Junior doctors manage patients with eye symptoms in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. However, a systematic review published by Tolley et al. in 2023 revealed there is decreased confidence in managing ophthalmic emergencies among A&E junior doctors in the UK. Baylis et al. conducted a survey in 2011 about ophthalmology education delivered across different UK medical schools which found that ophthalmology education varies in terms of standards, methods used and assessments done, with some students receiving no ophthalmology education at all.  This article aims to serve as a guide for ophthalmic assessment in the A&E.

Ophthalmology is a wonderful specialty that offers a balance of both surgical and medical practice hence its popularity among junior doctors. The competition ratio has been increasing yearly with the 2024 ratio being 1:14.41 (96 posts for 1383 applicants), but not everyone will have a tailored ophthalmology portfolio. Thus, this should not deter you if you are passionate about ophthalmology. Listed below are courses that will help improve your knowledge and skills as a budding ophthalmologist. Most of the courses included may even give you points for your portfolio!

Despite being a rare cancer overall, uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Split into different subtypes, the most common type of uveal melanoma is choroidal melanoma (90%), followed by ciliary body and iris melanoma. Despite being a melanoma, uveal melanomas differ greatly from the more common cutaneous melanomas in areas including physiology, genetics, and management. This article will provide a brief overview of uveal melanoma, as well as identify some key differences from cutaneous melanomas.