News & Views

We have re-evaluated this Outlier Policy as it relates to surgeons’ Posterior Capsule Rupture (PCR) rates to make it a more practical and useful tool for supporting safe delivery of care and driving quality improvement.

We’ve rounded up some recent coverage of the College and members in national, regional and trade news media, on television, on the radio and in print. Thanks to everyone who contributed time and expertise, helping us to raise awareness about critical eye health issues and advocate for positive patient outcomes.

Ahead of World Glaucoma Week and the planned second reading of the Glaucoma Care (England) Bill in Parliament, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the UK and Eire Glaucoma Society has published a joint statement outlining its view on the future of glaucoma care.

The College supports the intent of the bill to tackle high competition ratios for training places and ensure a sustainable NHS workforce. As we have consistently highlighted, ophthalmology has one of the highest competition ratios of any training programme and chronic workforce shortages.

The College is expressing concerns that the Welsh Government’s response to the report following its inquiry into ophthalmology services does not reflect the urgency of the challenges facing ophthalmology services in Wales.

Academic research is essential to delivering high-quality, equitable eye care. It underpins clinical excellence, drives innovation, and helps ensure ophthalmology continues to meet the needs of patients and the NHS. Research is a core part of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ work and purpose.

Congratulations to Dr Priyanka Sharma, who has been awarded the Chandra Award for 2025.

Eighteen months on from the introduction of a new ophthalmology specialist training (OST) curriculum the College is consulting on some proposed improvements to ensure that we continue to promote the highest possible standards for the training of resident doctors.

We have agreed a new pilot collaboration with the Cochrane Eyes and Vision US Project (CEV@US), aimed at strengthening the evidence base that underpins our guidelines. This pilot will begin with the guidelines on Infection Keratitis.

We have this week published a new version of our Blueprint for cataract training in the independent sector, which is aimed at supporting training providers and trainers to deliver appropriate and safe cataract training within the independent sector.