In this article, we describe a child presenting to the ophthalmology department with periorbital swelling who was subsequently diagnosed with a Pott’s puffy tumour. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for orbital and intracranial complications of sinus disease in children presenting with seemingly uncomplicated eyelid swelling.

Taking a year out of medical studies to complete a BSc, MSc or related degree has long been valued for deeper learning, research experience and personal growth. However, the removal of “extra points” for intercalated degrees in allocation processes, including the foundation programme and later specialty training, has changed the incentive structure.

While advances in AI promise earlier diagnosis, improved efficiency and greater access to specialist care, their successful implementation depends not only on technological performance but also on clinicians’ ability to understand their capabilities and limitations. The widespread adoption of AI therefore creates a new educational responsibility: future ophthalmologists must develop sufficient AI literacy to safely evaluate and integrate these technologies into patient care.

The diagnosis of THS remains challenging because its presenting symptoms overlap with several potentially life-threatening conditions, including cavernous sinus thrombosis, intracerebral aneurysm, neoplasia, giant cell arteritis and inflammatory disorders such as sarcoidosis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Consequently, THS remains a diagnosis of exclusion and requires careful investigation to rule out the broad differential diagnosis of painful ophthalmoplegia.

Electives in ophthalmology are incredibly useful for 2 main reasons. The first being that ophthalmology is sparsely covered in medical school, and it is a relative unknown to most medical students, therefore an elective is a great opportunity for any student interested in ophthalmology to gain a better understanding of the speciality and understand the core principles of ophthalmology.

Advances in surgical techniques, intraocular lens calculations, infection prevention protocols, and patient selection mean reduced risks when performing bilateral cataract surgery on the same day. Advantages include faster visual rehabilitation, improved patient convenience, potential economic benefits through reduced healthcare costs and fewer hospital visits. There needs to be strict adherence to established safety guidelines however, including complete aseptic separation of procedures for each eye to minimise the risk of rare but potentially sight-threatening complications. It is likely that evidence supporting ISBCS will increase over time and with the anticipated rise in cataract surgery demand the adoption of ISBCS is likely to increase.

Ptosis is a common eyelid complaint, encountered across a range of specialties, including general practice, emergency medicine and neurology, and whilst often benign, ptosis may be the presenting feature of underlying neurological disease. This article provides a comprehensive overview of ptosis, including anatomy, assessment, key differentials, red flags and management principles.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor in the development and progression of glaucoma and thus lowering IOP is the main goal of glaucoma care. SLT was first introduced in 1995. Prior to this ALT (argon laser trabeculoplasty) was used. ALT uses thermal energy to cause scar formation which leads to mechanical stretching of the surrounding untreated regions of the trabecular meshwork, subsequently leading to a reduction in IOP. In contrast to this SLT selectively targets pigmented cells without damaging adjacent healthy tissue.

Ophthalmology training already has a strong apprenticeship-based culture, but increasing outpatient demand can limit opportunities for trainees to lead consultations with immediate senior feedback. A shared-list, consultant-supervised clinic model may provide a simple and practical way to increase trainee autonomy, strengthen clinical reasoning and improve feedback while maintaining patient safety. Further evaluation through trainee feedback, consultant feedback and service impact measures would help determine whether this model could be usefully adapted within ophthalmology outpatient training.

Attending the Yorkshire Retina Society Meeting in Sheffield was a valuable opportunity to gain further exposure to the specialty. With relatively limited ophthalmology experience so far, I was initially unsure how accessible a retinal meeting would be. However, I found the programme engaging, easy to follow and highly relevant, offering a broad insight into medical retina, glaucoma, vitreoretinal surgery, uveitis and multidisciplinary ophthalmic care.