News & Views

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, has written to health and social care staff in the NHS providing an update on EU Exit preparations.

The College has recently received a report from NHS Improvement of a severe adverse reaction in a six month old child with anisocoria who had been administered apraclonidine 1% to help exclude Horner syndrome.

With the current situation around Brexit remaining consistently unclear, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has recently signposted external guidance from the Department of Health and The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC).

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) have published their response to the government consultation on the ‘Development of a Serious Shortage Protocol’ for drug supplies in the possible event of a no-deal Brexit.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists welcomes the decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to recommend 125 micrograms Ocriplasmin intravitreal injection as an option for the treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT) in adults who have either stage II full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) with a diameter of ≤ 400um and/or severe symptoms.

MSD has informed the Royal College of Ophthalmologists that there are now a limited number of preservative-free (PF) Trusopt® (dorzolamide hydrochloride) eye drops presently available in the UK. In light of this and the fact that it is a limited supply, The College would like to advise you of the recommended best use of this medication.