For many resident doctors, ophthalmology can seem complicated as it is not something you come across in everyday practice. However, being able to triage eye problems, confidently use a slit lamp, and perform fundoscopy are skills that prove useful not just for ophthalmologists, but in emergency medicine and general practice. I attended the Birmingham Eye Emergency Essentials Course, a one-day course, designed to develop these exact skills. Run by ophthalmology specialty trainees at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC), the course combined practical workshops with small-group tutorials. It attracted a diverse group of participants, from A&E doctors, foundation trainees to aspiring ophthalmologists, all keen to improve their approach to eye emergencies.

At a recent Basic Slit Lamp Skills course held at the Haag Streit UK Academy headquarters in October 2025, we were among the first clinicians to get hands-on experience with the Elara 900. Released last month, this device felt like a glimpse into the future - an exciting opportunity to see how a century-old instrument could be reimagined.

Vision loss is a growing public health issue. More than two million people in the UK are currently living with sight loss, a figure expected to double by 2050. The RNIB highlights that loss of vision often leads to reduced social participation, increased depression, and reduced physical activity. These realities became clear to me not through statistics, but through the stories of patients on the ward.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a condition characterised by complex visual hallucinations in psychologically healthy individuals with significant visual impairment. This case report presents an elderly patient with bilateral age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who developed vivid visual hallucinations. The report discusses the presenting symptoms, investigations, differential diagnoses, pathophysiology, and management approaches for CBS. The aim is to raise awareness among clinicians to recognise and manage this frequently underreported condition effectively.

Ophthalmology ST1 recruitment remains highly competitive, with the competition ratio rising from 14.41 in 2024 to 21.54 in 2025. For the 2026 intake, the Severn Deanery has updated its Evidence Folder guidance, refining scoring criteria, clarifying evidence requirements, and introducing a candidate self-assessment component. This article provides a detailed overview of these updates, highlights domain-specific scoring changes, and offers practical guidance for applicants.

The ability to competently use a slit lamp is a fundamental skill in ophthalmology, critical for examining the eye and identifying a wide range of ocular conditions. Despite its frequent use in clinical practice, slit lamp training is not routinely included in undergraduate medical education, and many clinicians lack confidence in its correct application. Structured training in slit lamp use is therefore highly valuable - not only for doctors, but also for nurses, optometrists, and other allied health professionals involved in eye care.

Ophthalmology serves patients from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. For Muslim patients, the month of Ramadan often raises specific questions about fasting, medication use, and scheduling of procedures. This article explores practical considerations around ophthalmic medications during fasting, the effects of Ramadan on ocular health, and culturally competent communication. It concludes with a reflection on the experiences of Muslim junior doctors balancing faith and training

For many medical students and foundation doctors, a taster week is the first meaningful exposure to ophthalmology. Clinics and eye casualty provide concentrated encounters with common presentations and genuine emergencies. The following ten cases are highly likely to appear, and each offers specific opportunities to build knowledge, practise core skills, and reflect on the broader role of ophthalmology in patient care.