Hammaad Khalid
As a medical doctor with an interest in pursuing ophthalmology, 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.
The meeting opened with an introduction to the Medical Retina Service in Sheffield by Nachiketa Acharya, followed by Laura Redfearn’s presentation on the role of Ophthalmic Science Practitioners. These sessions were particularly useful in helping me understand how ophthalmology services are structured and delivered in practice. They also highlighted the important contribution of allied professionals in supporting efficient, high-volume and patient-centred eye care.
Several talks demonstrated the overlap between ophthalmic subspecialties. Emily Steadman’s glaucoma refresher for medical retina specialists provided a helpful overview of glaucoma concepts, another fascinating session by Imran Masood explored the role of gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT) in the management of glaucoma. The talk provided valuable insight into this minimally invasive, conjunctiva-sparing procedure, discussing its indications, surgical technique, and outcomes. It was particularly interesting to see how GATT expands the surgical options available for patients with open-angle glaucoma and reflects the ongoing evolution of glaucoma management. This was useful in appreciating that retinal treatment does not occur in isolation; intraocular pressure monitoring and glaucoma risk remain important considerations, particularly in patients receiving repeated intravitreal injections (1,2).
Kurt Cornish-Spiteri’s presentation on the role of the Vitreoretinal Surgeon in Diabetic Retinopathy gave a clear overview of when surgical input may be required in advanced diabetic eye disease. As someone still developing an understanding of ophthalmic subspecialties, I found this particularly helpful in appreciating how medical retina and vitreoretinal surgery complement one another in managing sight-threatening pathology (3).
One of the most memorable talks was Jennifer Tan’s presentation, Nepal – An adventure and eye opener. This offered a fascinating perspective on delivering ophthalmic care in a resource-limited setting. I was struck by the emphasis on clinical judgement, adaptability and making the best use of available resources. It reminded me that while modern ophthalmology is increasingly supported by advanced imaging and treatment options, strong clinical examination skills and pragmatic decision-making remain essential.
The afternoon session, Uveitis as a systemic messenger, was another highlight. Through case presentations by resident doctors and input from specialists in infectious diseases, genitourinary medicine, oncology and rheumatology, the session demonstrated how ocular inflammation can be a clue to wider systemic disease. Coming from a general medical background, I found this especially engaging. It reinforced the importance of looking beyond the eye, considering broader differentials and working closely with other specialties when managing complex patients (4).
The trainee case presentations were also valuable. They showcased interesting clinical cases, encouraged discussion and demonstrated the supportive learning environment within ophthalmology. For someone considering the specialty, it was encouraging to see trainees presenting confidently and engaging with complex clinical reasoning.
Some of these topics were new to me, but the presentations were delivered in a way that made them understandable and clinically relevant. They also highlighted how rapidly treatment options and service models continue to develop within ophthalmology (5).
Overall, the Yorkshire Retina Society Meeting was an excellent educational experience. What stood out most was how accessible it was for someone at an early stage of exploring ophthalmology as a career. The meeting provided a balanced introduction to retinal practice, while also showing the importance of multidisciplinary working, surgical decision-making, global eye health and systemic medicine within ophthalmology. I left with a greater appreciation of the breadth of the specialty and a stronger motivation to continue developing my ophthalmology knowledge and experience.
References
- Yorkshire Retina Society. Yorkshire Retina Society Summer Meeting Programme. Available at: https://www.yorkshireretinasociety.com/meeting%20current.html (Accessed 14 June 2026).
- de Vries VA, Bassil FL, Ramdas WD. The effects of intravitreal injections on intraocular pressure and retinal nerve fiber layer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports. 2020;10:13248.
- Patel NC, et al. Vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy: a review of indications, techniques, outcomes and complications. Taiwan J Ophthalmol. 2024 Jan 31;14(4):519-530.
- El Jammal T, et al. Uveitis as an open window to systemic inflammatory diseases. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021;10(2):281.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant for treating chronic diabetic macular oedema. Technology appraisal guidance TA953. London: NICE; 2024.