News & Views

Applications for the Zakarian Awards are now open, offering early-career ophthalmologists the opportunity to develop their research and contribute to advances in eye care. 

You can now purchase College-branded merchandise and gifts though our newly-launched shop. Products include pens, notebooks, lanyards, tote bags and the ever-popular College ties, all designed for you to demonstrate your pride in your profession and your membership.

All members are invited to attend the 38th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists at 10.40am on Tuesday 19 May.

To get you excited about your Congress experience, we asked chairs to share details from their sessions planned over the first three days of Congress. Here’s what they told us.

Read highlights of some of the advocacy and influencing successes we’ve achieved on your behalf in the first quarter of 2026.

We spoke to Dr Vickie Lee about her work, her involvement with The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and why collaboration is at the heart of modern ophthalmology.

Following representations from the College over many years, we are pleased that NHS England has listened and made a significant change that will incentivise NHS trusts to better prioritise more complex ophthalmology care. From tomorrow (1 April), changes to the NHS Payment Scheme (which determines what providers are paid in England for delivering different NHS ophthalmology services and treatments) will see prices paid to cataract services providers cut by 20%.

Congratulations to Abdulmalik Alsaif, Tafadzwa Young-Zvandasara and Blanca Sanz-Magallon, recipients of the 2025/26 Zakarian Award, which we deliver in partnership with Fight for Sight. 

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.