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 Royal College of Ophthalmologists considers ECLOs as integral to meeting the needs of patients in hospital eye units.

In April 2008 the ‘associate specialist’ (AS) grade was closed and succeeded by the new ‘specialty doctor’ grade. Over recent years there have been calls from the British Medical Association (BMA)1 and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)2 to reopen the AS grade.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists supports the quality standard but believes the implementation will be challenging for the overwhelmed hospital eye service.

The College recognises that botulinum toxin and surgical treatment for strabismus* are important procedures that are performed in children and adults to promote, improve or re-establish binocular function, manage diplopia and restore ocular alignment and balance. Surgical intervention (including botulinum toxin injections) performed to achieve these aims is thus not a cosmetic procedure and does not fall under the GMC guidance for cosmetic surgery. Commissioning pathways for the management of squints reflect this. Surgical intervention (including botulinum toxin injections) performed to achieve these aims is thus not a cosmetic procedure and does not fall under the GMC guidance for cosmetic surgery. Commissioning pathways for the management of squints reflect this.

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.