Surgical scrubbing can be a daunting task when it is your first few times or if you are rusty, especially if you are bieng watched by other staff or in a rush! Here is a re-fresher to make going to theatre more pleasant! Visual summary Article to follow… Created by Dr Brian Ng (FY3)Visual summary
Corneal dystrophies are inherited, bilateral, slowly progressive, non-inflammatory disorders characterised by abnormal material deposition within the cornea. They are classified anatomically by the corneal layer affected a framework that directly informs clinical presentation and management. This article covers the four dystrophies most relevant to medical students and junior doctors. Corneal Anatomy: A Brief Overview The
Pressure ulcers (also known as pressure sores) are localised injuries to the skin and underlying tissue, usually occurring over bony prominences due to prolonged pressure. They are a significant cause of patient harm, leading to pain, infection, delayed recovery, and increased length of stay. Pressure ulcer prevention is a key patient safety priority and requires
Key Points Introduction Optic neuritis is an inflammatory disorder of the optic nerve (CN II), disrupting its ability to transfer information from the retina to the brain. It leads to acute, central vision loss with ocular pain made worse on eye movement. Risk factors2 for typical optic neuritis include: Around 50% of all patients with MS
The FRCOphth Part 1 is the first written examination set by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. It is required for progression to ST3 ophthalmology training. However, many doctors now choose to sit it much earlier, including during foundation training, because of the advantages it offers when applying for ST1. With the updated ophthalmology portfolio scoring
Contrast agents are an essential part of modern medical imaging. This guide highlights essential principles any doctor should know about contrast – how it works, when to use it, and how to manage risks – so you can make safe clinical decisions and answer patients’ questions with confidence. What is contrast? Contrast refers to a
Eye pain is a common presentation with a broad differential. A structured history is essential to identify sight-threatening and systemic causes. It is important to ask about eye pain when taking an ophthalmic history, even if it is not the presenting complaint. Presenting Complaint: Eye Pain Start with an open question A useful framework to
My medical school ophthalmology elective to Southern Africa was cancelled during COVID. Three years later, as an F3 doctor, I decided to make it happen anyway, volunteering at the rural eye clinic where I had originally planned my elective. This article is a guide on how to arrange and make the most of an elective
Head injury remains a common reason for presentations to the emergency department in the UK and, akin to trauma as a whole, represents a significant cause of death and morbidity in those aged 1 to 40 years of age. Whilst over 1 million patients will present each year, head injury is by no means a
This guide is designed to help you take a safe, structured, and clinically relevant history when assessing a patient with acute joint pain or swelling. It focusses on gathering the key information needed to identify red flags (such as septic arthritis), build a differential diagnosis, and guide appropriate investigations. “I’d like to ask you a
