the joint ophthalmic clinic

Since the early 19th century, physicians and surgeons have been working together in eye clinics and hospitals to bring about the best outcome for the patients. From the early Babylonian age, important advances in ophthalmic knowledge arose in a stuttered...

Getting the Duke Elder examination right: reflections and tips from a medical student

The Duke Elder undergraduate prize examination is an annual exam organised by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom. Named after Sir Stewart Duke Elder, a prominent British ophthalmologist, the exam is designed to encourage undergraduate medical students...

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...

Running a high-volume nurse led intravitreal service using the Sp.eye device – the Stanley Eye Unit experience

Introduction The vast majority of ophthalmology units utilise allied healthcare professionals (AHPs) to deliver intravitreal injections (IVIs). The Royal College of Ophthalmologists issued a statement 10 years ago advocating the use of non-medical practitioners performing IVIs [1]. The main benefit...

Bionic eyes: deciphering the neural circuitry of vision restoration

As the boundaries between technology and biology blur, retinal prosthetics, often dubbed ‘bionic eyes’, present a ground-breaking paradigm shift in addressing blindness. This article delves into the captivating scientific intricacies of these neural interfaces, exploring their mechanisms of action, current...

My Top Five: Promising gene therapies for ocular conditions

Gene therapy, a pivotal advancement in modern medicine, particularly shines in ophthalmology. By targeting defective genes with engineered vectors, this approach promises significant strides in treating inherited retinal diseases. This article reviews the top five gene therapies in late-stage trials,...

Four Pillars: Leadership for clinical practice settings

This series explores the four pillars of advanced clinical practice and here, Regina Tavengwa explores the pillar of leadership and management. I have been in my current role as a matron for eight years, with a background of practicing as...

Four pillars: The importance of clinical research

This series explores the four pillars of advanced clinical practice and here, Rebecca Turner explores the pillar of clinical research. The role of the ophthalmic advanced nurse practitioner, as with all registered practitioners allied to ophthalmology, is on an upward...

In conversation with Robert Henderson

Revolutionary eye treatments offer hope for children facing blindness from CLN2 batten disease. Robert Henderson discusses this, and his use of Heidelberg Engineering’s Spectralis device to better combat it. Pioneering research from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the University...

Ophthalmology in Bangladesh

Imaging Specialist Hayley Coates steps outside her comfort zone to experience ophthalmology in a resource-poor setting. As one of the most densely populated countries in the world, Bangladesh also has one of the highest rates of preventable blindness, worldwide. It...