Ophthalmology Teaching Programme September - December 2010 (pdf)
Ophthalmology Teaching Programme May - Aug 2010 (pdf)
Ophthalmology Teaching Programme Jan - Apr 2010 (pdf)

A 3 month placement in the Ophthalmology Department at the James Paget Hospital will give a Trainee in General Practice a good opportunity to become familiar with most aspects of the Specialty.

Ophthalmic problems cause significant patient morbidity. There are around two million people in the UK with a sight problem. Glaucoma alone affects about two in 100 people over the age of 40 and five in 100 over the age of 75.

Ophthalmology accounts for 1.5% of general practice consultations in the UK with a rate of 50 consultations per 1000 population per year.

The Department at the James Paget carries out all aspects of ophthalmic surgery, treating patients which vary in age from neonatal to the elderly. The department benefits from state of the art equipment, most patients being managed locally.

There are six Consultants in the Department, Mr Amanat, Mr Watson, Mr Butler, Mrs Hemmant, Mr Goldsmith and Mr Burton, there are five supporting permanent staff, two Specialist trainees on the Eastern Regional Rotation, and one post in General Practice Training.

Trainees in General Practice will be expected to take part in the work of the Department attending Theatre and Out-patients. It is expected that the General Practice trainee will concentrate on the care of emergency patients similar to those that present to primary care.

Three months is long enough for Doctors who wish to become familiar with ophthalmic examination techniques and with the management of most Ophthalmic emergencies.