Ophthalmology provides one of the largest outpatient services of any speciality within the National Health Service in the UK. A key part of this service is acute ophthalmology. Acute ophthalmology is therefore developing as an important sub-speciality within ophthalmology.

Many treatments must be delivered quickly to be effective.These include treatment of chemical burns to the eye, identification of retinal tears and penetrating eye injuries. Such diseases are not new. However, in addition novel treatments for conditions such as macular degeneration now require detailed assessment and rapid treatment in order to be maximally effective. Acute ophthalmology is becoming more complicated as our ability to treat increases.

This web focus is therefore timely. It highlights this developing sub-specialty, some of the diseases it treats and how such services are organised in the UK. This is pertinent at a time when demand for acute ophthalmology services is increasing rapidly.

Professor Andrew Lotery, Editor, Eye