Ophthalmology training is becoming increasingly competitive every year and is one of the most competitive specialty training programmes in the UK, boasting a competition ratio of  9.91 applications per post in 2023.1 Therefore, getting a training post can seem like a daunting task, particularly given the demands of the portfolio and MSRA, and even more

Ophthalmology has long been the specialty with the most referrals and patient appointments in an outpatient environment, having had over 8.7 million clinic appointments scheduled in 2022-23 across the NHS.1 The volume of Ophthalmology referrals, both from primary care and from inpatient settings, continues to increase every year and poses a problem for the on

Overview Diabetes mellitus can cause both macrovascular (e.g., myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, stroke) and microvascular (e.g., nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy) complications. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and is one of the most common causes of blindness in working-aged adults globally. The risk of retinopathy varies depending on several factors including

Introduction The orbital septum is a fibrous connective tissue layer which divides orbital tissue from the eyelid, thus serving as a barrier against the spread of infection into the orbit. It extends from the orbital periosteum; is continuous with the tendon of levator palpebrae superioris superiorly and inserts into the tarsal plate inferiorly. Inflammation and

Introduction and Anatomy The eyelid is important for ensuring physical protection of the eye and maintaining lubrication over the surface of the eyeball. It is composed of five main layers (superficial to deep): skin and subcutaneous tissue, orbicularis oculi, tarsal plate, levator apparatus and conjunctiva. The meibomian glands are modified sebaceous glands that sit within

This article is the first of two articles about traumatic eye injuries. This article covers the relevant anatomy, history, examination and emergency sight-threatening pathologies to enable you to refer to ophthalmology specialists. The second is called Common Traumatic Pathologies and covers injuries that are important to identify but are less of an emergency. Anatomy  Ocular

This article is the second of two articles about traumatic eye injuries.  The first is called Basics of Eye Trauma with Emergency Pathologies and covers the relevant anatomy, history, examination and emergency sight-threatening pathologies. The pathologies discussed in this article are important to identify but are less of an emergency. Corneal abrasion Please refer to

Introduction Risk Factors Causes Bacterial keratitis Pathogens: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Pseudomonas species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common cause in contact lens wearers Fungal keratitis Pathogens: Fusarium and Aspergillus species (filamentary fungi) often from ocular trauma; Candida species (yeasts) in the immunocompromised Protozoal keratitis Pathogen: Acanthamoeba A very rare cause of keratitis and often difficult

What is it? Common Etiological Agents Alkalis Agent Example Lime (most common) Plaster, cement  Ammonia * Fertilisers Lye * Drain cleaner Magnesium Hydroxide Sparklers, incendiary devices  Potassium Hydroxide Soaps, detergents  *Ammonia and lye tend to cause more severe alkali injuries   Acids Agent Example Sulphuric acid (mostcommon) Industrial cleaners, batteries Sulphurous acid  Bleach Acetic acid  Vinegar Hydrochloric