Dr Vickie Lee, Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, has built her career around collaboration. With a specialist focus on orbital disease and thyroid eye disease, her work sits at the intersection of multiple specialties, something she believes is essential to improving outcomes for patients.
We spoke to Vickie about her work, her involvement with The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and why collaboration is at the heart of modern ophthalmology.
The College is a fantastic platform to collaborate and make a real difference to patient care.
Working at the crossroads of specialties
In her clinical role, Dr Lee focuses on complex orbital conditions and thyroid eye disease. Alongside this, she serves as the BOPSS National Lead for Thyroid Eye Disease and Secretary of the European Group on Graves’ Orbitopathy (EUGOGO), supporting collaboration and innovation across the UK and internationally.
As Vickie explains:
“Oculoplastic sits right at the crossroads of specialties, and collaboration is key to improving outcomes for patients.”
Showcasing multidisciplinary learning
Since 2022, Dr Lee has organised oculoplastic sessions at the College’s Annual Congress and delivered webinars during the COVID pandemic. She also led a full-day seminar on thyroid eye disease and will chair this year’s Horizon Scanning session, exploring emerging treatments across multiple specialties. She helped establish the first BOPSS satellite symposium at Congress.
Dr Lee has also contributed to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence consultations, helping ensure patients can access new therapies as treatment options evolve.
Championing collaboration
Oculoplastics bridges specialties, requiring close collaboration with fields such as endocrinology ENT OMFS neurosurgery and radiology. Highlighting this within the College’s work supports better patient outcomes.
Vickie says:
“Being a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists is something I’m immensely proud of. The College is a fantastic platform to collaborate and make a real difference to patient care.”