Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping modern medicine, with ophthalmology standing at the forefront of this technological revolution. AI refers to the ability of machines to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intellect such as learning, problem solving and decision making. With the development of deep learning, advanced neural networks can learn complex patterns from large datasets without step-by-step programming. AI systems have reached impressive levels of accuracy in analysing and processing complex datasets and images. Ophthalmology is particularly well suited to benefit from AI, due to its reliance on high-resolution imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning. Fundus photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography generate large amounts of visual data for pattern recognition by machine learning algorithms.

“Pink eye” is a common ophthalmic presentation across patients of all age groups, however, can indicate a serious infection in neonates. Ophthalmia neonatorum (ON) is a conjunctivitis which presents within the first 28 days of life. ON typically manifests in the neonate due to the incidence of a maternal sexually transmitted infection (STI). Early recognition and treatment of ON is essential, as the infection can lead to blindness in the affected neonate.

As a Foundation Year 2 Doctor aspiring to continue training in Ophthalmology, passing the FRCOphth Part 1 examination is a rewarding and achievable milestone with the right preparation. Not only does it contribute valuable points to the inevitable portfolio, but the content itself covers the fascinating fundamentals of ophthalmic science - material that, dare I say, you might actually enjoy learning as a budding ophthalmologist.

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.