Building Confidence in Eye Emergencies: Insights from the Birmingham Eye Emergency Essentials Course

For many resident doctors, ophthalmology can seem complicated as it is not something you come across in everyday practice. However, being able to triage eye problems, confidently use a slit lamp, and perform fundoscopy are skills that prove useful not just for ophthalmologists, but in emergency medicine and general practice. I attended the Birmingham Eye Emergency Essentials Course, a one-day course, designed to develop these exact skills. Run by ophthalmology specialty trainees at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (BMEC), the course combined practical workshops with small-group tutorials. It attracted a diverse group of participants, from A&E doctors, foundation trainees to aspiring ophthalmologists, all keen to improve their approach to eye emergencies.