News & Views

We are sad to report that Michael Roper-Hall, Honorary Fellow of the College, died on 3 May at the age of 100. 

The safety of cataract surgery in the UK is continuing to improve, results from the latest National Ophthalmology Database (NOD) audit – published today – show. Data gathered from 177 centres over a 12-month period to 31 March 2023 indicate that fewer than 1 in 200 patients experience substantial reduction in vision following cataract surgery. The major complication of surgery (posterior capsule rupture or PCR) is occurring in less than 1% of operations.

We are encouraging members to take part in the NHSE outcomes and registries programme, a single registry of implantable devices. We have been working closely with NHSE to provide clinical leadership as the programme develops. 

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is recruiting for a National Clinical Lead to focus on the improvement of ophthalmology services across England. 

In response to comments by Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP in The Sun and on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme regarding Labour’s plans to make further use of independent sector providers in England to bring down NHS waiting lists, College President Professor Ben Burton commented.

The prestigious Zakarian Awards, which promote the value of research for all, are now open for submissions. Jointly funded by the College and Fight for Sight/Vision Foundation these awards are for early-career ophthalmologists to gain experience and skills by undertaking ophthalmic and vision research, which could lead onto further research or funding opportunities. Three ophthalmologists will receive a grant of up to £25,000 to conduct research over a 12-month period.

As the latest National Ophthalmology Audit (NOD) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) audit report is published, its clinical lead, Martin McKibbin, is encouraging more ophthalmology services to take part in future audits so that more data on the care pathway is available and treatment outcomes can be standardised.

This year’s Ulverscroft David Owen Award recipients are Dr Siegfried Karl Wagner and colleagues, for their study ‘Development and international validation of custom engineered and code-free deep-learning models for detection of plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity’.

We are today publishing our three-step plan to future-proof NHS ophthalmology and are calling on politicians and policymakers to follow our recommendations to secure a sustainable and comprehensive eyecare service for people across the UK.

Contributing surgeons and centres are invited to validate their cataract audit data on the RCOphth NOD audit website by 25 March 2024.