View 2019 Abstracts

The Royal College of Ophthalmology curriculum states that all trainees should ‘Be able to perform enucleation and evisceration’ and requires them to submit practical assessments on a minimum of two cases. Trainees have reported difficulty in obtaining this sign-off partly due to a lack of exposure to suitable cases. This study was performed to determine the number and characteristics of eye removal procedures performed both nationally and locally.

Retrospective data was collected both nationally and locally within the Wessex training deanery using hospital episode statistics and from electronic and paper medical records.

Linear regression analysis demonstrated a national reduction year on year in number of eye removal operations performed since 2001 (R2=0.81, p<0.0001). Local data demonstrated a similar statistically significant reduction in number of operations performed over time, and a reduction in the proportion of cases performed as an emergency (R2=0.25, p<0.05). Almost all operations were performed by a consultant with most also being performed by a member of the oculoplastic team. Demographic data and indication for eye removal will also be presented.

Enucleation or evisceration has traditionally been seen as a skill required of the general ophthalmologist. However the number of eye removal operations performed each year has been reducing, a fall that has coincided with improved management of neovascular glaucoma including the introduction of Anti-VEGF. The majority of cases are now performed by non-trainee doctors with oculoplastic subspecialty training.