Perceptions of Undergraduate Ophthalmology Teaching: A Survey of Medical Students in the United Kingdom

Background: In order to prepare future medical professionals to diagnose and treat common and urgent eye disorders, adequate undergraduate ophthalmology education is essential.This study aims to analyse the confidence and ability of medical students in the United Kingdom (UK) and resident doctors in identifying red flag ophthalmological symptoms, as well as their impressions of their ophthalmology education.Methods: Between July and September 2024, UK medical students of all years and resident doctors responded to an anonymous online survey.University officials and medical school group chats were used to recruit participants.Data on exposure to ophthalmology placement, perceived education quality and awareness of urgent ophthalmological diseases were gathered through the survey.Responses were analysed using the Qualtrics platform (Qualtrics, LLC, Provo, UT, USA).Results: A total of 300 respondents from 23 medical schools took part in the survey, including 211 final-year students.Of those surveyed, 32.7% said they would not obtain any ophthalmology placements during their medical degree.54.9% of respondents said they wished their medical school offered more ophthalmology instruction.Just 37.2% of respondents correctly identified all conditions requiring referral within 24 hours, indicating a low level of competence in detecting urgent referral problems.Additionally, a sizable percentage of students stated that they had not received enough instruction in fundamental abilities, including fundoscopy and slit lamp examination.Conclusions: Our research reveals notable discrepancies in undergraduate ophthalmology instruction across UK medical schools, which contribute to students' lack of confidence and proficiency in identifying and handling ophthalmological emergencies.We have formalised some recommendations, from proven examples at other institutions, to address these shortcomings and enhance patient care outcomes.Medical schools should increase the availability of ophthalmology placements and electives and move towards blended, interactive teaching such as problem-based learning and technology-enhanced resources.National standardisation of core competencies, such as fundoscopy, slit-lamp examination and red-flag recognition, could help ensure consistent ophthalmology training across the UK.