Lead our work

As a membership organisation we value member involvement and participation. Our members help to shape the work of the College and the ophthalmic sector. In this section you can explore the voluntary opportunities that are currently available.

College members from all specialties and backgrounds have a vital role to play in shaping our work and the membership services we provide. Your diverse experiences help us build a strong, representative community of ophthalmology professionals.

By taking part as a volunteer you can make a difference to your fellow members, the wider ophthalmic workforce and to your patients. You can also develop your own skills and experience and meet new people.

All College roles are supported by teams of experienced and specialist staff. Together, we deliver our activities in an inclusive and mutually respectful environment, demonstrating the values and behaviours that underpin our work.

Current opportunities are shown below. If you would like to apply for a volunteer role, please complete this online application form.

Please note that the College is currently undergoing a governance review, which may result in some changes to the opportunities listed. We will keep this page updated accordingly and communicate any changes.

Current opportunities

The main work for the Curriculum Subcommittee in the next three years will be to monitor the implementation of Curriculum 2024 and Programme of Assessment, consider any changes that need to be made and to report to the GMC accordingly. There are also a number of associated work streams.

Volunteer opportunity: Curriculum Sub-committee Chair Role description

Apply here by 11.59pm on 6 May.

This new subcommittee leads on the development of a cohesive programme of events and courses for the College.

Courses and Events_Chair_Volunteer role description

Courses and Events_Member_Volunteer role description

Apply here by 11.59pm on 6 May

The Paediatric Subcommittee advises and supports the College and members on all matters related to paediatric ophthalmology and to promote safe high quality paediatric ophthalmology services in the UK. The Subcommittee is inclusive and multidisciplinary with representation from the College of Optometrists, BIOS, RNIB, RCPCH, and the Lay Advisory Group.

Volunteer opportunity: Member – Paediatric Subcommittee for Scotland Role description

Apply here by 11.59pm on 6 May

The SAS Committee encompasses SAS (Specialty, Specialists, Associate Specialists) and locally employed ‘Trust’ doctors. We represent SAS ophthalmologists on a range of College committees.

Volunteer opportunity: SAS Subcommittee member Role description

Apply here by 11.59pm on 6 May.

This is a new subcommittee. The Chair will work with the current Skills Faculty Lead until 1 January 2026 when the subcommittee will be officially formed. It is the first time the role of skills and simulation have been merged and as Chair you will maintain an overview of skills and simulation activities across the UK.

Skills and Simulation_Chair_Volunteer role description

Apply here by 11.59pm on 6 May.

The purpose of this new committee is to determine the demand and supply of eye care, the composition of workforces needed and eye workforce issues in the UK. This includes through robust, evidence-based expertise and analysis to influence others through the publication of College documents and responses to external consultations.

Volunteer opportunity: Workforce Committee chair Role description
Volunteer opportunity: Workforce Committee member Role desciption

Apply here by 11.59pm on 6 May

We are seeking a clinical lead to provide strong and clear leadership in further developing the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) audit, building on the successes of the first three implementation years.

AMD Audit Lead – role description and person specification

Declaration-of-Interest-Form

Click here to apply.

Applications close on Thursday 8 May.

 

The College is seeking Fellows, Members or Affiliate Members to join the Surgical Skills Faculty.

Applicants must either hold a UK substantive consultant post, be a SAS Doctor or be an ophthalmic trainee at ST6 or ST7 level.

Faculty Members who are appointed for the advanced courses shall, in addition, indicate their areas of subspecialty interest and expertise. Members may be invited to help and advise with regard to writing course material and designing course programmes.

To apply download and complete the SAS and Consultant application form, or the Trainee application form. Return your completed form to [email protected].

Advisory Appointment Committees (AACs) are recruitment panels used when hiring consultants and specialty doctors in NHS Trusts across the UK. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists plays a crucial role in this process by:

  • Approving job descriptions for ophthalmologist positions
  • Providing College representatives to serve on all consultant and specialist grade appointment panels
  • Ensuring applicants meet standards for training, administration, and clinical needs.

AAC representative role

As an AAC representative, you would:

  • Attend recruitment interviews to provide quality assurance
  • Ensure candidates can effectively train future ophthalmologists
  • Verify candidates can provide safe patient care
  • Help maintain a fair recruitment process

Requirements

Applicants must:

  • be a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
  • be on the General Medical Council specialist register (unless exemptions apply or a SAS doctor representing on SAS AACs)
  • have practised in the NHS in the past two years
  • have undertaken trust-approved equality and diversity training within the last three years.

No prior AAC experience necessary as guidance will be provided.

Interested ophthalmologists can email [email protected] to volunteer or request more information.

Representatives can claim expenses from the hiring trust.

Acting as an examiner for the College is an important role and carries with it responsibility for maintaining the high standards expected of candidates wishing to become Diplomates, Members or Fellows of the College. The panel of examiners consists of both medical practitioners who are Fellows, Members or Affiliate Members of the College and lay examiners drawn from the College’s Lay Advisory Group.

Examining for the College also offers the opportunity to network with colleagues from around the UK, keep your general ophthalmic knowledge up to date and gain CPD.

Further details on the roles and requirements of being an examiner are available in the Panel of Examiners – General Information Pack and relevant information packs below.  If you’d like to discuss any of the roles further, please contact the Examinations Department ([email protected])

Panel of Examiners – General Information Pack
Examiner-General-Information-Pack

Consultant and post-CCT Grade Examiners – Information Pack
Application-Pack-for-Consultant-and-post-CCT-Grade-Examiners-April

SAS Grade Examiners – Information Pack
Application-Pack-for-SAS-Grade-Examiners-Final-Oct

Trainee Grade Examiners – Information Pack
Application-Pack-for-Trainee-Grade-Examiners

Certificate in Laser and Refractive Surgery (CertLRS) Examiners
Application-Pack-for-CertLRS-Examiner

Optometrist Examiners (for Refraction Certificate exams) – Information Pack
Examiner-Application-Pack-for-Optometrists-April-2020

Examiners Code of Conduct
Code-of-Conduct-FRCOphth-examiners

The College values the work carried out by its tutors and has a number of resources available to them. Please complete the College-Tutor-Nomination-Form if you are interested in the role.

College tutors (CTs) have overall responsibility as lead trainers for the postgraduate training in the unit and are the point of contact with the Royal College.  They are an important component to the delivery of a successful training programme across the country and therefore the work they do is greatly appreciated by the College.

Please refer to the role description and person specification for further information.

Within the unit, CTs lead and work closely with a team of clinical supervisors (CS, responsible for day-to-day supervision of trainees) and educational supervisors (ES, responsible for the global supervision and support of trainees).

Beyond the unit, CTs will liaise with directors of medical education (DMEs) in the trust, training programme directors (TPDs) at the LETB/Deanery and regional education advisers (REAs) appointed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. regional education advisers are listed in the Ophthalmic Directory .

These are useful local sources of help and support if required.  Bigger units might wish to consider appointing an Associate-College-Tutor with whom duties may be shared.

Newly-appointed college tutors are expected to attend a College tutor training day within six months of appointment.  These workshops also serve as refresher for College tutors on their second term.

College tutor training day

The aim of the day is to examine the main duties of a College tutor and discuss the delivery and assessment of training. It will also give the opportunity to ask questions about College work and meet other College tutors.  To book a place, please complete and return the combined College-Tutor-Nomination-Form.

The training day is also suitable for Associate College Tutors who support CTs in their role.