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Experience and perception of cataract training within the national health service and independent sector in the UK: a regional trainee survey

Eye volume 37, pages 1754–1757 (2023)Cite this article

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Cataract surgical skill is a core competency in ophthalmology training in many countries. UK ophthalmology trainees are expected to complete a minimum of 350 phacoemulsification cataract procedures by the end of 7-year specialist training. Recent guidance from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) and Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) committee now further expects experienced trainees to complete at least 10 cases/list on a high volume basis to prepare for their future consultant role [1].

Ophthalmology trainees have expressed concerns on reduced training in cataract surgery during COVID pandemic [2, 3]. Recent studies have also highlighted the lack of confidence among senior trainees in managing cataract surgery complications, particularly posterior capsular rupture (PCR) [4, 5]. In addition, there has been a considerable shift of cataract surgery being performed in the independent sector (IS) in England (increased from 11% in 2016/17 to 46% in 2020/21), raising concerns on the potential impact on surgical training [6].

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Fig. 1: Survey responses.

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK

    Yunzi Chen, Qasim Mansoor, Yun Lin Ang, Yewande Babalola, Tejaswi Bommireddy, Harshika Chawla, Muhammad Raza Cheema, Yanmei Chen, Yunzi Chen, Matthew J. Hartley, William Hodgkinson, Rehab Ismail, Alexander Mehta, Ankur Mehta, Declan C. Murphy, Salman Sadiq, Thomas Salisbury, Timothy Schrire, Sam Simpson, Shweta Singh, Boon Lin Teh, Nikolaos Tzoumas & Vishal Vohra

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK

    Darren S. J. Ting

  3. Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Darren S. J. Ting

  4. Newcastle Eye Centre, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Yun Lin Ang, Yewande Babalola, Tejaswi Bommireddy, Harshika Chawla, Muhammad Raza Cheema, Yanmei Chen, Yunzi Chen, Matthew J. Hartley, William Hodgkinson, Rehab Ismail, Alexander Mehta, Ankur Mehta, Declan C. Murphy, Salman Sadiq, Thomas Salisbury, Timothy Schrire, Sam Simpson, Shweta Singh, Boon Lin Teh, Nikolaos Tzoumas & Vishal Vohra

  5. Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, UK

    Yun Lin Ang, Yewande Babalola, Tejaswi Bommireddy, Harshika Chawla, Muhammad Raza Cheema, Yanmei Chen, Yunzi Chen, Matthew J. Hartley, William Hodgkinson, Rehab Ismail, Alexander Mehta, Ankur Mehta, Declan C. Murphy, Salman Sadiq, Thomas Salisbury, Timothy Schrire, Sam Simpson, Shweta Singh, Boon Lin Teh, Nikolaos Tzoumas & Vishal Vohra

  6. Ophthalmology Department, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Darlington, UK

    Yun Lin Ang, Yewande Babalola, Tejaswi Bommireddy, Harshika Chawla, Muhammad Raza Cheema, Yanmei Chen, Yunzi Chen, Matthew J. Hartley, William Hodgkinson, Rehab Ismail, Alexander Mehta, Ankur Mehta, Declan C. Murphy, Salman Sadiq, Thomas Salisbury, Timothy Schrire, Sam Simpson, Shweta Singh, Boon Lin Teh, Nikolaos Tzoumas & Vishal Vohra

  7. Ophthalmology Department, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK

    Yun Lin Ang, Yewande Babalola, Tejaswi Bommireddy, Harshika Chawla, Muhammad Raza Cheema, Yanmei Chen, Yunzi Chen, Matthew J. Hartley, William Hodgkinson, Rehab Ismail, Alexander Mehta, Ankur Mehta, Declan C. Murphy, Salman Sadiq, Thomas Salisbury, Timothy Schrire, Sam Simpson, Shweta Singh, Boon Lin Teh, Nikolaos Tzoumas & Vishal Vohra

Authors
  1. Yunzi Chen
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  2. Darren S. J. Ting
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  3. Qasim Mansoor
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Consortia

North East Trainee Research in Ophthalmology Network (NETRiON)

  • Yun Lin Ang
  • , Yewande Babalola
  • , Tejaswi Bommireddy
  • , Harshika Chawla
  • , Muhammad Raza Cheema
  • , Yanmei Chen
  • , Yunzi Chen
  • , Matthew J. Hartley
  • , William Hodgkinson
  • , Rehab Ismail
  • , Alexander Mehta
  • , Ankur Mehta
  • , Declan C. Murphy
  • , Salman Sadiq
  • , Thomas Salisbury
  • , Timothy Schrire
  • , Sam Simpson
  • , Shweta Singh
  • , Boon Lin Teh
  • , Nikolaos Tzoumas
  •  & Vishal Vohra

Contributions

YC, DT, QM contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by YC, NETRION, The first draft of the manuscript was written by YC, DT and QM commented on subsequent versions of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qasim Mansoor.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Chen, Y., Ting, D.S.J., Mansoor, Q. et al. Experience and perception of cataract training within the national health service and independent sector in the UK: a regional trainee survey. Eye 37, 1754–1757 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02258-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02258-1

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