Undergraduate ophthalmology education – A survey of UK medical schools

Changes in the UK undergraduate medical curriculum mean that a clinical placement in ophthalmology is no longer a requirement. An ophthalmic assessment is necessary for a full physical examination and failure to elicit and interpret signs could mean missing sight and life-threatening pathology. This study was to investigate current undergraduate ophthalmology teaching. An email questionnaire, about the content and delivery of the ophthalmology teaching, was sent to each UK medical school in 2007/2008. The response rate was 83%. Nineteen (79%) medical schools had a compulsory attachment to the ophthalmology department with an average length of 7.6 days (range 3.5-15 days). There was variation as to how ophthalmology was included in the curriculum. Teaching methods and standards also varied. Finally, assessments ranged from formal written and practical exams in some medical schools to informal or non-existent ones in others. The most striking finding was the variation in ophthalmology education a student may receive, with some students receiving none. It is necessary to improve the profile of ophthalmology and ensure that all students achieve a minimum basic standard.