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Dementia and visual impairment: what is the relationship and are we providing the best care?

Carla Maden discusses the implications of living with both dementia and visual impairment, and how general medical junior doctors and ophthalmologists can help to alleviate this burden and improve the quality of life of such patients. Dementia and visual impairment...

Irido-corneal endothelial syndrome: an overview

Irido-corneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome is a rare group of eye related disorders that constitute three different clinical entities: Chandler syndrome (CS), essential / progressive iris atrophy and iris naevus / Cogan-Reese syndrome. ICE syndrome is sporadic in its presentation as...

The clues of the eye – what is medical ophthalmology?

The author looks at the increasingly significant role of medical ophthalmologists and the importance of integrative healthcare. The eye is a remarkable organ, and for decades we have been discovering intimations of pathology existing elsewhere in the body [1] simply...

Understanding spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS): what do we know?

Introduction Formerly known as visual impairment and intracranial pressure syndrome (VIIP), space-related neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) is defined by a collection of ophthalmic and neurological findings in astronauts after long-term spaceflight [1]. Changes in the eyeball, such as hyperopic shift, during...

Mastering clinical skills in ophthalmology

To young junior doctors, and some senior doctors who may not have had much exposure to ophthalmology, the specialty can seem very foreign. Not only are the conditions and examination findings specific to the eyes, but the skill set required...

Competition ratios: Is the future of ophthalmology too bright?

In the UK, ophthalmology is a highly competitive speciality, attracting many medical graduates keen to pursue a career in this area. However, in recent years, the competition ratios for ophthalmology ST1 training posts have increased significantly, creating a challenging environment...

My top five: Emerging alternatives to manage and treat nAMD

Wet (exudative or neovascular) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterised by choroidal neovascularisation, in which new blood vessels from the choroid invade through Bruch’s membrane. These blood vessels proliferate beneath or through the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), causing patients to...

Ophthalmic exposure for emergency medicine doctors

Emergency medicine is a challenging specialty which requires managing a range of acute issues. In this article, I explore the experiences of emergency doctors towards ophthalmic cases presenting in the emergency department, identifying what initiatives have helped trainees. Emergency medicine...

How to get a trainee from 0 to 600 cataracts in two years: Perspectives from the trainee and the trainer

Trainee’s perspective I remember my first day as an ST1 at Moorfields Eye Hospital in Croydon. I was in theatre for a cataract list, and the challenges were numerous. From draping to hydrating the wound, it was all completely new...

NHS Practitioner Health: Providing you with the care you deserve

Healthcare professionals carry a unique weight: the responsibility for the lives and wellbeing of others. But who takes care of the caregivers? For over 15 years, NHS Practitioner Health has been doing just that – providing vital mental health and...

Assessing the effectiveness of undergraduate ophthalmic assessments in the UK: A literature review

During 2008–2009, 300,000 patients presented to hospital emergency departments in the UK with eye conditions. This rose by nearly 200,000 over the next decade. As the population ages, the prevalence of eye disease increases [1,2]. However, the stake ophthalmology holds...

Strategies for fostering psychological safety in healthcare

Holding a degree in Ecology, an MBA, and currently pursuing a Masters in Global Health and Humanitarianism at the University of Manchester, Tom merges academic knowledge with real-world experience. His focus lies in leveraging the transformative power of psychological safety,...